Mezmerize by System Of A Down
July 01, 2005 | 
22 Comments
The Artist: System Of A Down
The Song: B.Y.O.B.
[Launch Player]
The Album: Mezmerize
Released 2005
Recommended if you like: Tool, Trapt, Janes Addiction, Alice Cooper, White Stripes
I’ve been a fan of SOAD since their first album, and while I am a fan, I’ve kind of got a love/hate relationship with them. I’ve got no problems with their music at all. I find it to be some of the most creative hard rock around and there’s no doubting the quality of the song writing and musicianship.
What bugs me is that I’ve never seen them in concert. Why? Because they book the most ridiculous tours and venues. I’m not sure how they got lumped in with the rest of that neu-rock stuff, but to me their much more than that.
They’re more like Tool (probably my favorite rock band ever) than they are like Limp Bizkit. Ahh, anyway, they piss me off.
With the release of this new album, I was really expecting not to like what I heard, fearing that they’d really “sold out” — whatever the fuck that means.
I was wrong, it’s great! And while it is a bit…different…from their pervious stuff, I’m finding that different is good when it comes to SOAD.
And there is enough old school stuff in there to keep even the most jaded fans in line. The biggest problem is that it’s really short.
If you’ve never heard them, they’re what I’d consider an “arty” hard rock band. Much of what they do is straightforward and familiar but they mix it up with crazy rhythms, very unique vocals (Serj is a freak), disco beats, exotic instrumentation and some of the best change-ups around.
If you’re first encounter with them is Mezmerize, do yourself a favor and pick up their first, self-titled, release, it’s one of the best rock records eva!
Filed under: Album of The Moment
Keyword Tags: soad system+of+a+down tool music rock political lyrics Serj+Tankian
Comments
1. Ryan Latham said:
Two words…violent pornography. Probably the song on the album that sticks out the most to me. And yes it is typical System of a Down fashion; different than what you are used to but still great. They are probably one of the only bands in history to switch it up that much and still keep their fans attention.
And as far as seeing them in concert they’re great. I’ve only seen them once at the POA tour with Slipknot, Mudvayne, American Head Charge, etc. Slipknot was headlining and they put on a hell of a SHOW. But that’s what I saw; what I heard tells me that System of a Down is one of the best concert bands ever…aside from Mushroomhead of course.
Posted on July 1, 2005 12:21 PM | #
2. Markb said:
My daughter heard that they’d be coming to Seattle later this summer… nothing announced yet though. She wants to go. Mom would freak! :-)
Posted on July 1, 2005 01:25 PM | #
3. Steve S. said:
I used to like SOAD alot. I saw them live, thought the show was absolute shit, but I still liked them. Anyways, While i found Toxicity to be merely tolerable, this new album is absolute trash. They used to be freaky-stylic metal with a reasonably well thought political message behind it. Well, that ‘reasonably well thought political message’ part has all but disappeared. Sure, the politics are still there, but it’s all rhetoric and dumb as a doorknob.
I’m sure some people will disagree, but SOAD has lost what made them great in my opinion.
Posted on July 1, 2005 01:41 PM | #
4. Steve S. said:
I might want to be a bit more fair and add that the show was shit because the sound system went bad (don’t know enough to describe what happened) while the band before them was on stage.
Posted on July 1, 2005 01:43 PM | #
5. Chris Vincent said:
I did enjoy Mezmerize, though, like you said, it’s very different, even for System of a Down. Some of the songs are a little too out there for my tastes, but there are definitely some solid tracks on the album.
I noticed that Darren, the guitarist, does a lot more vocals in this one than in the past. He’s got a voice just as unique as Serj’s, and in my opinion drives a lot of the sound of the record.
Posted on July 1, 2005 02:00 PM | #
6. Larry said:
I saw em at Ozzfest some years back and then again at the Summer Sanitarium tour alongside Metallica, Korn, and other worthless bands. Very good live and really entertaining. SOAD gets a bad rep, but they’re definitely one of the most interesting and original “metal” bands to come out of the 90s. Still one of my all time favs.
Posted on July 1, 2005 03:55 PM | #
7. Geoffrey said:
White Stripes? They seem worlds apart to me. ;)
Posted on July 1, 2005 04:50 PM | #
8. Keith said:
Geoff – It’s “recommended if you like” not “sounds like”. :)
They’re both creative rock – but yeah, they sound nothing alike.
Posted on July 1, 2005 05:15 PM | #
9. Geoffrey said:
Gotcha. That song reminds me of Dead Kennedys and Mr. Bungle.
Posted on July 1, 2005 10:54 PM | #
11. Paul Solecki said:
I thought the album was great, there’s lots of songs that I like from most of their albums. People into metal/rock in this country like to go on about genres and classify people far too much. So if a band does something even slightly differen they’ll say they don’t like them anymore. That really annoys me.
Seen them live twice. Once a couple of weeks ago which was awesome then a couple of years ago at the Leeds Festival (other venue for the Reading festival for those that don’t know). They had to stop at that one because people were getting crushed!
…and yes Tool are utterly fantastic…and Fear Factory - seen them twice.
Posted on July 4, 2005 07:23 AM | #
12. Abel Rios said:
Whoa, did you say Fear Factory? :)
Hey Keith, nice write-up on what could be this year’s “coolest” album. It truly is a very unique album. Although it is a little short, it’s quite enjoyable all the way through. There is not a single track that is disappointing. “Violent Pornography” kicks so much ass, it’s ridiculous. This album is meant to be played loud and rocked hard. Two head banging thumbs up.
Posted on July 6, 2005 07:32 AM | #
13. Ander Azmar said:
I think Mesmerize is the perfect album to continue the SOAD album saga. I see that they’ve taken a bit of a different path, comparing to their previous albums. Perhaps it’s a risk, because some fans may feel cheated, but I like bands that evolute and don’t offer the same thing every time they release an album.
Posted on July 7, 2005 12:06 AM | #
14. Hans Nilsson said:
I’ve never really listened to SOAD before, just the occassional song at friends. But then I saw them not even a month ago live here in Sweden, and it blew me away! Mezmerize is really my first real listen to them, and though it’s a bit freaky at times, I like it! Will check out their previous albums also.
Posted on July 7, 2005 09:09 AM | #
15. Gokhan said:
I live in TURKEY..and I like soad songs.. but why they didn’t coming to Turkey??? We are not Terrorist..!!!!and We are not child killer…
I think we love soad..because they make very quality music..but ı wannt to go they concert..
Please COME TO TURKEY TOUR…
Yes teh MEZMERIZE very well album for me..
especially Radio Video Song..
Posted on July 18, 2005 05:38 AM | #
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19. Kurt Cobain said:
Hey I live in Turkey.System of a down great.IMy fav system song is F**k the System
Posted on August 12, 2005 10:21 AM | #
20. The_Punisher said:
Hi i live in Turkey.I thing Soad great they a lot be loved in Turkey.Everybody a lot of mistake about Turkey.Turkey always show bad to everybody.Anyhow we want the soad in Turkey.Please soad come to Turkey.
The Turism Center Antalya…
Posted on September 17, 2005 12:21 PM | #
21. ariana said:
this album is wiked awesome the songs reall are out there i really like rock on !!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on November 24, 2005 07:10 PM | #
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Posted on April 1, 2006 01:40 PM | #
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