System of a Down (1998)
System of a Down is a 1998 alternative metal album by System of a Down.
System of a Down's debut hits like a live wire. The Armenian-American quartet from Los Angeles fuse thrash speed with folk melody, abrupt tempo lurches, and Serj Tankian's yelp-to-croon vocals over Daron Malakian's jagged riffs. Rick Rubin produced it for American Recordings, and the songs swing from political fury to absurdist black comedy inside the same bar. Tracks like 'Sugar' and 'Spiders' announced a band with no interest in a steady groove. It went gold before the follow-up Toxicity broke them wide, and it still sounds unhinged, dense, and unlike anything else on the shelf.
Quick answers
What is System of a Down about?
System of a Down's debut hits like a live wire. The Armenian-American quartet from Los Angeles fuse thrash speed with folk melody, abrupt tempo lurches, and Serj Tankian's yelp-to-croon vocals over Daron Malakian's jagged riffs. Rick Rubin produced it for American Recordings, and the songs swing from political fury to absurdist black comedy inside the same bar. Tracks like 'Sugar' and 'Spiders' announced a band with no interest in a steady groove. It went gold before the follow-up Toxicity broke them wide, and it still sounds unhinged, dense, and unlike anything else on the shelf.
When was System of a Down released?
System of a Down was released in 1998.
Who made System of a Down?
System of a Down is by System of a Down.
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A few thoughts on System of a Down
Rage Against the Machine's self-titled debut shares the political heat and rap-metal aggression. For the theatrical, genre-splicing chaos, Mr. Bungle's records run even further off the map. And the documentary film 'Screamers,' which follows the band, ties their fury directly to the Armenian genocide the lyrics keep raising.
Heavy albums that lurch, sprawl and refuse a steady groove
System of a Down's debut swings from thrash speed to folk melody and black comedy inside a single bar. If those whiplash tempo changes and dense, unpredictable riffs are the draw, these albums share the same restless heaviness, from the band's own Toxicity to the alt metal weirdness of Tool, Deftones, Faith No More and Alice in Chains.