Editing Believe (Disturbed album) (section)

==Music and lyrics==
As ''The Sickness'', ''Believe'' has been described as [[nu metal]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-50-best-nu-metal-albums-of-all-time|title = The 50 best nu metal albums of all time|date = April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vinylmeplease.com/magazine/10-best-nu-metal-albums-own-vinyl/ |title=The 10 Best Nu Metal Albums To Own On Vinyl |work=Vinyl Me, Please |date=August 23, 2018 |access-date=February 3, 2018 |last=Suarez |first=Gary}}</ref><ref name="Rolling Stone"/> but stylistically it witnessed the band place more emphases on [[lead guitar]] and melodic complexity. This musical progression would follow through on future Disturbed albums where [[guitar solo]]s would become commonplace. While ''The Sickness'' focused on heavy compositions, Disturbed's sophomore effort varies more greatly in its range of heaviness and melody, closing with a somber, [[acoustic guitar|acoustic]] ballad entitled "Darkness." Singer David Draiman also wished to demonstrate a greater vocal dimension than the intense style he was previously associated with. Nevertheless, he described the content of the album as "pure and unadulterated in every sense of the word 'metal'."<ref name="MTVapril"/>

As noted by Draiman, ''Believe'' contains overt religious and spiritual themes. These were inspired by various experiences such as the [[September 11 attacks]] and the recent death of Draiman's [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox Jewish]] grandfather: 
:"All the songs on the record revolve around the theme of belief in oneself and in humanity's potential. . . And the right-wing reactions of religious leaders of the world to the events of 9/11 had a lot to do with the original impetus of where this record came from. It angered me beyond any way I could possibly explain. The whole album's about questioning your beliefs to determine what you really can believe in."

Lyrically, the album deals with various other topics as well. "Remember" delves into the cutthroat nature of the music industry as well as Draiman's resistance to indulgent partying; "Awaken" deals with America's never-ending obsession with vacuous "wallpaper music"; the tracks "Bound" and "Intoxication" focus on Draiman's inability to have a meaningful romantic relationship. In an interview, he noted, "I've had various experiences with women over the past two-and-a-half years that have made me have several chips on my shoulder - not in an angry way necessarily, but almost in a pleading way. I'm at a point in my life where I've had my heart torn apart so many times that there's just not much left to it."<ref name="MTVapril"/>

In keeping with the lyrical themes, the album cover features symbols of major religions, including the [[Judaism|Jewish]] [[Star of David]], the [[Islam]]ic [[star and crescent|crescent]], the [[Wicca]]n [[pentacle]], and the [[Christian cross]]. 
Draiman explained the meaning of the symbol on stage during the Music as a Weapon II Tour:
: "The symbol that you see elevated above the set behind me is a symbol of universal belief."<ref>{{YouTube|-x7rxmJ7y5k}}</ref>