“The Sound of Silence” Is the Most Metal Song of the Past Decade”: imagine that headline, and the contrarian culture piece practically writes itself. Not so long ago, Slate was notorious for publishing that kind of thing, but it seems they’ve now put that sensibility behind them — or at least mostly behind them. “If you’re in the mood for an underdog story,” writes that site’s Luke Winkie, “I recommend perusing Billboard’s Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart. It is home to, genuinely, one of the most substantial feats of endurance in the history of popular music, and it shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. I speak, of course, of Disturbed’s cover of the Simon & Garfunkel classic ‘The Sound of Silence,’ which has been at, or near, the apex of that chart since 2015.”
While you almost certainly know Simon & Garfunkel, you may not know Disturbed, who’ve been steadily popular in the metal world since the release of their debut album The Sickness in 2000. Listen to that album’s big single “Down with the Sickness,” and you’re instantly transported back to the turn of the millennium, when the exaggeratedly rhythmic and aggressive subgenre of “nu metal” reigned supreme.
Entertaining though the sheer incongruity of a nu-metal version of “The Sound of Silence” would be, that movement had long since flamed out by 2015, when Disturbed recorded their cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s signature song. Instead, they take the haunting austerity of the original in a grandly mournful direction, driven by piano, strings, and the kind of cavernous sensitivity in which metal acts occasionally indulge.
“Simon & Garfunkel’s version is best suited for The Graduate,” writes Winkie, “while Disturbed’s take seems tuned for the end-credits scroll of a Transformers flick.” Inclusion in a Hollywood blockbuster might have explained the song’s decade-long dominance of the aforementioned Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart: a minor arena in itself, but one in which this perpetual victory reflects a wider cultural phenomenon. Though young people may never have heard Disturbed’s “The Sound of Silence” — or indeed Simon & Garfunkel’s — it’s drawn intense and abiding enthusiasm from listeners in their sixties, seventies, and eighties, for whose approval metal bands haven’t conventionally angled. Nevertheless, it had to mark a high point in Disturbed’s career when, after performing the song on Conan, they received high praise from one particularly distinguished member of that demographic: a certain Paul Simon.
Related content:
Paul Simon Tells the Story of How He Wrote “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (1970)
Paul Simon Deconstructs “Mrs. Robinson” (1970)
Fred Armisen & Bill Hader’s Comedic Take on the History of Simon and Garfunkel
Who Invented Heavy Metal Music?: A Search for Origins
Based in Seoul, Colin Marshall writes and broadcasts on cities, language, and culture. His projects include the Substack newsletter Books on Cities and the book The Stateless City: a Walk through 21st-Century Los Angeles. Follow him on the social network formerly known as Twitter at @colinmarshall.
Don’t forget Current 93’s take “St. Peter’s Keys All Bloody” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAGwovDIMyQ with a bit of Scarborough Fair and T.S. Eliot thrown in.
I honestly hate this cover and how often it’s played. Prime edge-lord garbage. Completely dilutes the poignancy of the original.
Totally mind consuming
I think this is one of the most beautifully haunting covers ever performed. The raw emotion of his voice is breath taking in my opinion
This version by Disturbed rocks a person’s soul!!!❤️❤️❤️
See how stupid the general pubic is?
His one hell of a voice love hearing him wish he do more songs like the song sounds of silence
I was at their concert in OKC this week. Didn’t hear every “song” they “sang”, but everything I did hear was a cover song, including butchering S of S. Do they have any original material at all?
A band called Bobaflex covered the same song and didn’t butcher it like disturbed did.
Nevermore has he best metal cover of this.
Why did you go see a band, if you don’t know their material, and aren’t a fan? 🤔
Was beautiful
Because he’s lying on the internet for clout lol.
DD made me smile when inviting a couple of young girls and their dads onstage during a show, saying they were great dads, considering the Taylor Swift show across town and when a handful of fans booed Swift’s name, quickly checked them, saying that Taylor Swift plays a guitar and sings in front of thousands of strangers and until you do that, you can’t boo Taylor Swift.
Made me love David Draiman (hope I spelled that correctly) and the Swiftie movement, because of its inclusive nature. I’m a headbanger but that appealed to me on a basic, true level. It made me like Disturbed better, and see a little of the Swiftie appeal
Love this cover of the soundtrack!!🇺🇸💈
Bobaflex version is 100x better
Garbage cover by a garbage human being. Fuck David Drainman
I love this version of sound of silence and the original both excellent
Usually I dont like cover versions but this song is something else Brilliant
I love it.
