No.71 - ‘Mezmerize’ by System Of A Down (2005)

“Everybody's going to the party have a real good time; Dancin' in the desert, blowing up the sunshine; Why don't presidents fight the war? Why do they always send the poor…”

I remember first hearing the song ‘Toxicity’ on Kerrang TV and loving the interesting melodies and the excellent voice of Serj Tankian. But it was the ability to have such a vast range of mood and intensity, certainly within individual songs, that set System Of A Down apart from other metal bands in my mind. There is no-one like them.

They have an incredible ability of putting serious world issues within their lyrics, to a soundtrack and melody that is almost satire. There are no boundaries, lyrically and musically. Laying soft poetic lines alongside totally over the top phrases and melodies scaling a vast genre influence from Middle Eastern Music to Thrash Metal. It’s impossible to compare this band with any other.

Lyrics are political, and tend to call out atrocities in modern society (eg. the Iraqi War, degradation of women, poverty). Imagine an episode of “Spitting Image” but set amongst the chaos and noise of an eccentric circus set to heavy guitars, ripping drums and some profanity…that’s probably the closest I can get to describe this album. Chaotic, weird, frenzied and brilliant.

System formed in 1994. Mezmerize was critically acclaimed and reached No.1 in plenty of countries all over the world and No.2 in the UK albums chart. I have yet to own it on vinyl.

Favourite songs - Question!, Revenga, B.Y.O.B, Sad Statue
Other great albums - Steal This Album!










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