2008 Woodie Awards
System of a Down-Hypnotize
Clifford Webb
Issue date: 2/2/06 Section: Reviews
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System of a Down is a band that breaks with all convention.
This group of Armenian Americans, after more than four years, followed up their critically acclaimed album, "Toxicity," with a double album.
Most bands wouldn't have the fan base to release one album after such a long wait, let alone two.
Instead of releasing the album as a whole, it came out in two installments, the first, Mesmerize, took you through an epic labyrinth of dark poetry, vicious political honesty, musical satire and more catchy hooks than you could shake a pick at.
The second installment, Hypnotize, finishes what Mesmerize began, literally. The first song of the first album is an intro to the last song of the latest addition. The two CD cases also fit together to create a double disk.
There are very few bands, throughout history, with such an attention to detail.
Years after the critics told us heavy music could plumb no new depths, SOAD weaves razor-edged time changes and Armenian folk progressions into 80's heavy metal and Flamenco riffs with some of the best vocals in the business.
Serj, the lead singer, serves up more of his Tenor surgical strikes while the guitarist, Daron, does quite a bit of harmonizing, even taking the lead on occasion.
I need to stop here and say that, perhaps Daron opens his mouth a bit too much, but this does little to diminish the overall quality of the album.
This band is so versatile and the music so richly layered, that it is appropriate to say, if you don't like a song, wait thirty seconds.
There are many powerful songs on Hypnotize.
On Vicinity of Obscenity, a strange and catchy song, the harmonies of the chorus sound like a two-throated demon howling from the abyss.
Holy Mountains gives us the line, "Someone's blank stare deemed it warfare."
SOAD is timeless and timely at the same time. The title song, Hypnotize, sums up SOAD's views in one line, "Why don't you ask the kids at Tianenmen square was fashion the reason why they were there?"
The album contains twelve tracks and a DVD on side B with studio commentary and two music videos.
All of the paper in the CD case, including the booklet, are printed on 10 percent tree-free hemp fibers and is 90 percent post-consumer waste.
SOAD's political activism doesn't stop there.
Named "Best Agitators" by Esquire magazine, these guys are working on getting the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill in which America would officially acknowledge that Turkey caused the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians from 1915-1923. This would allow for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
If you liked Toxicity, then Hypnotize, will be just as satisfying while exploring new ground musically and lyrically.
This group of Armenian Americans, after more than four years, followed up their critically acclaimed album, "Toxicity," with a double album.
Most bands wouldn't have the fan base to release one album after such a long wait, let alone two.
Instead of releasing the album as a whole, it came out in two installments, the first, Mesmerize, took you through an epic labyrinth of dark poetry, vicious political honesty, musical satire and more catchy hooks than you could shake a pick at.
The second installment, Hypnotize, finishes what Mesmerize began, literally. The first song of the first album is an intro to the last song of the latest addition. The two CD cases also fit together to create a double disk.
There are very few bands, throughout history, with such an attention to detail.
Years after the critics told us heavy music could plumb no new depths, SOAD weaves razor-edged time changes and Armenian folk progressions into 80's heavy metal and Flamenco riffs with some of the best vocals in the business.
Serj, the lead singer, serves up more of his Tenor surgical strikes while the guitarist, Daron, does quite a bit of harmonizing, even taking the lead on occasion.
I need to stop here and say that, perhaps Daron opens his mouth a bit too much, but this does little to diminish the overall quality of the album.
This band is so versatile and the music so richly layered, that it is appropriate to say, if you don't like a song, wait thirty seconds.
There are many powerful songs on Hypnotize.
On Vicinity of Obscenity, a strange and catchy song, the harmonies of the chorus sound like a two-throated demon howling from the abyss.
Holy Mountains gives us the line, "Someone's blank stare deemed it warfare."
SOAD is timeless and timely at the same time. The title song, Hypnotize, sums up SOAD's views in one line, "Why don't you ask the kids at Tianenmen square was fashion the reason why they were there?"
The album contains twelve tracks and a DVD on side B with studio commentary and two music videos.
All of the paper in the CD case, including the booklet, are printed on 10 percent tree-free hemp fibers and is 90 percent post-consumer waste.
SOAD's political activism doesn't stop there.
Named "Best Agitators" by Esquire magazine, these guys are working on getting the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill in which America would officially acknowledge that Turkey caused the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians from 1915-1923. This would allow for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
If you liked Toxicity, then Hypnotize, will be just as satisfying while exploring new ground musically and lyrically.