... This is System of a Down, raw and wriggling, fresh and brilliant...
Serj Tankian - lead vocals, keyboards, cool beard
Daron Malakian - guitars, backing vocals, cool beard
John Dolmayan - drums, cool beard
Shavo Odadjian - bass, awesome beard
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
(cover and content)
OK, ... Read review
OK, so from the start we know this isn't your average 'lets rock out ... ...song that begins with the System heaviness, but in the middle we get a very haunting and affecting section full of strings and mysterious chants that go very nicely into a heavy conclusion. The subject matter is easy enough to guess from the title, which makes appreciating the lyrics much easier... although Serj has said that he wants the listeners to think for themselves...
Maybe I say this too much for it to be believed, but this is truly one of the greatest disc's in my ever-growing collection... This is System of a Down, raw and wriggling, fresh and brilliant...
OK, so from the start we know this isn't your average 'lets rock out 'cuz its fun' group... a seemingly random hand (all is explained!) on the front with an aged-picture look that can 'grab' your attention straight away... this is an album you won't have to search all too closely for... On the reverse is a track list and a large piece of writing that IS NOT credits and technical information and IS NOT to be ignored! It is in fact a short essay by, I'm guessing, Serj. It is an insightful and intelligent piece of writing by a man who clearly knows what he is doing here. The CD art is by Shavo, and is of little consequence or brilliance, but the images on the sleeve are rather disturbing images of the band... and littered all over the sleeve, under pictures, between lyrics, we have snippets and quotes similar to that on the back cover.NOW THE ACTUAL MUSIC!!!!
TRACK ONE - SUITE-PEE
Daron opens with a little scale or something, before the band enters in a complete change of tonality. This is a great song, catchy and with System's trademark slightly-obscure-but-cynical lyrics. A positive start, but then we go on to...
TRACK TWO - KNOW
a solid drumbeat taking us straight into this next, equally-brilliant piece. Serj' voice comes in with a melody even catchier then the last, with an even harder sound. Brilliant!
TRACK THREE - SUGAR
Many people seem to prefer Sugar... and its easy to hear why! We kick straight in with Mr Tankian yelling about the Kombucha mushroom people, but after a while we drop the loudness and go into some kind of angry rhythmical rant by Serj, while Daron repeats 'Sugar!' in the background. Another brilliantly heavy track... can we get any more rage and power in one CD?
TRACK FOUR - SUGGESTIONS
Maybe later, because now we have a slightly quieter but equally tense intro to Suggestions. Serj comes in with a cleaner voice now, showing us that these guys aren't just making as much noise as they can. A step in a different direction...
TRACK FIVE - SPIDERS
A step further with Spiders, which I believe was in one of the Scream movies. (The video is great, very powerful and you see Serj with dreadlocks!) The song in itself is pure brilliance! Starting off with an ominous guitar (not a bass, but very low due to some technical trickery) the mood is instantly set, and Serj' vocals - which I spent about 10 seconds there failing to find a fitting word for - enhance it so amazingly. Then we go into the kind of heaviness we heard earlier, but greatly tinged with this dark sound from the minor key and vocals... This song is just brilliant, perhaps one of the album's best (which is not an easy position to fill!) The words intense and ominous are the best you'll find to describe it...
TRACK SIX - DDEVIL
The drumbeat hooks you instantly here... not one of my favourite, but still spectacularly awesome... There isn't particularly much to say on this track, but do not underestimate it!
TRACK SEVEN - SOIL
This is a good song, the choruses are catchy, and the group decide to be a bit different with odd out-of-time vocals in the verse... a bit weird on first listens, but enjoyable anyhow!
TRACK EIGHT - WAR?
Another song that begins with the System heaviness, but in the middle we get a very haunting and affecting section full of strings and mysterious chants that go very nicely into a heavy conclusion. The subject matter is easy enough to guess from the title, which makes appreciating the lyrics much easier... although Serj has said that he wants the listeners to think for themselves...
TRACK NINE - MIND
A soft entry to this great track, featuring the bass... but just as it fades... GO AWAY! GO AWAY! yells Serj, to background roars. We then go into a quiet but ultimately ... weird... bit... Serj' ability and vocal flexibility on this track are only matched by one other song...
TRACK TEN - PEEPHOLE
Not yet! First we need to hear a creepy sound... a little like a radio being tuned in... before the guitar intro comes in and then the most unexpected thing happens - we hear some pretty darn creepy carnival music, complete with waltz-timing and what sounds like a tuba... although I have been lead to believe it is actually a more customary rock instrument. The chorus is similar to the heaviness on other songs, but the triple time changes the feel of it slightly.
