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 (54 Customer Reviews)
System of a Down sees itself as being an integral part of a new musical revolution of heavy music. On the surface, the band's manifesto seems tangential to Rage Against the Machine's; but musically SOAD is a groove-metal machine, with a sound that incorporates a punk ethic, Panteraesque riffs, and a schizophrenic vocal approach reminiscent of Mike Patton.
Like a dose of chicken soup for a disconnected moshing youth, SYSTEM OF A DOWN is unrelenting. "Sugar" segues from neo-jazz verses into pounding thrash-core choruses. "Spiders" shows more depth, dynamics, and even poetic, melodic vocals. The production of the album is raw and very close to that of a live album, surely a deliberate stroke by producer Rick Rubin (who has put many metal bands on the map under his guidance). On "Soil," vocalist Serj Tankian questions the ideology of democracy. With possibly more conspiracy theories than an episode of THE X-FILES, System of a Down explores the concept of mass influence through technology in "War?" The essence of SYSTEM OF A DOWN can be found in "P.L.U.C.K"; the song's title says it all, an acronym for "politically lying, unholy, cowardly killers."
Principally recorded at Sound City, Van Nuys, California.
Personnel: Serj Tankian (vocals, keyboards, sampler); Daron Malakian (guitar, background vocals); Rick Rubin (piano); John Dolmayan (drums).
Audio Mixer: Dave Sardy.
Recording information: Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research,; Sound City Studios, Van Nuys, CA.
Photographer: Anthony Artiaga.
System Of A Down: Serj Tankian (vocals, keyboards, samples); Daron Malakian (guitar, background vocals); Shavo Odadjian (bass); John Dolmayan (drums).
Additional personnel: Rick Rubin (piano).
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Q (10/01, p.152) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...This remains an excellent starting point for this most curious and underrated of bands..." System Of A Down Music Review Average Rating: (4.5 out of 5 stars)   List All Reviews SOAD's first album
This is a great first album and having heard it AFTER listening to Toxcity, it is evident where System of a Down came from musically. It's a lot heavier and more angry than the follow up albums but doesn't show the band's muscianship. Still, it is alot better than the current radio friendly "sound like every other "alternative"" band album that is now getting airplay.
Submitted by sbw123 (Chicago) 
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 Great
It is a really great cd, one of System Of A Downs best. I love System Of A Down, but their other cds are kind of covered by gimmicks. This one is more of just good quality songs.
Submitted by angelbaby261290 (Trenton, NJ, USA)
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good but not their best
I think "steal this album is better" and of course "toxicity" is even better. Its not a bad purchase though, so I think you should buy it.
Submitted by a reviewer (Iwakuni,Japan)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No  Welcome to Art Core (1)!
Ok... they made it! SOAD made a lesson of originality in a 'metal crossover' ambient too much suffocated by Korn clones. They learned the lesson of hard core masters and put it into practice with a winning mix of instruments and (absolutely personal) voice.
Submitted by a reviewer (Trieste, Italy)
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SOAD
Good, but Toxicity is better.
Submitted by toby31 (Queens, NY, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No List All Reviews | Have you heard this album? |  |
Purchase System Of A Down CD To buy, Click on price to add to cart | Fountains Of Wayne Utopia Parkway CD (1999)
System Of A Down album
 $7.69  
Fountains of Wayne turn self-conscious alt-rock geekdom into an unassailable art form on their second album UTOPIA PARKWAY. They combine classic power-pop song structure with a knack for the killer hook and an endless supply of self-referential lyrics detailing the lives of East Coast hipsters growing up in the postmodern age. Perfect pop harmonies, ringing guitars and the occasional synth sweep (for retro new wave credibility) match lyrics about "playing in a cover band" and taking "the N train down to Coney Island."
It quickly becomes plain that the outsider edge of the songs comes from the fact that the songs' characters are kids from the 'burbs who enter the city in search of deliverance, or at least relief from boredom. This scenario's apex is reached on "Laser Show," about driving into New York City's Hayden Planetarium to see Pink Floyd and Metallica laser shows. God bless those who write about what they know.
Recorded at Stratosphere Sound, The Big House and Room With A Jew, New York, New York; Destructopuss, Northampton, Massacheusetts.
Producers: Adam Schlesinger, Chris Collingwood.
Engineers: Gary Maurer, John Siket, Adam Schlesinger.
