Reviews (page 3 of 8)
There’s plenty to really like on this album. They’re an interesting band full of energy and bite, and the whole album is frantic and kind of insane. However it's also quite melodic in places, and they create quite a lot of atmosphere with those guitars, which I really dig. This is one of those bands that I just haven’t really listened to since I was a teenager, but also one that upon revisiting I’ve realised I really enjoy. I think I need to make more of a conscious effort to dig back into some of this stuff because I had a blast. 4.5 rounded down.
Good, but not great like toxicity
Metal was off-limits to me in 1998. It was simply unacceptable at school and punishable by various degrees of throwing food and drinks at people, dunking them in bins or, if you were very lucky, vindictive name-calling. But System Of A Down found their way to me via my flatmate circa 2005. I have fond, nostalgic memories of B.Y.O.B. in a boiling hot pickup truck in the Texas summer. So this is a new album to me but a very familiar sound and vibe. The playful chopping and changing rhythms and the impressive range and diversity of Serj Tankian's vocals elevate this above most of the other acts in their class. I can't deny it's fun to play loudly in the car and they are excellent at letting the Eastern European influence seep into what is an undeniably American sound. I'm surprised they went for this album and not the follow-up, Toxicity, which was much more influential, popular and successful (a fact even acknowledged in the book entry) but that doesn't stop me from listening to both. In the car. Nice and loud.
Exhausting to listen to but considering this came out in 1998 it brought something fresh to the scene. Definetly not boring which is a plus. Torn between 3 and 4 I'll give it 4 for being up my alley more than other stuff.
im not the most metal guy but i love the twist these guys can give to it maybe the instrumentals fall a bit repetitive but serjs performances compensate it; crazy over the top, eccentric and wild music dont know if their intention is more to make a statement or to entertain you, im more inclined to think its the former, and in the world we live in, maybe thats the most powerful form of protest
Late 90s metal. Hard and fast. Melodic elements. Varied and creative.
Catchy, aggressive and creative metal. I like it. Favourites: Spiders and Sugar
Toxicity was a staple of my middle school life. Give me this adrenaline fix and I’m ready to run through a wall.
If I had to rate this in 1998 it was a 5/5. But with the follow ups, I have to rate a bit lower. Fav: Suggestions
Nice. Would listen to again
Hot damn, these guys are absolutely shredding. It’s a quirky record, the lead singer going from trills and chirps to screams and noise. The music stops and starts, changes direction, and then comes back in to seriously bludgeon you. I like
Is it a rule that all songs about spiders are the best emo songs ever? (Im thinking of Lullaby by the Cure and I Miss You by blink 182). Yes, there’s an emo streak in this album that I unsurprisingly very much dig.
Solid album. Classic from my youth, so some biases again really. Not their best stuff, but thoroughly enjoyable, and a nice change tbh.
Funny goofy haha
Has my favorite song of theirs (Spiders) and a few slept on songs. Much better than I gave it credit for. 4/5
Strangely enough it's metal I enjoy
Not my cup of tea, but well done
This is a really good metal album. It hits hard and fast. Some tunes didn't resonate with me but it's still a solid album. I really only heard the hits when it came out. Somehow I never picked it up or got a copy. Good album.
Probably the best version of nu-metal out there save for their own follow-up album toxicity. Agressive but also filosophical. Loud, but refined. Crazy, but damn right.
Wish it had been one of the other SOAD albums which I probably could have gone with 5 on.
I've heard Toxicity and the tracks on it a lot but hadn't ever heard their first album before. In some ways they sound as if they are still finding their lane here. There are some old school sludge metal vocal elements in here that you don't hear as much anymore, and some heavy slow early Alice in Chains type grooves. Tracks like Sugar definitely showcase what they later became. Solid all around, if not as polished as Toxicity.
Really liked this, completely unique and exciting throughout, lot of excellent songs
5/13/26. Love System Of A Down, forgot how many great tracks are on their debut. Strong start and laid a great foundation for their later work, the energy is amazing on this.