Disturbed’s cover is awesome and gives me chills when I hear it. They did a great job
You’re an asshat. What would you know? You obviously have no soul and no ears!
That msg was for all the haters. This version is epic…phenominal
Mids at best
Go burn your bra batch!
Go burn your bra bitch!
Agreed
There is a YouTube video that plays this version over a montage of 9/11 photos.I cry like a baby every time I watch it.…
Disturbed things the sound Of silence like it’s supposed to be Sung.excellent
I absolutely agree with you!!! It is not a metal song and should not be sung as such. The Disturbed singer sounds raged and disturbed. Not a good fit for this song.
It’s a terrible cover and a major disservice of the song.
No clue how this even became popular.
Disturbed is not a very good band and their cover is pretty bad.
Everyone has and entitled to their own opinion. Thats music for you. I perfer S&G version. But when the cover song is used inn the Military videos. Its perfect for it. See. Everyone has their own opinions. This is mine.
Never heard of this band but watched this on YouTube. Oh my lordy, when it finished I was weeping. Utterly wonderful, haunting cover. David’s voice is stunning. Absolutely love this.
I came on here to comment the same thing.
“Silence is like the cancer that grows”
This song had so much meaning & relevance now, more than ever, but that one sentence, (comparing silence to a growing cancer) is TIMELESS.
Watching the American ppl start to rise up & speak out against the fascist regime that is running their country & watching my fellow Canadians turn out to vote in RECORD #‘s so we DON’T make the same mistakes as our American neighbors, really tugs at my heart & soul. It gives me a bit of hope that some of the things that we cherish & value most (freedom & sovereignty) are still worth fighting for!
Yeah unfortunately the fact they support Israel and genocide turned me off one of my once favourite bands. Shame.
His voice strains the entire time to try and hit anything beyond a mid range note. He doesn’t sing, he yells lyrics.
His voice strains the entire time to try and hit anything beyond a mid range note. He doesn’t sing, he yells lyrics.
LOVE IT!!
He is just fucking creepy and scary
This shouldn’t work but it absolutely does. It’s a different take on the original but he has kept to the original melody just with a sharper edge. His voice is incredible. Most heavy metal singers just scream but, on this song at least, this guy can SING
For all the haters. It is by far the best cover everrr. Period
Love what Disturbed did with this cover. So much more interesting and energising than the original. Simon and Garfunkel were from a different time. Disturbed is now. Can’t believe I’ve been listening to this version on repeat for ten years. It breaths new life into a tired classic.
I don’t see why. It’s a terrible cover. I would rather drive with no music then listen to that brutal song.
The general “pubic”? Lol I needed that laugh today. Thanks
This version rips the bandages off. I love it for its rawness and intensity….and it’s beauty Go figure.
Your an idiot
I’m sorry, but the test results have come back and it appears you have an enormous stick lodged up your backside. Not only that but you’re terminally thick.
Congratulations, you have proven that tasteless imbeciles can operate keyboards.
.…..and you as well.
Agreed 100%.
And the Cyril remix is one if my favourites. Such an incredible voice.
Imagine a Jewish Canter being pro Israel?! 😱
If it’s the Conan version it’s cause DD was sick at the time. I suggest either the original video or the dozens of live performances on YT posted over the years.
Paul Simon said it’s the only cover he likes
Dont like the band and their music.
However, their version of “Sound of Silence” is the best I have ever heard in my live.
100% to them
The 1st time I saw/heard “Disturbed” was when I found it on my laptop.It showed David Draiman walking through a New York City post-911 which was DEVOID of people.The streets were empty but for a smoky,dusty haze EVERYWHERE.Having lived in that beloved city for about 30 yrs., I knew it well, and after my workplace CLOSED,I was “forced” to leave,still unemployed. So, WHERE can I find that ‘Empty City’ video to BUY it? If anyone knows,please help me to get a copy!!
I am a Boomer, and I grew up listening to the original. That being said, I love this version. Started off low key, slowly building to a magnificent crescendo in the final verse.
Truly great cover (and I’m a S&G fan) by a great person.
We know why the haters are really here. Racism is a mental disease.
It’s an interesting take, and his voice is great.
But it’s missing the harmonies that make the song so beautiful and poignant.
It’s good, but not better than the original.
Dave Dramond shows us his incredible ability to sing, from when the song starts, the softness in his voice gives me that hair raising feeling, and as the song progresses, he puts more & more energy into his singing. I feel its an awesome remake of the original song, to me it makes a song from the 60’s relevant to modern times
Uhh , I thought that was Genesis or Phil Collin’s at least .
