System of a Down - System of a Down

This debut by the L.A.-based quartet is a hybrid of explosive rap-metal, politically incendiary lyrics, and wide-ranging cultural influences. The members are of Armenian descent, but their diverse stylistic background transcends easy cultural labeling. Singer Serj Tankian's throaty roar competes with any mosh-pit rocker around, but his real trademark is his emotional wail and refreshingly melodic singing, especially on songs such as "Spiders" and the condemnatory "P.L.U.C.K." Guitarist Daron Malakian, bassist Shavo Odadjian, and drummer John Dolmayan lock in tight on the capricious arrangements of "Know," "Ddevil," and "CUBErt." Their musical diversity runs wonderfully wild on "Sugar" and "Suggestions" with dizzying shifts of style and intensity. The tracks "Peephole" and "War?" reveal the band at perhaps its eclectic best, with vaguely Eastern European-sounding guitar riffs, passionate battle cries, and samples provided by legendary hip-hop producer Rick Rubin. --Mark McCleerey Amazon.com

Less melodic, more psychotic

3 1/2

A solid attack sucker punch of flavored, offbeat hardcore came with the Armenian-american groups debut combining relentless hostility, eccentrically powerful vocals, melodic transcendence, and a dash of old-world flavor to boot. It's no wonder the band immediately stood out in a genre all but known for it's generic torment. Not all of the album works properly; the songs eventually tend to bleed together, at worst into a type of pummeling oddball metal gimmickry, but a distinct mark upon their craft hinted at an important career to come. August 12, 2008

Definitely not a typical metal band debut

In the age of the new millenium, there were many metal bands whose metal was extremely downcast and anarchistic, but very few of them really distinguished themselves. System of a Down was one band than set themselves apart from the crowd--they clearly had a political leftist fury, but they had a sense of humor too.

"Sugar," System of a Down's first single, was just plain weird. It alternates between a swing drum beat and a heavy guitar burst, and Serj is singing about oppression, but in quirky monologues about kicking his girl in the "Ooh! Baby! She's okay!" I have to admit that I really passed this single off as a cheesy 90s comedy song, but gradually I loved listening to them.

System of a Down has a Middle Eastern-style to them as well, with very characteristic chord progressions. The guitarists were incredible for making heavy metal sound far different than it ever sounded.

Whether Serj is yelping weird lyrics in "Ddevil" or screaming in "Suite-Pee," he really showed that metal had so many dimensions. In "P.L.U.C.K." Serj Tankian shows off his maddening anger at genocide, screaming "Die! Why?!? Walk Down! Walk Down!".

And the drummer really knows how to set the band in different beat rhythms, sometimes playing in a seven beat rhythm, then switching back to four beats. He sure knows how to slide in those speedy drum rolls and offbeat rhythms.

This debut shows that System of a Down clearly makes a half-anarchist, half-hilarious lineup of songs so entertaining. Clearly System of a Down is going to be remembered for being one the craziest, but most eclectic metal bands around. July 26, 2008

System of a Down/System of a Down

I love this cd, everyone of the songs are hard and demented. It is definatly explicit but it has the hit song sugar and my favorite song ever P.L.U.C.K (Political Lying Unholy Cowardly Killers). If you like System of a Down or rock in general this cd is a must!!!!!!!!!! February 26, 2008

ONE UNIQUE RECORD !!!

It is sort of a shame that this band was for so long grouped into the nu-metal genre. There are some major differences between these guys and nu-metal bands... the main thing being talent...
It took me a while to understand this band. I'm not sure why, but I just didn't really catch onto this CD for a long time. I owned it too, but it was Toxicity, the bands second album that really grabbed my attention initially. After I got into that second one, I soon realized that this album was great in so many ways, that Toxicity isn't.
While SYSTEM has a slew of bizarre style, I think that it is the first one that really goes all out with insane screwball antics. The debut album is a lot more lighthearted throughout than on the second album, almost cartoonish at points, but still manages to squeeze a good amount of deepness in there... this is all gravy though, for any listener. Theres a good vibe that swings from one side of you to the next pretty rapidly at times.
I don't understand these days why I overlooked this album for as long as I did. It's loud and it's fun. Nobodys bitching like so many of the nu-metal acts do/did. I look at System of a Down as an alternative to modern mainstream metal. But it's easier for many to tolerate than most underground metal. The songs are mostly about punk song length (short)... but they come at you fast, one after another, and never seem to get stale. On the other hand you may have to adjust your head settings to appreciate this style, but once you get into the groove, each song is better than the one before it... so the album gets better and better.... and is still to this day as unique as ever. January 4, 2008

And I usually hate metal...

This album is freaking amazing, full of songs that are both Socially and Politacaly concious(Sugar, CUBErt, P.L.U.C.K) To just all around goofiness(Suite-Pee, ddevil). My only complaint is the over use of the f-word. I love this band, and I don't mind swearing, but they relied way to much on swearing to display anger in this album. July 8, 2007

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