TRACK ELEVEN - CUBErt
Another rhythmical and melodic delight, this is probably the best competition for Spiders as the best song on the CD... Again not a track that can be described in so much detail but brilliant nonetheless!
TRACK TWELVE - DARTS
Here we have it... the weirdest vocal performance, i do believe, that Serj has ever given us. From the just plain strange 'May I please remain in this space?' to the almost chant-like shouts in an archaic dialect, it sounds like somebody removed all of Serj' human-ness, stuck him in a cage, told him to go insane and recorded the results... breathtaking!!!!
FINAL TRACK - P.L.U.C.K.
From the start Serj has had a love for screaming 'DIE!!!!!!!!!!!' at the top of his lungs, and rightly so. This is a very personal song for all members, as the main focus is the Armenian Genocide that they fight constantly and passionately about. Another catchy song, a final breath of heaviness and a step back to the slightly more 'normal' (can that word be used for these guys?). A good finisher, leaving the listener wanting even more!!!!!!!
--------
The good news is, they have four other albums that you now can't wait to buy!
Overall, this CD has everything, emotion, all-out rage, an enormous leap out of the ordinary, powerful lyrics, excellent performers and tunes and rhythms that'll be stuck in your head until your very last breath!
Thank you System of a Down!
(a quick footnote... I have scored it as 'average' compared to the other System releases, but only because they are all so brilliant!)
Advantages: Bangers throughout Disadvantages: Nothing specific
...1998 the California-based Metal band System Of A Down released their self-entitled debut album. Backed by legendary producer Rick Rubin (who was responsible for the rise of Hip Hop, before turning his attention back to his earlier years in Heavy Metal) you see Serj Tankian leading the band in a time prior to their big break with 2001’s “Toxicity”. 1. “Suite-Pee” Getting things underway, you have a track from them which has them getting right down ... ...his original style of consisting songs in order to get listeners into the work as he comes with such an erratic and frantic approach that you find it hard to keep up with him as he gets things done with the rest of the band doing what they can in order to keep in with the direction of the lyrics. **Five Stars** 2. “Know” Advancing thing through with this one, you get a song from them which finds them keeping up with the raging work which had been ...
XICripZ 23.07.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of System Of A Down - System Of A Down
Advantages: The origins of what is now one of the biggest bands in the world Disadvantages: Song writing not as developed and realised as on later efforts
...more or less dead, however, system have gone from strength to strength and are literally one of the biggest groups in the world at the present time. The observant reviewer not familiar with said band, or music scene may rightfully quip here, how so? The answer is not particurarly complex, simply, as is evident from this album, system allways had a bit more about them than being just another nu metal band.
It still baffles me how a band like system, ... ...a bit wacky and unconventional. System is able to marry it's love of old school hardcore punk and thrash metal with completley un-rock influences such as swing, polka and assorted other oddities, folk and carnival inspired themes no less! The thing is, system are masters in integrating all this oddness into likeable and catchy rock songs. Simply put, they are excellent songwriters, most of the songs manage to encompasse all the avant garde influences ...
des901 14.06.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of System Of A Down - System Of A Down
Advantages: Very oringal, very raw. Disadvantages: Hard to listen to in places.
This is System of a Down's first proper album and you can hear that the ideas are quite raw and there is alot of creavity and ideas in the mix; however some songs work better than others.
The musicainship on this album is definatly worth listening to. System have a very unique sound as they take influences from nu-metal, rock, and traditional Armainian music.
The songs are mostly political, talking on issues such as the American government and ... ...any people who are already System of a Down fans will love this album. If you are a System virgin so to speak this is not a bad place to start. It isn't as accesible as Toxicity or as angry as Steal this Album I don't think but it could easily interest anyone from Metal to Hip-Hop fans I think. ...
wez001 22.06.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of System Of A Down - System Of A Down
Advantages: Very Good songs and extremley original. Disadvantages: A bit heavier and less melodic than there later albums.
