"Attack" and "Dreaming" the first songs on HYPNOTIZE, are classic System of a Down with their furious riffage, schizophrenic song structures, and the slinky, nasal vocals of lead singer Serj Tankian. The band knows how to craft a hook ("Kill Rock 'N Roll," "She's Like Heroin"), raise political consciousness ("Stealing Society" is about the Armenian genocide), and rock with the ferocity of the heaviest speed and thrash metal bands. In short, System of a Down seems capable of doing anything, and HYPNOTIZE is further, indisputable proof of that fact.
This dualdisc includes the entire album on the CD side and the entire album in Enhanced LPCM Stereo on the DVD side.
Just when it seemed that System of a Down couldn't do anything to improve on their standing as the most unique and ambitious band in the alternative metal world, they decided to drop their sprawling, Rick Rubin-produced double album by releasing each disc separately. Early 2005 saw the arrival of MESMERIZE. After that album gained significant exposure via tours, radio, and videos, the album's counterpart, HYPNOTIZE, was released in late November. The albums were recorded in the same sessions--so there is a strong sense of musical cohesion, and even the CD packages themselves are designed to fit together to form one set.
Recording information: Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research,; The Mansion, Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, CA.
Rolling Stone (No. 988, p.117) - 3.5 out of 5 stars - "...Hell immediately runneth over on Malakian's scoured-staccato guitars and Dolmayan's furious hammering...." Spin (p.102) - "[The first album's] tracks, all around four minutes long, ricochet through a clutch of ideas, compressing what might otherwise be prog-rock suites into jump-cut barrages. That strategy certainly keeps the songs moving..." -- Grade: B Spin (p.62) - Ranked #20 in Spin's "40 Best Albums Of 2005" - "America's most compelling metal band hones a mash-up of Cali-punk absurdism, political outrage, and jump-cut headbanging." Entertainment Weekly (No. 851, p.100) - "...[T]hey're flaunting a heretofore underexplored sensitive side, offsetting their trademark stampeding riffology with flashes of delicate lyricism...." - Grade: B+ Uncut (p.109) - 3 stars out of 5 - "System succeed through their skill at wielding complex, progressive heaviness in a pop context."
System of a Down once again hits the the Top Another album and another rock steady performance by this famed LA based Armenian-American band. Each and every song is a strong manifestation and a hugely successful combination of great rock music and socio-political lyrics. Thank you for being and performing the way you do. Submitted by vahram (Yerevan, Armenia) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
Excellent CD Those guys from SOAD always put out a good CD, and seem to get better with each new installment. Submitted by abshack (Virginia, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
Typicle System They continue to amaze me with there music, awesom CD. Submitted by gman61353 (Dekalb, IL, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Triumph Some of the most catchy riffs I have heard in a long, LONG, time. Great lyrics, sick guitar, the new age of metal. Brilliant. Give me more ;) Submitted by fully_aussie (Melbourne, Australia) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
The most mature album of SOAD Very nice job.Including some realy impressive songs (ex Dreaming) Submitted by alex (Greece) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
System of a Down once again hits the the Top
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