System Of A Down

One of the most enigmatic and politically charged bands in modern heavy metal, System of a Down has carved out a truly unique niche in the music world. Hailing from Glendale, California, this Armenian American quartet comprising Serj Tankian (vocals, keyboards), Daron Malakian (guitar, vocals), Shavo Odadjian (bass), and John Dolmayan (drums) is renowned for its eclectic sound, blending elements of alternative metal, nu-metal, hard rock, and traditional Armenian folk music. Their often surreal lyrics, biting political commentary, and frenetic musical shifts have earned them a fiercely loyal global fanbase.

System of a Down’s roots trace back to 1994, with Tankian and Malakian initially forming a band called Soil. After their previous project disbanded, the trio (with Odadjian, who was originally their manager, joining on bass) formed System of a Down, naming it after a poem Malakian wrote called “Victims of a Down.” Odadjian suggested changing “Victims” to “System” to broaden its appeal and, humorously, to ensure their records would be alphabetically shelved closer to their heroes, Slayer. John Dolmayan joined on drums in 1997, solidifying the lineup that would go on to achieve international fame.

Their self-titled debut album in 1998, produced by the legendary Rick Rubin, immediately caught attention with its raw energy and unconventional structures. Tracks like ‘Sugar’ and ‘Spiders’ became radio favourites, introducing their unique sound to the masses. However, it was 2001’s multi-platinum Toxicity that truly propelled them into superstardom. Released just a week before the tragic events of 9/11, the album’s politically charged lyrics in songs like ‘Chop Suey!’ took on new, unintended significance. Toxicity debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and featured other iconic hits such as the title track and ‘Aerials’.

An interesting fact about Toxicity is that the band wrote over 40 songs for the album, recording 33, before narrowing it down to the final tracklist. This prolific period also led to the release of their 2002 album, Steal This Album!, which featured many of the leftover tracks and was notably packaged with minimal artwork, resembling a burnt CD.