Mezmerize (Parental Advisory) [Digipak] [PA] - System Of A Down > Reviews > [SOAD 'Mezmerize' With New Release]

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Tankian/Malakian twin vocal assault, guitar work nothing short of exceptional, Rubin's production
Disadvantages:	.  .  .  . that the second half of the album isn't out til' the Autumn

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

When System Of A Down released 'Toxicity' upon the world in 2001, people were left wondering just who these Armenian-American converts were - their mix of chaotic instrumentals and ever-so-slightly twisted lyrics made it 'the' rock album to have in many people's eyes. Despite the singles 'Chop Suey' and 'Toxicity' itself striking a nice chord with me, I could never stomach the majority of the album - maybe it was the fact I was 15 and in my nu-metal phase, or maybe the simple fact that it just didn't do it for me - but now, as I turn 19, the band are back….. and I love it. The first half of a double album (with the latter half to be released sometime this year), Mezmerize sees the band continue their thematic nonsense, twisting and contorting their way through 36 minutes of absolute musical bliss…..

Co-produced by guitarist Daron Malakian, 'Mezmerize' shows off a band that don't care to be alike, don't want to be alike, and quite frankly, have the aim of delivering a stiff middle finger to the corporate music world. Interestingly enough, the albums fine artwork, resembling something along the lines of Salvador Dali, was designed by Daron's father, Vartan…..some completely nonsensical information there. Lead single 'B.Y.O.B' crashes along like a runaway train - manic vocals, intriguing instrumentals and pure ingenious mayhem - "Blast off, It's party time, And we don't live in a fascist nation. Blast off, It's party time, And where the fuck are you?" - they're a band that have never been afraid to voice their opinions on the US political scene, and in Mezmerize, the band voice their concerns on more than one occasion.

'Revenga' incorporates the vocal talents of guitarist Malakian, as well as full time front man Serj Tankian - and whilst the vocals are trademark SOAD mish-mash - the song itself continues the manic theme of the album, winding it's way along with one of the most beautiful pieces of guitar instrumental you could wish for. What Malakian gives the band, in terms of vocals, is a difference. Admittedly his voice doesn't quite carry the range that Tankian does, but it gives them the opportunity to mix two completely different voices into one blended sound - a sound that defines System Of A Down, and Mezmerize in particular. Some may well say that 'Cigaro' takes things just a little too far - lyrics such as "My cock is much bigger than yours" and "My shit stinks much better than yours" may just be pushing the boundaries a little too much, but musically the track carries all the punch of what's come before.

'Radio/Video', for me one of the finest tracks present here, is also the one most inclined to appeal to the mainstream market. The band deter from the general mayhem that covers their music and deliver the catchiest song on the record to date - "Hey man! Look at me rockin out, I'm on the radiooooooo, Hey man! Look at me rockin out, I'm on the videooooooo, With Danny and Lisa" - and whilst not being sure who the hell Danny and Lisa are…. It's a tune. One thing to be noted about System Of A Down, is that it takes time to warm to both them and their manic sound. Where their second record 'Toxicity' scared the crap out of me, Mezmerize, and it's blatantly off the wall vibe, has captured me in a way no other album has done since Nirvana's 'Nevermind', and that's a testament to a band that aren't scared to be different - and chances are, if you loathe first single 'B.Y.O.B', then you'll love the rest of the album, as they are none alike.

"I can't see your souls through your eyes, The crying walls of sliding architecture, Kidnapped by the likes of pure conjecture, Upholstery loving men all dwelling in the wells, Kidnapped by the likes of pure conjecture" - 'This Cocaine Makes Me Feel Like I'm On This Song' is probably the only track I'd be inclined to skip. Whilst the guitar work is once again to top notch, the vocals seem somewhat forced here, and it's not terribly pleasant. 'Violent Pornography' gives the album back it's punch - constantly repeated verse backed by a simple, yet adult friendly chorus "It's a violent pornography, Choking chicks and sodomy, The kinda shit you get on your TV" - SOAD resurface their sublime, yet slightly twisted sound to great effect. What some will see as blatantly rude lyrics, others will see as daring to be different, and parents….theirs a 'parental advisory' label present, not that they have any great effect these days. 'Question', strummed acoustic intro and all, is a power explosion to the senses, one so typical of Toxicity-era SOAD, delivering one of the most infectious choruses on the album. "Do we, do we know, When we fly. When we, when we go, Do we die" - simple, yet very effective in terms of continuing the sound of the album.

Both 'Sad Statue' - "You and me, We'll all go down in history, With a sad Statue of Liberty, And a generation that didn't agree" and Old School Hollywood - "Old school Hollywood baseball, Jack Gilardi's ten feet tall, Old school Hollywood baseball, Me and Frankie Avalon…" crash along as everything that's come before has done, delivering that certain punch that stands System Of A Down above their peers. The albums highlight is undoubtedly closer 'Lost In Hollywood', an eerie ballad sung almost exclusively by guitarist Malakian about the state of America's entertainment industry - "I was standing on the wall, Feeling ten feet tall, All you maggots smoking fags on Santa Monica Boulevard, This is my front page, This is my new age, All you bitches put your hands in the air and wave them like you just don't care" - it's an honest representation of an outsiders viewpoint that makes for a beautiful song.

"Phoney people come to play, Look at all of them beg to stay, Phoney people come to pray" - as mentioned before, System Of A Down voice their opinion on any topic, and in their eyes, Hollywood is one big fat lie. Closing line "You should have never trusted Hollywood" says everything - one day you're the worlds favourite son, and the next….gone - a pawn in one big game. There's no doubt that SOAD have progressed from 'Toxicity', whether it's enough to intrigue long time fans is one thing, but whether it's enough to attract new listeners is a certainty - Mezmerize is 'the' album of this millennium - it experiments to no end, it pushes the listener past new boundaries, and most importantly….it rocks. Malakian and Tankian have done themselves proud - their twin assault attacks the senses like no other, the guitar work is second to none, and as for the second half of this double release, bring it on.

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Repeat - B.Y.O.B, Revenga, Cigaro, Radio/Video, Violent Pornography, Question, Sad Statue, Old School Hollywood, Lost In Hollywood.

Skip - This Cocaine Makes Me Feel Like I'm On This Song

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