Personnel: Chris Collingwood, Adam Schlesinger (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Jody Porter (vocals, guitar); Garo Yellin, Ralph Farris, Conway Kuo (strings); Brian Young (drums, percussion); Kris Woolsey (hand claps); Ron Sexsmith (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Adam Schlesinger; Mike Denneen.
Recording information: Big House, New York, NY; Destructopuss, Northampton, MA; Room With A Jew, New York, NY; Stratosphere Sound, Myc, NY.
Photographers: Chris Collingwood; Joseph Cultice; Adam Schlesinger.
Fountains Of Wayne: Adam Schlesinger (vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass); Chris Collingwood (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Jody Porter (vocals, guitar); Brian Young (drums, percussion).
Additional personnel: Garo Yellin, Conway Kuo (strings); Kris Woolsey (handclaps); Ron Sexsmith (background vocals).
| | Creed My Own Prison CD (1997)
System Of A Down CD music
$7.59 
The music of Creed was born out of the strife and tumult of singer Scott Stapp's personal life. He turned down a university scholarship and left home at 17, estranging himself from his parents, whose strict religious mindset he had been at odds with for years. Eventually, he hit bottom, living in a car and scribbling down the ideas that became the lyrics to Creed songs. The mainstream success of MY OWN PRISON has taken Stapp and his fellow Floridians in Creed a long way from dumpster-diving.
The band's combination of spiritually-oriented lyrics and guitar-based post-Nirvana hard rock connected in a big way with rock radio and with their vast, rabid following. MY OWN PRISON reflects the band's belief in the redemptive power of both God and rock and roll. On such tunes as "In America," "What's This Life For" and "Pity For A Dime" the band expresses both sociopolitical and spiritual concerns while leaving plenty of room for world-class headbanging riffs.
Recorded at The Kitchen Studio, Tallahassee, Florida and Criteria Studios, Miami, Florida.
Creed: Mark Tremonti (vocals, guitar); Scott Stapp (vocals); Brian Marshall (bass); Scott Phillips (drums).
Additional personnel: John Kurzweg (keyboards).
| | System Of A Down Steal This Album CD (2002)
System Of A Down music CDs
$7.09
STEAL THIS ALBUM contains outtakes and previously unreleased tracks.
Even considering the enormous popularity of nu-metal in the late '90s and early '00s, the initial mass commercial acceptance of System Of A Down was pretty surprising. On STEAL THIS ALBUM! the wildly eclectic group continues to push the envelope by even more aggressively fusing brutal, razor-sharp thrash metal with a distinctly Eastern European folk-inspired melodic sense and bizarrely humorous/politically incisive lyrics worthy of Frank Zappa or Jello Biafra. To top it all off, the songs rarely have traditional verse/chorus structures or much in the way of identifiable refrains.
Amazingly, however, most of the music manages to be both intensely catchy and far more memorable than virtually anything by Korn, Slipknot, Mudvayne, or any of System Of A Down's other genre-mates. In fact, System Of A Down has less in common with these groups than with '80s everything-but-the-kitchen-sink types like Fishbone and Faith No More. STEAL THIS ALBUM is a powerfully creative statement by a group determined to expand the boundaries of nu-metal.
Audio Mixer: Andy Wallace.
| | Tool Aenima CD (1996) (Import) Germany
System Of A Down songs
$11.55
AENIMA was nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Recording Package. "Aenima" won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.
On its second full-length album, this hard-rocking quartet delivers 15 tracks of unrelenting aggression and focused intensity. Rather than overwhelm with huge sonic washes of guitar and booming drums, Tool employs a propulsive, snaky approach that makes use of undulating rhythms and clipped, percussive guitar riffs. Maynard James Keenan's vocals follow suit, opting for a heavily processed slow burn instead of the post-grunge bellow favored by so many hard-rock bands. Instead of flailing uncontrollably in all directions, the group's raw, energetic sound is tightly directed for maximum impact.
On songs like "Stinkfist," Keenan rails against injustice while the band churns mercilessly behind him. There is very little humor or light in Tool's worldview (except for song titles like "Hooker With A Penis"); these are songs of painstakingly articulated angst, and they are delivered in an earnest, deadpan manner. These fierce rockers are dead set on making their point, and make it they do, with all the bloodshed and carnage that entails.