Unrepentant fun. 4.25 rounded down to a 4.
well you know this made me cringe quite a lot but it's nostalgic and also they did so much creatively and maybe often it was way too much but they really put themselves out there and it often worked
Унікальний гурт. Дуже виразна гітарна робота Малакяна і топові бек-вокали у нього теж. Серж теж сильно виділявся серед інших ню-метал вокалістів. Та й гурт в цілому мав свій дуже виразний стиль. Наступний їх піковий, тут мені не всі подобаються пісні, але й вистачає класичних бенгерів. Звичайно, що політична позиція гурта - зашкварена сильно.
Обʼєктивно веселий і один з найбільш оригінальних та цікавих альбомів в жанрі. Так, політичну позицію СОАД залишимо за дужками. На однойменному альбомі вони ще не вийшли на пік сонграйтінга (токсісіті), але вже показали все що робило їх унікальними і впізнаванами. Не думаю що можна переплутати СОАД з кимось іншим. Не знаю, я б навіть 4 поставив.
Never really listened much to System of a Down but wow this was good!! 4⭐️
What a rollercoaster of an album this is! The guitars! The drums! The unique vocals… WOW just WOW. Never have I heard an album that can compare to this and that’s why this album has to be on this list. It’s maybe a couple of tracks too much and I could very much do without the screaming vocals personally however mixed in not just between songs but during songs like they are the tempo was changing constantly and not in a bad way. This album has made me very much feel like I should see this band live too. Best song- ‘sugar’ - just beating ‘suggestion’ and ‘know’ Worst song- ‘P.L.U.C.K’ Overall and for all my love of hearing this twice in a row I cannot however give it a 10 as it’s not perfect for the reasons above so I’m going to give it a very solid 9/10
Ну цих я знаю)))
Groupe connu de nom uniquement. Excellent metal, avec des très bons riffs, changements de rythme (Mind est un bon exemple), grooves ... Je ne le classerais pas en nu-metal, il est plus original que la majorité des groupes de ce type. Par contre j'apprécie un peu moins le chant (il lui évite la note maximale), mais je pourrais m'y faire. Bonne découverte donc, qui rejoindra ma collection, et me donne envie de découvrir d'autres albums du groupe. =>4/5
this was iconic and I really really liked it, though wish some songs had less blasphemous lyrics :(
Я думаю что это хороший дебютник, хороший старт для того, чем станет "Система" в последствии. Я никогда не был поклонником Армян-ударников, но раньше частенько слушал заглавный трек Toxicity на повторе, остальное мне заходило не так сильно. Из дебютника, как оказалось, ранее я уже слушал Sugar (который мне в итоге и нравится больше всех) и... как бэ, есть небольшое ощущение того, что после того как ты привыкнешь к лютым, забавным перепадам голоса Танкяна, то остальной материал на альбоме покажется kinda однообразным.. Да и я не сильный поклоник ню-митола, поэтому слушать этот тяжелый долбеж прикольно, но примерно до половины альбома. В любом случае, чувачкам поставлю четверку, так и быть.
Suite-Pee - 4/5 Know - 3.5/5 Sugar - 4.5/5 Suggestions - 4/5 Spiders - 5/5 DDevil - 3/5 Soil - 3.5/5 War? - 4.5/5 Mind - 3.5/5 Peephole - 3.5/5 CUBErt - 3/5 Darts- 3.5/5 P.L.U.C.K. - 3/5
So as it turns out, Chop Suey et. al. is their *tame* side. This album is batshit insane. 100% gonna die in that pit…but it might be worth it. This is heavy as anything coming out from the slam crowd these days and it’s almost 30 years old. Long live polka metal.
