The Night (Disturbed song)
Encyclopedia
"The Night" is a song by American rock
band Disturbed, the song is released as the fourth single from their fourth studio album, Indestructible
. The song was the first from Indestructible to be completed musically. It is lyrically meant to portray the night as a living entity. Musically, the song is dark and textural. Disturbed guitarist Dan Donegan
was almost universally praised for his work on this song, specifically during the guitar solo. A music video to correspond with the song was filmed in January 2009 and later released in late March 2009. The song is a playable track in the Rhythm game
Power Gig: Rise of the SixString
.
to be completed musically. Disturbed vocalist David Draiman
composed the vocal melody line for the song in just three days. Draiman later explained, "The instrumentation was so cool and so dark and textural that I right away kind of jumped into it." This caused Draiman to tentatively call the record The Night.
said that, lyrically, "The Night" is meant to, "portray the night almost as like a living entity that sets you free. You're enveloped by it, enmasked by it." 411mania writer Dan Marsicano claims that, musically, "The Night" is an "epic-sounding track that has one of the best solos that Donegan has ever done and a catchy chorus." Artistdirect writer Paul Gargano compares "The Night" to American thrash metal band Metallica's
fourth album, ...And Justice for All
, claiming that Disturbed guitarist Dan Donegan
, "[emerges] loud and clearly as a guitar hero for the modern day as the bottom end crushes through the darkness with a conviction that is not only catchy, but comforting." PopMatters writer Andrew Blackie claims that the song is "one rare moment of spontaneity on Indestructible
," because "drums and guitars pummel through conflicting times." Blackie then dismisses this idea, explaining "This ... suggests a climate of turmoil, one that ... fails to materialize here." The guitar solo in "The Night" was almost universally noted, as well.
/horror
films such as Alien
and The Thing, and the result was "fitting for the track's dark guitar tones and brooding vocal melodies." The music video takes place in a car garage where Disturbed is performing and vocalist David Draiman
is sitting in front of a car, singing. Several times throughout the music video, a dark entity is shown moving behind Draiman, or materializing around other objects. Eventually a security officer notices via security camera that the dark entity is materializing around the car, with Draiman no longer there. The officer heads to the car, and investigates it. The band is then shown taking a lift out of the garage, while the officer is still investigating. The dark entity attacks the officer as the band leaves the garage.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Disturbed, the song is released as the fourth single from their fourth studio album, Indestructible
Indestructible (Disturbed album)
Indestructible is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Disturbed. A self-produced effort, Indestructible is the first Disturbed album that did not feature Johnny K, the producer of Disturbed's previous three albums, The Sickness, Believe, and Ten Thousand Fists. Indestructible was...
. The song was the first from Indestructible to be completed musically. It is lyrically meant to portray the night as a living entity. Musically, the song is dark and textural. Disturbed guitarist Dan Donegan
Dan Donegan
Dan Donegan is an American musician and guitarist for heavy metal band Disturbed. Donegan began playing guitar as a teenager and eventually formed a band called Vandal, which was an '80s-style hair band...
was almost universally praised for his work on this song, specifically during the guitar solo. A music video to correspond with the song was filmed in January 2009 and later released in late March 2009. The song is a playable track in the Rhythm game
Rhythm game
Rhythm game or rhythm action is a genre of music-themed action video game that challenges a player's sense of rhythm. Games in the genre typically focus on dance or the simulated performance of musical instruments, and require players to press buttons in a sequence dictated on the screen...
Power Gig: Rise of the SixString
Power Gig: Rise of the SixString
Power Gig: Rise of the SixString is a rhythm game developed by Seven45 Studios, a sister company of First Act which produces low-cost, entry-level musical instruments...
.
Recording and production
"The Night" was the first song from IndestructibleIndestructible (Disturbed album)
Indestructible is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Disturbed. A self-produced effort, Indestructible is the first Disturbed album that did not feature Johnny K, the producer of Disturbed's previous three albums, The Sickness, Believe, and Ten Thousand Fists. Indestructible was...
to be completed musically. Disturbed vocalist David Draiman
David Draiman
David Michael Draiman is an American songwriter and the lead singer for the metal band Disturbed. Draiman is known for his distorted voice and rhythmic singing style...
composed the vocal melody line for the song in just three days. Draiman later explained, "The instrumentation was so cool and so dark and textural that I right away kind of jumped into it." This caused Draiman to tentatively call the record The Night.
