A look at the bill for Ozzfest is a look at the present, and future, of metal. With tour dates in almost every major city in the United States and Europe, no other tour in the world can secure a future for a metal band like Ozzfest, and the lineup is a veritable who's-who of hard rock. So, what does a glance into this smoky, psychedelic crystal ball have to say about this year? For a while now, the tour seems to have an increased percentage of metalcore bands, and a large decrease in the rap/rock fusion bands that once dominated the metal genre. This tour will be System of a Down's last before going on hiatus, and even Ozzy Osbourne himself has stated that this will be the last Ozzfest on which he will definitely appear. It's been six years since Disturbed first told the world to get down with the sickness, but in the midst of the changing face of metal the band is still going strong, still touring, and still writing and recording songs that stay true to their sound.

I had the pleasure of speaking over the phone with David Draiman, the driving force behind Disturbed's lyrics, stage presence, and distinct vocals. Compared with his live performance, David was relatively calm and soft spoken. I couldn't help but congratulate David on the release of Disturbed's third album, "Ten Thousand Fists." The album succeeded in both keeping to the band's trademark sound as well as showing their musical progress, areas in which I find many third albums fail. It's not surprising that this album sounds similar to Disturbed's past two albums since the band once again chose to work with Johnny K, who has now produced all three of their records. But this album definitely stands out from the previous two, fusing the aggressive animalism of the first record, with the more technical melodies of the second. "We were definitely feeling a lot angrier," Says Draiman, "and a lot of that aggression came out on the record. We don't really go into the studio trying to do much of anything really. Usually Danny comes up with a riff and hands it to Mikey, and once there's more than just one guitar part, I'll take it and add a vocal melody, just kinda scat singing with no real words or anything. Then once I've got that figured out, I add lyrics."

Disturbed has described "Ten Thousand Fists" as a call to arms. But unlike the bulk of today's metal, this album isn't simply about personal struggle, but is also socially aware with some political overtones. "There are two halves to this album, one interpersonal, and one intrapersonal," Draiman explains. "I wrote a lot about things that have happened to me in the past few years of my career. A lot about relationships and things like that. It just so happens that the majority of relationships I've had are things that I write about like they're some kind of deadly disease. But I hope my lyrics aren't always like that." Even on the interpersonal and social half of "Ten Thousand Fists," Draiman's lyrics take on a fairly personal tone. This is due not only to Draiman's writing style, but also to the fact that he has a vested personal interest in some of the social issues he sings about. "I definitely follow everything that happens in the Middle East. I have a lot of family in Israel, so every time there's a bombing or something happens there, it's pretty scary."

With a career spanning from 2000 to the present, Disturbed has seen some serious changes. The metal scene in which the band found a great deal of success is hardly home to the same type of music today. However, the influx of hardcore and metalcore bands seems neither to worry nor cause any animosity by the band. "I really love all those bands," says Draiman. "Meshuggah, Hatebreed, they're really great bands, but if that's what is considered metal now, then I guess we're not really a part of it anymore."

In addition, Draiman noted some of the changes in Ozzfest since Disturbed's first performance there. "Ozzfest started out to be a festival for fans of Ozzy Osbourne's music and music like it. So like, how far removed from that is metalcore? .Also, the second stage has become much more of an intimate affair. Now you only see a few people by the second stage whereas before there were hundreds. It makes me sad because that's where everybody starts out. I still go and hang out there and watch those bands because that's such an important part of the tour."

Disturbed is no stranger to Ozzfest, having performed on the tour several times in the past. "It's summer camp, metal summer camp," joked Draiman. "You hang out outside all day, drink, see bands, it's just a great time." This is true for most who attend Ozzfest, bands and fans alike. But as a

veteran performer on the tour, Draiman has had experiences that would make any metal fan turn green with envy. "We got bumped up from playing the second stage the first night in Chicago, to playing the main stage. We were playing the area that was supposed to seat like a thousand people, and it had like three thousand, and I look over and there are guys from Slipknot watching, guys from Manson, and then I look to my right and there's Ozzy watching us! Ozzy doesn't usually watch bands play, but he came out and watched our set, and after we were done he came up to me gave me a hug and said he liked my band. It was so surreal, but so amazing."

Even though Disturbed has earned the admiration of Ozzy Osbourne himself, the band remains untouched by any rock star snobbery. In spite of their wide success and critical acclaim, there is not one shred of arrogance when they take the stage. The connection between Disturbed fans and the band is a strong and binding one. It's apparent at their concerts that many fans relate very deeply to the band's lyrics, and find them as a source of solace in hard times. Draiman is known for his ability to work a crowd, often addressing his fans as his family. The relationship is symbiotic; the fans need the band, and Disturbed needs their fans. "It's an addiction.. The greatest drug there is," Draiman admits. "Playing in front of thousands of people screaming your lyrics louder than you even can is a really amazing feeling." Although Disturbed's songs have an obvious impact on many of their listeners, Draiman states this isn't the intent with which the band writes songs. "We don't write songs to have an affect on people, I really just

write from my heart and soul. And if somebody is moved by it or affected in some way, then great, but that's not why we do it." Luckily for Disturbed and their legions of fans across the world, their songs do in fact have enormous impact on their listeners.

Disturbed is one of the last of a dying breed. However, it would be wildly inaccurate to say that they, as a band, are dying. Disturbed shows absolutely no sign of slowing down. If anything, they are faster, more aggressive, and more passionate than ever before. They have been touring heavily the past month, and will continue straight into Ozzfest 2006, which rolls into the New England Dodge Music Center in Hartford on July 30th.