Nice to see System Of a Down in this list. Wish that "Toxicity" was also included, but at least we got something I guess... As many other people, System of a Down is a band that worked as a gateway for me to discover more metal, and the more I think about it the more intrigued I am. For an album that doesn't sound like any other metal or rock album (at least in the mainstream metal scene), being so raw, chaotic, extravagant and even experimental, I find it super fascinating that it works as an entry point for metal. The main attractions of the album are the incredibly hard hitting riffs, energetic rhythms and the weird vocals performances and melodies. The first two points are very straight forward and probably the aspects that make the album very easy to listen to. But it is the weirdness of it is what makes it so unique. One of the most notable influences in their sound is the Middle Easter music, something directly related to the fact that every single member is a descendant of the Armenian people. Where this trait is more palpable is in Serj Tankian vocals, but also perceivable in the guitars. The voice not only has a very unique accent but in addition he growls, sings with an incredibly high pitched voice and does some weird noises time to time. I also believe his presence bring a little essence of silliness that makes the album fun to listen to, even though the cryptic lyrics (and sometimes not so cryptic) have some serious messages behind, most remarkable the mention of the Armenian genocide in the last song, "P.L.U.C.K.", or religious extremism in "Suite-Pee", between other examples of social and political criticisms in other songs. While the album in general feels very frenetic, there are a couple of songs that are more slow paced, "Spiders" and "Mind", despite them having their own powerful moments. When I mean slow I don't mean ballads. They both are pieces that have a very unnerving and moody atmosphere. Have to say that "Mind" may be one of the most daunting and hard listens of the whole project, but "Spiders" is one of the best moments of the whole album being supremely hypnotic. With all being said, this album is fantastic. It is angry, raw and energetic while also being incredibly peculiar thanks to their unique blend of eastern music influences and very bizarre performances.
This band rules. However, they did make better albums than this one. 4/5.
This isn't necessarily something I'd gravitate toward on my own but I can see how this would fill the musical void when I'm in a specific mood, which luckily, happens to apply today (I was just listening to Chalk before this). 3.5 rounded up to 4 as I probably will listen to this again.
Easily the best band among their peers, to the point of it not making sense that they’re grouped together with those peers in the first place. They understand how to sound Evil in a way that very few other bands do.
Solid. Definitely grew on me as it went along.
Fart på! Virkelig fedt album!! Et af de bedste nu metal vi endnu har haft. Jeg synes de lød meget som faith no more på den her
Nice debut and a good taste of what to come from SOAD. However this is probably their weakest album overall, so it's hard to justify a higher rating.
Back-to-back nu metal albums, and the unfortunate thing for this album, is that it just highlights how special Roots from Sepultura is. I do not like any of the vocals on this album. I'm generally not a fan of half-spoken/half-singing, but this also throws in partial screaming, and the tone of the spoken parts is ugly. That said, the guitars and drums are both actually really good, and definitely make the album worth listening to, even with vocals that I very much dislike. It has grown on me as I listen. There are still moments that I don't like, primarily because of the singing, but there's also some moments that feel like a joke, and maybe I don't understand it, but it doesn't seem to fit in with the rest of the album. Like in "Peephole" wtf is the tuba section? But I did find myself nodding along to a decent amount of the album, though. Favorite Song(s): Spiders
Listening to this album is a little bit like standing on the edge of a cliff during a howling storm. Initially a bit disconcerting, but you quickly come to enjoy the raw power and the random gusts that push and pull you in all directions, followed by brief moments of quiet. There’s a lot going on here with fascinating flourishes and a vocal range that ranges from a trilling falsetto to something like sounds like a demon gargling broken glass. The music is mostly towards the heavy end of the spectrum but with immensely pleasing digressions into jazz and elements of classical. Lyrically there are attacks on the church and the Armenian genocide, reflecting the cultural heritage of the band. There are some nicely surreal moments too (“Shake your spear at Shakespeare!”) but one line sums it up nicely Loud-and-noisy-tastic!
This was far better than I expected it to be. Weird arpeggiated guitar, scales that shouldn't exist, and Serj's bellowing adds up to -- a pretty damned good rock experience!
God cabron
I don't think there was a track that I didn't find interesting. I remember a lot of kids really being inspired by this. It seems like a good gateway album for to test interest in more hard-core sounding music. Great debut, I'm more familiar with some future singles, but this is a solid album.
Very surprised to find this on the list over Toxicity. Surprised but not disappointed. If you weren't there, it will be hard to understand how different this sounded in the late 90s. The Armenian influences and the more mature politics really lifted it above the rest of it's Nu Metal contemporaries. Honestly I think SOAD are the only band of that era that has stood the test of time. What is sad is that everything they were so angry about back then has only gotten worse in the decades since. Maybe if we were all this angry we could have done something about it.
This is incredibly close to a 5 ,It's like 95/100
I am a big System of a Down fan! Spiders is such an incredible song. I remember when they first came out and being so struck and intrigued by something so different.
