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As a person who never really got the whole numetal/rapmetal thing, and would rather listen to just about anything else, I always avoided this album, because I didn't expect it to be "my thing". But, since I try to keep an open mind, I decided to borrow this album (and "Toxicity") from a friend, and just see if I liked it. Wow, good move. I am VERY impressed! This album is nearly perfect in every way. Very heavy, very melodic, and very technical. Daron is far superior to any numetal guitarist, churning out wild time changes, thunderous riffs, and even some solos. John Dolmayan is a very talented drummer, who can do way more than just pound absent-mindedly at his kit, like say, John Otto. He does very complex beats, and some pretty impressive fills. The bass player is nothing special. His basslines are audible, but not very technical. Then there's Serj. The madman behind this masterpiece (there, I said it, I used it the "m" word). Probably one of the most talented and bizarre vocalists there is. He has an amazing voice, and frightening range. He can go effortlessly from high-pitched squeals, to softer vocals, to death-like growling, and makes it seem easy. The lyrics? Well, I don't know. Decide for yourself.

It's really a shame that most will only know this album by the single, "Sugar". In my opinion, that song is extremely overrated, and easily the worst song on the album. In fact, it's the only song on here that I dislike at all. Not that it's bad, it's just significantly weaker than the rest. If I had to pick favorites, I'd go with "Suite Pee", "War", "Mind, "PLUCK", and the haunting "Spiders", but every song is amazing in its own way.

If you have reservations about numetal, and because of it have not gotten this album, just forget that, because I gurantee you'd be hard-pressed to find anything even vaguely "numetal" about this album at all. Anyone who has an appreciation for good music, and can keep an open mind will enjoy this. Haven't listened to all of "Toxicity" yet, but something tells me it won't come within miles of this. In fact, I doubt they could ever make another album like this. Don't ask questions, just buy this now! I also recommend "Chaosphere", by Meshuggah, if you liked this.


System for a new century... are you down?   March 29, 2000
 27 out of 34 found this review helpful

System of a Down lands at the forefront of the "new metal" movement with their self-titled debut album. I first heard of these guys when Snot brought them up to Santa Barbara to play a show with Manhole (now Tura Satana). Serj and the boys rocked the crowd hard, and left an indelible impression in my mind. Whenever I saw a mention of System in the press, I would remember that show as one of the most impressive I'd seen.

The album is musically tight as a lock. Musically System mix it up from metal riffs to Rage Against The Machine-esque guitar squeals; the songs race along at breakneck speed and then slow to a stop with no warning. "War?" is the album's anthem, a denunciation of the hypocrisy and greed that fuels all war efforts in our time. Other standout tracks are "Darts", "Mind", "Soil", and "Know." System may not be as MTV-friendly as Limp Bizkit or as hardcore as Pantera, but somehow they manage to walk a finer and truer line. Their politics are spoken from the heart, and their music is crushing, melodic, compelling and rocking all at the same time.

A strange yet strong debut   August 30, 2005
 13 out of 19 found this review helpful

This Armenian quartet did get radio play from their debut (for such songs as "Sugar,") but I think it's pretty safe to say that most people became System fans when they released their 2001 album "Toxicity." System of a Down were probably rather unnoticed when their debut was released, because it was released in 1998, when Rage Against the Machine were still around. Now, since Rage has disbanded, SOAD are the frontrunners for controversial, political rock.

This self-entitled album is very strange, but also very strong. With some quirky lyrics (such as "I wanna f -ck my way to the garden," "Oh, the devil is so lovely," and "Why the f -ck did you take him away from us you motherf -cker?!"), high pitched vocals (as in the songs "Sugar" and "Suggestions"), and even some laughing and snorting (in "Ddevil"), this album is somewhat immature and even a bit funny at times, because it's so weird.

Fortunately, this C.D. does have some atmospheric moments, and songs which are very solemn and actually somewhat sad (i.e. "Spiders," which is maybe System's best song ever written, because it has soft strumming and great singing). Other highlights include the crunchy, punching guitars and almost roaring vocals of "Suite-Pee," and "Sugar"'s wide-ranged vocal performance (frontman Serj Tankien goes from high pitched singing to yelling to whispering). Elsewhere, "Suggestions" explore's the band's more melodic side, "Ddevil" has a catchy, bouncy rhythm and up-beat tempo, "Soil" has heavy, almost flattening riffs and some crazy yelling, and "Cubert" has beeping, low grumbling guitars, which eventually become explosive. Finally, "P.L.U.C.K." has several good vocal hooks.