Musical style and lyrical themes
Vocalist David DraimanDavid Draiman
David Michael Draiman is an American songwriter and the lead singer for the metal band Disturbed. Draiman is known for his distorted voice and rhythmic singing style...
said that, lyrically, "The Night" is meant to, "portray the night almost as like a living entity that sets you free. You're enveloped by it, enmasked by it." 411mania writer Dan Marsicano claims that, musically, "The Night" is an "epic-sounding track that has one of the best solos that Donegan has ever done and a catchy chorus." Artistdirect writer Paul Gargano compares "The Night" to American thrash metal band Metallica's
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
fourth album, ...And Justice for All
...And Justice for All (album)
...And Justice for All is the fourth studio album by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released on August 25, 1988 through Elektra Records. It is the first full-length Metallica album to feature bassist Jason Newsted following the death of Cliff Burton in 1986...
, claiming that Disturbed guitarist Dan Donegan
Dan Donegan
Dan Donegan is an American musician and guitarist for heavy metal band Disturbed. Donegan began playing guitar as a teenager and eventually formed a band called Vandal, which was an '80s-style hair band...
, "[emerges] loud and clearly as a guitar hero for the modern day as the bottom end crushes through the darkness with a conviction that is not only catchy, but comforting." PopMatters writer Andrew Blackie claims that the song is "one rare moment of spontaneity on Indestructible
Indestructible (Disturbed album)
Indestructible is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Disturbed. A self-produced effort, Indestructible is the first Disturbed album that did not feature Johnny K, the producer of Disturbed's previous three albums, The Sickness, Believe, and Ten Thousand Fists. Indestructible was...
," because "drums and guitars pummel through conflicting times." Blackie then dismisses this idea, explaining "This ... suggests a climate of turmoil, one that ... fails to materialize here." The guitar solo in "The Night" was almost universally noted, as well.
Music video
The music video corresponding with "The Night" was filmed in January 2009, directed by Nobles Jones, and then released in late March 2009. Jones was inspired by science fictionScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
/horror
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
films such as Alien
Alien (film)
Alien is a 1979 science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm and Yaphet Kotto. The film's title refers to its primary antagonist: a highly aggressive extraterrestrial creature which...
and The Thing, and the result was "fitting for the track's dark guitar tones and brooding vocal melodies." The music video takes place in a car garage where Disturbed is performing and vocalist David Draiman
David Draiman
David Michael Draiman is an American songwriter and the lead singer for the metal band Disturbed. Draiman is known for his distorted voice and rhythmic singing style...
is sitting in front of a car, singing. Several times throughout the music video, a dark entity is shown moving behind Draiman, or materializing around other objects. Eventually a security officer notices via security camera that the dark entity is materializing around the car, with Draiman no longer there. The officer heads to the car, and investigates it. The band is then shown taking a lift out of the garage, while the officer is still investigating. The dark entity attacks the officer as the band leaves the garage.
Chart positions
| Chart (2009) | Position |
|---|---|
| Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 2 |
| Hot Modern Rock Tracks | 18 |
| Rock Songs Rock Songs Rock Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks the airplay of songs on alternative, mainstream rock and triple A radio stations. The first chart was published in the issue dated June 20, 2009. "Know Your Enemy" by Green Day was the first number-one song. The Rock Songs... |
8 |
Personnel
- Dan DoneganDan DoneganDan Donegan is an American musician and guitarist for heavy metal band Disturbed. Donegan began playing guitar as a teenager and eventually formed a band called Vandal, which was an '80s-style hair band...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, electronics - David DraimanDavid DraimanDavid Michael Draiman is an American songwriter and the lead singer for the metal band Disturbed. Draiman is known for his distorted voice and rhythmic singing style...
- lead vocals, backing vocals, co-producer - Mike WengrenMike WengrenMike Wengren is a drummer from Chicago, Illinois, best known for his work with the heavy metal band Disturbed, he is one of the founding members of the band, which was formed in 1996.-History:...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, co-producer - John MoyerJohn MoyerJohn Moyer is the bassist and back up vocalist for the heavy metal band Disturbed, replacing their former bassist Steve "Fuzz" Kmak...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals - Neal Avron - mixing
- David Finch - artwork