Additional personnel includes: Marko Fox (vocals); Eban Schletter (organ); Chris Pittman (synthesizer); D.B. (keyboards); Bill Hicks.
Recorded at Ocean Way, Hollywood, California and The Hook, North Hollywood, California.
Personnel: Maynard James Keenan, Bill Hicks (vocals); Eban Schletter (organ); David Bottrill (keyboards); Chris Pitman (synthesizer).
Audio Mixer: David Bottrill.
Recording information: Ocean Way, Hollywood, CA (1996); The Hook, North Hollywood, CA (1996).
Photographers: Fabrico DiSanto; Jeff Novack.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Danny Carey; Joel Larson; Adam Jones ; Justin Chancellor; Karen Mason.
Tool: Maynard James Keenan (vocals); Adam Jones (guitar); Justin Chancellor (bass); Danny Carey (drums).
| | System Of A Down Toxicity CD (2001)
System Of A Down album
$9.29
"Chop Suey!" was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.
"Aerials" was nominated for the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best Hard Rock Performance.
While System of a down are often cast with the nu-metal crowd, their sound is closer to '80s thrash (and even hardcore punk) than to any of the rap-metal hordes. Grinding guitars and death-knell drums may be the order of the day, but they work in service of a highly developed socio-political consciousness. In fact, when he's not lacerating his vocal cords, singer Tankian delivers his rebellious lyrics in a tone reminiscent of infamous Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra. Make no mistake, the thrash quotient on TOXICITY is high enough to satiate even the hungriest headbanger, but System of a Down understands the power of dynamics, often moving from a whisper to a scream over the course of the album (though they obviously spend far more time on the scream end of the spectrum). Additionally, they deliver their eye-gouging riffs with an unerring precision that never devolves into an indistinct blur. This hard-hitting quartet knows how to deliver the hard-rock goods with grace.
Parental Advisory 5272356
Recorded at Cello Studios, Hollywood, California.
Producers: David Schiffman, Greg Collins, Darren Morr.
Engineers: Rick Rubin, Daron Malakian, Serj Tankian.
System Of A Down: Serj Tankian (vocals, keyboards): Daron Malakian (guitar, background vocals); Shavo Odadjian (bass); John Dolmayan (drums).
Additional personnel: Rick Rubin (piano); Arto Tuncboyaciyan (background vocals).
| | System Of A Down Mezmerize CD (2005)
System Of A Down CD music
$9.59
Many rock bands talk endlessly about their "sound," refining a basic formula until it's either perfect or perfectly boring. System of a Down, however, developed a loyal fanbase with the opposite approach--the group mixes genres so freely that describing what their music sounds like is nearly impossible. Sure, SOAD is, at its core, a metal band, but on MEZMERIZE's first two songs alone, vocalist/guitarist/mastermind Daron Malakian and crew zigzag their way though Beach Boys-like stacked vocal harmonies, Anthrax-esque hardcore thrash, Cameo-style funk, and prog rock of a CARESS OF STEEL-era Rush variety. "Revenga" adds a touch of swooping Freddie Mercury vocal drama to the mix, while "Sad Statue" sports a guitar riff that sounds like a Greek bouzouki. Even sharper, tighter, and more ambitious than System of a Down's previous albums, MEZMERIZE makes for a consistently surprising listen.
P/A. Pt.1 Of A 2 Album Release For 2005.Prod.By Rick Rubin.
Audio Mixer: Andy Wallace.
Editors: Dana Nielsen; Jason Lader.
System of a Down: Shavo Odadjian (bass guitar); Daron Malakian, Serj Tankian, John Dolmayan.
Personnel: Daron Malakian (vocals, guitar); Serj Tankian (vocals, keyboards); John Dolmayan (drums).
| | Metallica CD (1991)
System Of A Down music CDs
$15.65
When a genre-defining group like Metallica, whose past albums have rocked the charts with virtually no airplay, enlists the aid of a hit-making producer like Bob Rock, the result is bound to be monumental. METALLICA, their sixth studio release, surpasses all expectations.
METALLICA is an extremely heavy album. It carries a presence, a huge, live sound different from that heard on their previous recordings. What once could not be tamed has been refined, resulting in a fuller, more powerful guitar sound in an already guitar-intensive band. They have evolved from the messy, unabashed thrashers of their youth into a more confident, poised and angry bunch, not only retaining their fire but stoking it into a chunky, tight-fisted maelstrom of scowling energy.