Very few versions if any top the original. This does in spades. Have you ever even listened to the lyrics? The Garfunkel version is not the way to sing such a dark song. Hello darkness my old friend. Enough said. You made your mind up before ever listening to the disturbed version.
Hi, was around for the original and still think it is one of the best songs of all time. Just listened to this version and after the first minute really got into it. Best I’ve heard since the original.
Cheers.
I’m shook at how gay the public is.
Good article, however Disturb is not Metal
Fuck that guy.
He signed bombs to be dropped on children
Thats why they call it metal dumbass…
You must not have any type of musical ear or you would realize that this is one of the best remix of a song ever in the history of remakes.If you can listen to a live version of this remake and not have any type of feeling then you must not have any type of musical bones in your body my friend. Your comment and thoughts on this remake are extremely flimsy and ridiculous and I can’t believe you even saidit
I cannot get enough of this. I think David Draiman is phenomenal.
Exactly, I love Bobaflexs version. Can not stand Disturbed version, as it is too somber and depression.
Jeff, what do you mean ?
David did an absolute excellent show on 4–25-25. In San Antonio for his fans and to all the haters sorry you couldn’t afford a ticket to see him command and dominate his stage and He does the best version of sound of silence!!!! Take all that hate and Movearound! His fans love him and he can rock a stage.
There’s a YouTube vidfeo of David Draiman singing Unchained Melody Acapella. He’s not only so incredibly talented, but he’s extremely kind and a great defender of people and causes.
This version is true and frightening!
I’ll take comfort in the old version given to us as a gift all those years ago by …S&G
It was soothing and kinder….
The theme of this song is raw.How we can be together and not communicate because we spend our time bowing to a neon god. That is why his edgy vocals work. But on other aspects of the song, he voice is nice and resonant.¹p
Yall disturbed isn’t heavy metal… like if you don’t know the genres of metal please ask someone who actually listens to metal💀
The song is sung with the passion of the words. The meaning remains relevant even more today. The hate and the fear of hate is what keeps us silent…
Well stated Diana.
A good man.
I love it love it love it this is the best version of this song his voice is fantastic
Each to their own. But for me the Disturbed cover is effing awful. Makes me cringe whenever I have the misfortune to hear it.
I love the original but Disturbed really brought it to a new level. Love it
Exactly what I was gonna say: The Best Remake of all time and of all other remakes. I’ve seen people of all ages like just loving it. And with that voice, it takes u deep and feeling it
I like it and I like the original. I like opera and Nickleback too. #Freebird
Yep, it’s youth pastor bullshit.
I played this version at my Sons funeral and everyone enjoyed it very much … it doesn’t replace the Simon and Garfunkel version but My Son liked Disturbed
I absolutely LOVE this rendition. My favorite.
I completely agree.
I saw them recently, and it was better live than the recording!
Since when is Disturbed a “Heavy Metal” band. Pretty sure you mean Nu Metal. And David can GTFOH since he supports the blanket bombing of civilians of entire nation rather than targeted strikes against those who perpetrated Oct. 7th. Sorry about your friend David but blown up kids is not justice for that.
For those that don’t understand.
Disturbed is not just a music taste.
Disturbed tries to make you see in the darkness and tries keep your spark of light flickering on.
Earthman, I am willing to bet you are the guy who just doesn’t like things BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE DO. Not based on merit, skill or reality of what ever project happens to tickle the fancy of the population at the time. I’m not a fan of any of the music played today on the radio or what Is played to numb the masses now a days. I have to say that the remake of this classic was done with a very original take on a song that had been festering for years with zero new fans and old ones forgetting about the song completely “except for” Earthman” of course, Who was taken with the original sound and progressions that would speak to him. So no change was needed. Tell the original writer of the song, that with all the new royalties that are rolling in.
That is awesome, to be able to do something wonderful during such a sad day. You are right that it doesn’t replace the original version but it definitely adds an amazing amount to it that it needed to become relivent Again.
This song is sang straight from Soul so real so Beautiful so powerful.
Scumbag signing American bombs to be used to murder women and children in Palestine.
David Draiman signing USA bombs for the genocide on the Palestine people.
Boycott petition to stop this genocide supporter from performing in Ireland 🇮🇪 in 2025.
Awful rendition
It’s a hit, Goy.
Says the idiot who uses “your” instead of “you’re”.
Yes Jeff, you provide a great amount of evidence.