...a fairly new fan of System Of A Down so i first heard them through their newer material like Mezmerize and Hypnotize. As these are generally more melodic and less heavy albums i wasn't so much prepared for the older System Of A Down. The Band consits of Daron Malakian - guitar and backround vocals, Serj Tanakian - vocals, Shavo Odadjian - Bass, John Dolmayan. The band have an amerindian backround which definatley shows through in some of their songs. ... ...always change"
showing that System Of A Down notice and are aware of current afairs,
This debut is a very strong and well put toghether collection of songs. The band are not afraid of caonstantly pushing musical barriers or experimenting to produce original and mind blowing music. If i was to rate this album i would award it with a 9/10 for sublime and amazing songs. ...
shmental 05.01.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of System Of A Down - System Of A Down
Advantages: uncomparable lyrics great riffs truly deep message Disadvantages: not as clear as later albums not enough of darons unique voice
this album never fails to send chills down my spine, suite pee's intro sets off the entire album, sugar is undoubtedly one of my favourite songs this album is something completely different.. One thing this debut holds above the two latest is the content from the band within the inlay. They write alot of opinions and feeling into this inlay which anyone who follows the progression will know the message becomes alot clearer in the music but the band ... ...that is found in their inspirational blurbs across this most insignificant parts of an album, reassuring us we are not alone when we look at our effect on this planet. After listening to the two new albums 'System Of A Down' will let old fans fall back into a distant reality that once was 4 albums ago and gives new fans an insight into where the band came from and how there influences have shaped them dramatically from this more than groundbreaking ...
modavies 05.12.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of System Of A Down - System Of A Down
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Quality and consistency...
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Advantages: Great metal album Disadvantages: Only 16 tracks!
Steal This Album is one of System of A Down's finest albums, and should be a must-have for any fan of System, rock in general, or even music in general. The unique tone of System of a Down's lead singer Serj Tankian and his political lyrics make for an interesting, strong album. They combine a mixture of heavy metal guitar tones, hard rock beats, and Serj Tankians unique voice to create an interesting and exciting blend for the listener. It is hard to compare them to any other band because of their unique style, but fans of Rammstein, Korn, Rage Against The Machine, or Foo Fighters should find this album as good as I have, but I would encourage any people who aren't fans of this music, or not even fans of metal in general, to try this album out, you may just like it. The songs to look out for are Nuguns, Mr. Jack F**k the system ...
Advantages: powerful and well executed Disadvantages: none
System of a down. Toxicity.
System of a down are sometimes known as system, or shortened to SOAD. Being a typical, lazy male who is addicted to nu-metal music, I will use the shortened SOAD tag in this review, so as not to damage my delicate guitar hands.
They originate from Glendale, California, and were formed in 1995. They are known for allowing their political views shine through in their music. Particularly their views on drugs, religion and censorship. They originally come from another American rock band called soil. The band soil included members Serj Tankian (lead vocals, Keyboard.), and Daron Malakian (guitar, vocals.). Later in soils development, another member joined (Shavo Odadjian), and these three members were the founding members of SOAD along with new recruit Andy Khachaturian. Unfortunately, promising young ...
Advantages: fun to listen to, good lyrics, lively music Disadvantages: not for everyone
After the long wait. It finally became available to the market. I remember surfing the web everyday checking for the release date of Hypnotize the second disc of the crazy brilliant idea of a dual disc album of System of a Down. These really created a bit of anxiety to people like me who like System of a Down. The album maintains that funky psychidelic music. With the goofy vocal antiques of Serj yet every word is a total contradiction cause his lyrics are dead serious topics, mainly political and problems of the society. It's like protesting made really fun and not like what we always see and hear in front of government intitutions all the time. The album has 12 tracks in it. Starting with the song "Attack".. Daron - guitars, sing a lot in this album.. He even had sung a whole song "Lonely Day". A lot of new things has been incorporated ...
Product Information for "System Of A Down - System Of A Down" »
Product details
Title
System Of A Down
Performer
System Of A Down
Genre
Heavy Metal
Release Date
13/08/2001
Recomended Retail Price
10.99 GBP
Original Release Year
1998
Label / Distributor
Columbia / Sony Music/Arvato Services
Engineer
Sylvia Massy; Greg Fidelman
Producer
Rick Rubin; System Of A Down
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
5099749120921
Catalogue Number
4912092
Additional notes
Album Notes
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). Principally recorded at Sound City, Van Nuys, California. 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."
Album Reviews
Q (10/01, p.152) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...This remains an excellent starting point for this most curious and underrated of bands..."
Titles on disc 1
1.
Suite Pee
2.
Know
3.
Sugar
4.
Suggestions
5.
Spiders
6.
Ddevil
7.
Soil
8.
War
9.
Mind
10.
Peephole
11.
CUBErt
12.
Darts
13.
PLUCK
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14/06/2005
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