Serious riffs provide punch and punctuation for James Hetfield's gruff vocals which rage against society and religion, and revel in suspicion and sarcasm. METALLICA is full of songs just as potent as the hugely popular "Enter Sandman," yet is not as complicated as their recent albums have seemed. "Sad But True," which is just as low down and dirty as anything labeled "grunge," exemplifies the poise of the metal band that can foresee the punchlines to their riffs and has the patience to wait for them.
Recorded at One On One Recording, Los Angeles, California between October 1990 and June 1991.
Metallica: James Hetfield (vocals, guitar); Kirk Hammett (guitar); Jason Newstead (bass); Lars Ulrich (drums).
| | Dion Teenager In Love CD (1992)
System Of A Down songs
$6.45
This budget-priced ten-song Dion & the Belmonts compilation from the Collectables label features original classics like "Teenager in Love" "I Wonder Why," and "Where or When," but ultimately fails to deliver due to the exclusion of radio standards such as "Runaround Sue" and "The Wanderer." Fans looking to score a quality Dion fix should check out EMI's Story or Capitol's exhaustive three-disc King of the New York Streets collection, both of which include material from the legendary singer's Belmonts years, as well as selections from his solo canon. ~ James Christopher Monger
Nice price collection featuring 'A Teenager In Love', 'I Wonder Why', 'Where Or When' and more. Collectables. 2003.
| | Echo & The Bunnymen Never Stop: Live In Liverpool CD (2006) (Import) Australia
System Of A Down album
$10.99
2006 set featuring the world-famous Echo and the Bunnymen performing live in their hometown of Liverpool in August of 2001. Previously issued as a single disc, this two CD set features six extra tracks for a total of 21 performances! Includes 'Rescue', 'Bring On The Dancing Horses', 'Seven Seas', 'The Cutter', 'Villiers Terrace', 'The Killing Moon', 'Never Stop' and more. Music Club.
| | Despised Icon Ills Of Modern Man CD (2007)
System Of A Down CD music
$10.75
If avant-garde jazz artists decided to become headbangers, the most logical place for them would be math metal. The 2000s have given us a long list of technical metal bands that thrive on angularity and difficult time signatures, which of course, are also easy to find in avant-garde jazz. But some technical metal bands are more accessible than others, and Ills of Modern Man has more of a sense of groove than a lot of other technical metal discs. Despised Icon is a band that combines technical death metal with technical metalcore. Some of the vocals favor death metal's stereotypical "Cookie Monster" growl, and some favor the type of tortured screaming that metalcore and hardcore are known for; it would be inaccurate to describe Ills of Modern Man as either pure death metal or pure metalcore because it is, in fact, a combination of the two -- and whether one is hearing the "Cookie Monster" vocals or the screaming vocals, Ills of Modern Man aims for both complexity and vicious, head-crushing bombast. But again, this Montreal-based outfit is one of the more groove-friendly technical metal bands; they have achieved a balance of accessibility and angularity and aren't hard to get into if one has a taste for extreme metal. Since their formation in 2002, Despised Icon have had their share of lineup changes; on this 2007 release, the six-man lineup consists of Alex Erian and Steve Marois on lead vocals, Eric Jarrin and Yannick St. Amand on guitar, Sebastien Piché on bass and Alex Pelletier on drums. And that 2007 lineup works out fairly well on this decent, if mildly inconsistent, example of technical death metal and technical metalcore coming together. ~ Alex Henderson
Despised Icon: Alex Erian, Steve Marois (vocals); Yannick St. Amand, Eric Jarrin (guitar); Sebastien Piche (bass guitar); Alex Pelletier (drums).
| | Far From Finished Living In The Fallout CD (2006)
System Of A Down music CDs
$9.79
Audio Mixer: Jim Siegel.
Recording information: Outpost Studio, Stoughton, MA; Ray Of Hope Recording, Taunton, MA; The House That Keif Built, Worcester, MA.
Photographer: Gary Land.
Far from Finished: Steve Neary (vocals); Marc Orell (guitars, piano, organ); Paul Christian (guitars); Mark Lind (electric bass); Marco Cannata.
Personnel: Marco Cannata (vocals, piano, organ, drums, percussion); Tim Baxter (vocals); Jim Siegel (piano, organ).
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