I love this style and era of music. this is not my favorite example of it, but still enjoyed
Much better than I expected. Some of SOAD I had heard before grated on me and I didn't like his voice, but this slaps.
banger of course
I liked this album a lot more when I was in my early twenties. Not that it’s bad now, it’s just more aggression than an old man like me needs. But it’s still a good album.
Honestly, the only SOAD album I've listened to before was Toxicity, and this is just as good! Incredibly fun listen, love their music, Serj's voice is also amazing.
Nunca lo había escuchado, definitivamente me ha sorprendido. Algunas canciones me han parecido geniales, si bien es un estilo el cual no suelo escuchar, el regresar a el definitivamente será una opción en el futuro, incluso he guardado algunas canciones en mi playlist personal. 8/10.
So much anger
A lot of bangers on this one. Sugaaaaaarrrr!
rocks! great debut for my taste. But of cause they made better albums afterwards :)
A bit all over the place, but signs of what's to come.
many tracks i did not know. lots of good one. much energy.
Banger album. Gets a bit meh closer to the end but maybe that's just fatigue from the amount of energy and listening to it all in one go. Still, so good. Serj's voice is amazing, the way he can be softer one second and then scream like a pterodactyl is sick. Plus the backing tracks are also well made. Favourite tracks: Sugar, Spiders, Soil 4.5/5
System!!! First album love the lyricism and establishment of them in the 2000’s rock scene!
This is the only Nu Metal band to resist the test of time. Even when puberty was over, the band remained good. 4 stars
Thought I was going to be disappointed by this after not listening to it for at least 15 years. I was not disappointed. Very much enjoyed heating this again.
It's wild but good.
Reminds me in good ways of Tool and Mr. Bungle. A very fun ride.
Definitely feels like what I think of when I hear System of a Down. Heavy metal, but with an intent. Love the political messaging in several songs. For sure dig this. 4/5
Sometimes I hear songs from Toxicity at the gym. Why nothing from this album? Well, it's probably because Serj Tankian is a mad genius and after making this beautiful mess, he and his bandmates sanded off the sharp edges and made something more commercially appealing. That's not to say Toxicity is better or worse, just different. And this is kind of a mess - its variety is its genius and its issue, but it's wildly inventive and sprawling in terms of what kinds of sounds it fits into a metal-ish album. A nu-metal, if you will. My best comparison would be Refused's Shape of Punk to Come - SoaD is much less focused, much sillier, and probably a little smarter despite the posturing intellectualism of the former. The embrace of, say, jazz is done wonderfully but briefly here, better and more continuously there. Anyway, this isn't a Refused review, just to put it into relief that this is a good collection of some great songs, but not necessarily a great album. Usually I laud an album for its flaws but for here I can't shake the idea that for all its capabilities, there's something missing.
This is one of my brothers favorite bands. I was genre evasive and just don't typically like the metal/ growl scene. On the other hand when I did listen I thought it was actually maybe a bit more than that, but nevertheless, I pretty much stuck with avoiding the whole scene. Until today. When I bothered to listen all the way through and found this to be ... rather "kick ass" and great! Huh, still not my genre of choice but as far as System of a Down is concerned, they really have something great going on. I don't even fully appreciate the lead singers voice but still I like how he uses it, how it shifts from clearly understandable (and good) lyrics to growl or shout or whatnot. This is a definite "must listen" even if one is less inclined towards this sort of metal ... maybe "acid punk?" stuff.
I kinda wrote this band off when I first heard them as a teenager. But I really enjoyed this album, especially the first half. It's just dark and weird and keeps you guessing. Suite-pee and Sugar are sick.
