Divisive (album)

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Divisive
Studio album by
Disturbed
ReleasedNovember 18, 2022
Recorded2022
Studio
Genre
Length37:55
Label
ProducerDrew Fulk
Disturbed chronology
Evolution
(2018) 		Divisive
(2022)
Singles from Divisive
  1. "Hey You"
    Released: July 14, 2022
  2. "Bad Man"
    Released: November 15, 2022[1]
  3. "Unstoppable"
    Released: April 25, 2023[2]
  4. "Don't Tell Me"
    Released: November 7, 2023[3]

Divisive is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band Disturbed. Produced by Drew Fulk, it was released on November 18, 2022, via Reprise Records.[4]

The first single from the album was "Hey You", which was released on July 14, 2022. In regards to the sound of the single, it is said to be similar to the band's earlier albums such as The Sickness and Ten Thousand Fists.[5] A promotional single called "Unstoppable" was released on September 23, 2022, along with the details for their upcoming album.[6]

Background and recording[edit]

As early as October 2020, frontman David Draiman stated that he wanted new Disturbed music to be "blisteringly angry", considering everything going on in the world with the COVID-19 pandemic.[7]

Back in April 2022, Draiman took to his Instagram page to a share a photo of a whiteboard to his fans and followers suggesting that the album has been completed, in that photo, which has now been deleted, a list of approximately ten songs can be seen, all marked with an "X" symbol, which had initially led to speculation by fans that the album is a covers album.[8]

Ann Wilson of Heart appears on the album on the song titled "Don't Tell Me". According to Dan Donegan, Ann is David's favorite female hard rock singer. After Ann sent out a tweet saying she was "inspired" by the band's cover of "The Sound of Silence", David reached out to Ann to thank her and they developed an online friendship. After the demo of "Don't Tell Me" had been recorded the band felt like it needed a female voice, and they thought Ann would be perfect. David reached out to her to ask if she would appear on the record, and the band was delighted when she said yes. In many interviews band members have stated they are "humbled" to have such rock royalty appear on the album.[9]

"Hey You" topped the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.[10] A song titled "Bad Man" began radio play on Octane by November 15, and the song's meaning was inspired by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[11]

At 37 minutes and 55 seconds, Divisive is the shortest studio album to be released by the band.

Reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Blabbermouth.net8.5/10[12]
Heavy Magazine(Positive)[13]
Metal Hammer[14]
Wall of Sound7/10[15]
Sputnikmusic[16]
Kerrang![17]
Allmusic[18]

Divisive received mixed to positive reviews from critics. In a review published on Wall of Sound, reviewer Ricky Aarons wrote: "Overall, Disturbed's new album is a pretty good record. Is it great? That decision may be divisive." He went on to praise the heavier approach on the album.[19]

Another review came from Kris Peters from Heavy Magazine: "Yes, Disturbed will always to continue to do what they want musically, but don't ever think that means they are going soft. A welcome, if not completely triumphant, return!"[20]

Joe Daly of Metal Hammer gave the album a rating of 4 out of 5 stars in a review published on Louder Sound. He said, "Polarising or not, Disturbed have reasserted their claim to the modern metal throne and Divisive will surely delight their existing fans, while picking up a few more along the way."[21]

Blabbermouth.net gave the album a rating of 8.5/10.[22]

Track listing[edit]

All songs written by Disturbed, except where noted.

Divisive track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hey You" 4:28
2."Bad Man"
3:22
3."Divisive" 3:58
4."Unstoppable" 3:58
5."Love to Hate" 3:36
6."Feeding the Fire"
  • Disturbed
  • Fulk
4:19
7."Don't Tell Me" (featuring Ann Wilson)
  • Disturbed
  • Fulk
4:31
8."Take Back Your Life"
  • Disturbed
  • Fulk
2:58
9."Part of Me" 3:53
10."Won't Back Down" 2:52
Total length:37:55

Personnel[edit]

Disturbed

Additional musicians

Additional personnel

  • Drew Fulk – production, mixing, engineering
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Jeff Dunne – mixing
  • Trent Woodman – mixing and engineering assistance
  • Jace Mann – additional engineering (on track 7)
  • Paul Murphy – additional engineering (on track 7)

Charts[edit]

Weekly chart performance for Divisive
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[23] 5
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[24] 11
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[25] 57
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[26] 152
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[27] 9
Croatian International Albums (HDU)[28] 7
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[29] 78
Greek Albums (IFPI)[30] 51
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[31] 15
French Albums (SNEP)[32] 150
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[33] 9
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[34] 12
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[35] 7
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[36] 37
Scottish Albums (OCC)[37] 13
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[38] 11
UK Albums (OCC)[39] 17
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[40] 4
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[41] 2
US Billboard 200[42] 13
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[43] 1
US Digital Albums (Billboard)[44] 1
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[45] 1
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[46] 3