The bottom line here is this is one of the strangest yet strongest debuts I've heard; it's a great start of a great band. This album is a little "out there" at times and it's quite different from the band's later works, but "System of a Down" is still System of a Down! Therefore, if you liked/started with "Toxicity" or "Hypnotize," make sure you check this album out, too, because you're almost guaranteed to like it! If you're new to SOAD, however, I'd recommend getting "Toxicity" first.


By far the most innovative and electic "new" metal band   July 3, 2000
 10 out of 12 found this review helpful

A lot of people i talk to don't like this CD. Part of the reason is that everyone categorizes this in the same slot as Coal Chamber, Slipknot, Korn, blah blah blah. Of course, system differs from the rest of the angst filled pack. Serj Tankian, instead of the usual animal-esque roar, has a higher, melodic voice, and on some tracks (Suggestions, Ddevil) a high pitched yelp. And instead of the normal pounding, chugging drums or "hip hop influenced" beats, there's many tempo changes throughout the album (Suite-Pee, P.L.U.C.K.), and the track "Peephole" has almost a circus music type melody. I don't really know what to compare this to, except maybe a mix of Rage Against the Machine-type power (without the rap or hip hop influence) and left of center melodies. The band members are of Armenian descent, and it comes through in the music. Musically, this is very wide ranging, and lyrically it is also all over the place, with topics ranging from Politics and genocide to suicide and marijuana. Fans of the hard music genre who are sick of downtuned melodies and tormented lyrics should pick this up. The rest of the album may be harder to catch on then "Spiders", but listen a couple of times and you'll be rewarded with one of the best debut albums since Korn's or Rage Against the Machine's. My favorites are songs 1-8, 10 and 13, though there isn't a bad song on here.


An inspiration to america, nay, the world   November 27, 2004
 9 out of 10 found this review helpful

ok, kmez, dont bother insulting me here, thats reserved for toxicity. so shut up and go watch your DBZ while i review this.

Suite-Pea: 9/10 Tight intro, it kind of bashes Christianity though, but i dont care, cause im Jewish :P i think they were just screwing around with this one.

Know: 7/10 i really like the drums, but that's the only thing that stands out. unintelligable lyrics.

Sugar: 10/10 THE KOMBUCHA MUSHROOM PEOPLE! lol, as many other people has said, this song is totally unpredictable on the first listen, and it kinda grabs you into it in an inconspicuous kind of way. i really love this track.

Suggestions: 8/10 its ok. the high voice serj makes at the end cracks me and my buds up. something about ships attacking the coast O_o

Spiders: 9/10 Ah yes, the big, single-type song. i think that this is serj's most melodic vocal performance, with long note holdings and a beautiful solo in the middle.

Ddevil: 8/10 Too short to be a ten, very catchy though. Strong refrigerators?

Soil: 20/10 A heartfelt song about a friend who fell victim to suicide, with amazing lyrics and my favorite guitar solo fo all time. i'd give this album 5 stars just for this song.
My favorite on the album.

War?: 9/10 About the crusades, and how pointless war over religion is. I agree.

Mind: 15/10 My second favorite. It has an addictive stop-start layout, and its six minutes long. this is pretty sweet...mutually mentally molested. lol.

Peephole: 8/10 This is a heavy, circus-oriented song about how some people have a major dependance on drugs, and how bad it is for them.

CUBErt: 10/10 This is the only short song that i like on this album, about video games?

Darts: 9/10 Strange, strange, strange. The change of pitch makes for a funny song.

P.L.U.C.K.: 10/10 About the Armenian genocide by the Turks. the guitars are catchy, the drums are pimpin, and serj is...well, serj. thats the only way i can describe how his vocals are in this song.

125/130 overall....is an A! i'd say this is the best SOAD album, nice, raw, and downright amazing. thank you for reading!