it's nothing if not stimulating. has a certain whimsy to it. i cant tell if i do actually like this genre or the vocal performance is just so wacky and infectious it makes the album hopelessly likeable. i think Sugar has to be my favorite but Soil is also super sick
Chunky and fun and fuckin hype and creative. Just a full body experience (sorry, cliche) to listen to and offers a lot to chew on and enjoy. I looped this thing like 5 or 6 times to put off writing the review and I just liked it more every single time I listened to it 8.4/10
Hell yeah
This is yet another glaring example of the critics and the 1001 Albums crowd getting it wrong. I’m not here to discredit System Of A Down’s self-titled debut, but if you’re going to champion one of their records as essential, this isn’t the one. The album that belongs on that pedestal is Toxicity—the record that blew the doors off and brought them to a much wider audience. But I digress. If chaos ever found a physical, musical embodiment, it would look and sound like System Of A Down. Calling them “energetic” feels almost insulting in its understatement. Their 1998 debut plays like an adrenaline-soaked, unhinged carnival of distortion and fury—a psychotic circus sideshow that never slows down long enough for you to catch your breath (except for maybe the track "Spiders"). The rage in these tracks is palpable, volatile, and completely unfiltered. It’s the kind of angry, frenzied metal that makes me want to punch motherfuckers in the face… and somehow, I love every second of it.
RAGE
Raging as hell. I fux witit
Vihaa, vihaa, niin paljon vihaa on tässä musiikissa. Ja mukavan rouheita kitarasoundeja. Energiapitoista menoa, välillä omaan makuun vähän liikaakin. Ajatusleikittelen että siellä on soittamassa sähköjäniksiä jotka kärsii adhd-oireista. Tulee jotenkin ahistava olo kun mennän niin lujaa. Kivaa aina kerta-annoksena mutta ei pitempiaikaiseen kuunteluun.
SOAD kuulostaa SOADilta jo ekasta levystä. Omalta osalta tuotannosta vähiten kuunneltu levy, mutta timanttia tämäkin. Loppupäästä ehkä katoaa osittain fokus, mutta biisit tykittää kyllä niinku aina.
This the kinda album that makes me say "hell yeah" (sunglasses emoji)
had no idea they had it like THAT
4.31
Melodic and brutal
System of a Down – System of a Down (1998) After a relisten, I’ve had a change of heart. While metal isn't usually my thing, revisiting this LP proved it was definitely worth it. The production is loud as hell, but it sounds great—it’s polished, precise, and carries a high-energy pulse that stayed with me. The lyrics and the raw intensity—especially that ROOOOAR—actually stuck in my head long after the music stopped. It turns out I might have had the wrong idea about metal initially. This is a project that carries a lot of technical weight and keeps the iron hot throughout. initial review: 2⭐ updated review: 4⭐ maybe everybody does need a motherfucker
Du bon metal, un peu metalcore on dirait parfois? Y’avait des breakdown assez typique du hardcore, ça m’a rappelé un ti boutte de ma jeunesse. Bref j’ai bien apprécié. La voix de Serj est impressionnante!
High 3? I don't love the vocal stylings and not a huge metal/nu metal fan in general but it's an effective album
Good and powerful pace and rhythms. ★★★★
I'm not into metal or nu-metal, but I liked this. It actually seemed like "prog-metal" to me. There was a lot of good musicianship and variety on the album.
Good
Chaotic and bi polar, SoaD’s debut album sets the blueprint for their unique sound. It lacks the bizarro-commerciality of Chop Suey but in Suite-Pee, Sugar and Spiders still has some top tier crazy metal tracks. Soul sounds like the first sketch of Aerials, which is no bad thing
Rating: 9/10
I really enjoyed most of the songs like Sugar, Suite-Pee, and Spiders but I also didn't like some songs like Peephole and DDevil.
Suite-pee - 4 Know - 4 Sugar - 5 Suggestions - 3 Spiders - 5 Ddevil - 4 Soil - 4 War? - 4 Mind - 3 Peephole - 2 Cubert - 2 Darts - 3 P.l.u.c.k. - 4
This album fucking rocks from top to bottom and I don't think there's much more I have to say than that. Fav Track: 5 - Spiders Best Three Track Run: 3, 4, 5
The nostalgia got the best of me, 4 stars
I thought I was going to like this more than I did. The ridiculousness of the vocals got to me after a while. I loved the rest of the band though
I like System of a Down a lot actually. Lots of nostalgia for me. Kinda surprised to see this album here - I thought that Toxicity would be the album that makes this list. Perhaps it’s still on here. All in all, awesome political messaging, kick ass riffs, and Serj has absolute killer vocals. Perhaps a bit of rose tinted glasses, but I dig it.
Hell yeah. Not their best but one hell of a debut.