Singles[edit]

Year Song US
Main.
[47] 		US
Rock
[48] 		US
Hard
Rock
Digital
[49] 		CAN
Rock
[50] 		CZE
Rock
[51] 		FIN
[52] 		NZ
Hot
[53]
2022 "Hey You" 1 6 2 32 2 97 33
"Bad Man" 2 7 10 32 — — 38
2023 "Unstoppable" 1 7 1 29 — — —
"Don't Tell Me" 2 — 1 — — — —

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Future Releases". Internet Archive. Archived from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  2. ^ "Future Releases". Internet Archive. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  3. ^ "DISTURBED Films Music Video For 'Don't Tell Me' Song Featuring HEART's ANN WILSON". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  4. ^ "DISTURBED Announces New Album 'Divisive', Shares 'Unstoppable' Single". Blabbermouth.net. September 23, 2022.
  5. ^ Hobsonpublished, Rich (July 14, 2022). "Disturbed's new single Hey You is a 'wake up call': "We've become our own worst enemies"". loudersound.
  6. ^ Conway-Flood, Katie (September 27, 2022). "Disturbed announce new album 'Divisive', share new single 'Unstoppable'". NME.
  7. ^ Schaffner, Lauryn (October 23, 2020). "David Draiman: New Disturbed Material Will Be Blisteringly Angry". Loudwire.
  8. ^ "DISTURBED Has Apparently Finished Recording A New Album". Blabbermouth.net. April 10, 2022.
  9. ^ Blabbermouth (September 24, 2022). "DAN DONEGAN On DISTURBED's Collaboration With HEART's ANN WILSON: 'It Was A Really Magical Moment'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  10. ^ Reesman, Bryan (October 28, 2022). "Disturbed's Dan Donegan: Upcoming Album 'Divisive' a 'Bit of a Wake-up Call [to] Reflect on How Crazy We're All Acting'". Billboard.
  11. ^ "DISTURBED's New Song 'Bad Man' Was 'Heavily Influenced' by 'Situation in Ukraine'". November 14, 2022.
  12. ^ "Divisive". November 13, 2022.
  13. ^ "DISTURBED: 'Divisive' | HEAVY Magazine". November 11, 2022.
  14. ^ "Disturbed's Divisive: David Draiman weighs in on the culture wars on powerful new album". November 11, 2022.
  15. ^ "Disturbed – Divisive (Album Review)". November 11, 2022.
  16. ^ "Disturbed - Divisive". November 18, 2022.
  17. ^ "Album review: Disturbed – Divisive". November 18, 2022.
  18. ^ "Divisive Review by TiVo Staff". AllMusic. December 3, 2022.
  19. ^ "Disturbed – Divisive (Album Review)". November 11, 2022.
  20. ^ "DISTURBED: 'Divisive' | HEAVY Magazine". November 11, 2022.
  21. ^ "Disturbed's Divisive: David Draiman weighs in on the culture wars on powerful new album". November 11, 2022.
  22. ^ "Divisive". November 13, 2022.
  23. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. November 28, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  24. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Disturbed – Divisive" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  25. ^ "Ultratop.be – Disturbed – Divisive" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  26. ^ "Ultratop.be – Disturbed – Divisive" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  27. ^ "Disturbed Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  28. ^ "Lista prodaje 48. tjedan 2022. (21.11.2022. – 27.11.2022.)" (in Croatian). Top Lista. November 23, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  29. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Disturbed – Divisive" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  30. ^ "IFPI Charts". ifpi.gr. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  31. ^ "Disturbed: Divisive" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  32. ^ "Lescharts.com – Disturbed – Divisive". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  33. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Disturbed – Divisive" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  34. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2022. 48. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  35. ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. November 28, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  36. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  37. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  38. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Disturbed – Divisive". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  39. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  40. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  41. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  42. ^ "Disturbed Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  43. ^ "Disturbed Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  44. ^ "Disturbed Chart History (Digital Albums)".[dead link] Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  45. ^ "Disturbed Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  46. ^ "Disturbed Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  47. ^ "Disturbed Chart History: Mainstream Rock". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  48. ^ "Disturbed Chart History: Rock & Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  49. ^ "Disturbed Chart History (Hard Rock Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  50. ^ "Billboard Canada Rock: Disturbed Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  51. ^ "Disturbed - Hey You: CZ - Radio - Top 20 Modern Rock". hitparada.ifpicr.cz. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  52. ^ "Suomen virallinen lista – Artistit – Disturbed". Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  53. ^ Peaks on the NZ Hot Singles Chart:
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