I was 3 songs in before I realized that the song had changed. Fuck yeah mother fucker!!! It hard. It's fast. I don't know what they're saying, but I like it!
4 - great album
Not my usual jam but very well done album with mixture of song types. Like the 6/8 polka song
This rips pretty hard. It’s like Zappa doing screamo with flea on bass. And I’m here for it. I love the melodic moments stolen from the chaos and rage. The vocalists seems very unique.
Big boy mosh pit music. Some real bangers, some are just okay but all are very high energy, makes ya wanna MOSH
Well that was something I guess. The parts where he sounded like a dolphin were unique. Overall it was a fun listen. Just very different
I'm definitely not a fan of metal, but I do like me some nu-metal. Especially these guys. They're funny and quirky and talented as all get out. Their singer is worth the price of admission alone. An entire album's worth is a lot to take in, but I guess that's a good problem to have.
I liked this. Serj Tankian has a really interesting voice and vocal delivery. I enjoyed the use of dynamics throughout the tracks. I found this music to be exciting because of the transitions, modes, use of different meters, and incorporation of various styles. Right now I’m at a 4.5, but I didn’t get listen too closely to lyrics this time, so I’ll do 4 stars. I’m going to listen again though and see if I bump up to 5.
Perfect for the gym.
THAT was wild. Mystical surrealistic angry, complex scenarios of abuse, war, dreaming, outrage, recent and ancient history. Plenty of quiet breakdowns that explode for your moshing pleasure. Good musicians, insane vocals both literally and figuratively.
I came into this expecting like really cringe co worker music cos from the limited SoaD I've listened to that's what it's sounded like to me and honestly really wasn't that bad. It had some definite tones of ska and funk which I'm always a fan of and just felt like a bit more an aggressive and angry version of that which when you're like ready for it suits it quite well. Some great drums and lyrics too to be honest although sometimes I did find the lyrics a bit cringe
I mean, it's kind of the wrong album to include. "Toxicity" is the obvious choice for a System of a Down album. But their debut is still pretty great. This band was always lumped into the nu metal category with the likes of Korn and Limp Bizkit, but it was always pretty unfair to them. While that the quality of that genre varied a lot, there was an overall impression of it being music for frat boys trying to look edgy. System of a Down were a different beast though. While there may have been some similarities to the style of music, Serj Tankian comes across more like a ringmaster in some sort of heavy metal circus than a frat kid who likes to party. The lyrics are politically charged rages against drug abuse, corruption, propaganda and the Armenian genocide. Not exactly what you'd expect to hear from Fred Durst.
To 4 or to 5, that is the question. Though I'm not as familiar with this album, I feel it's not as good as Toxicity, which is definitely a 5. But that's based mainly on consistency and flow. It's still pretty damn great and has songs that are as good as anything on Toxicity. Based on the overall quality of albums in this project, I could certainly justify a 5. But my gut says 4, and I've got to stay true to my principles and continue to be stingy with my 5's and my 1's.
I've never listened to a lot of nu metal. Korn was too whiny, Limp Bizkit too meathead and, well, Linkin Park is pretty much just a downtuned Nickelback. With those kinds of fellow travelers, I never really listened to System of a Down. Having done so now, I'm still not really a nu metal fan, but these guys are clearly several steps above their peers (as measured by their ability to appeal to my ossifying ears). The album has some pleasantly noisy songs with lots of heavy riffs and not too much in the way of melodic crap. So, I may have to dive into their discography a bit and see if this is an outlier. Overall, I'd give this a 3.5 and round up to a 4 because Armenian metal.
less theatrical than their subsequent releases, and dare i say more approachable despite the harshness. 4.5
If Toxicity is the polished masterpiece, this self-titled debut is the raw, unhinged prototype. It's an absolute experience as the stop-start tempos and thrash-influenced riffs create a unique, nervous ball of energy. Serj Tankian is the star of the show here, switching seamlessly between growling and falsetto operatic singing and his lyrics balance real heavy political themes (war and the Armenian genocide) with absurdity and Dadaist humor. Standout tracks are "Sugar", "Spiders", "Soil", and "War?"
I only ever knew them as a meme of sorts cuz of “wake up, brush your teeth” etc. Damn this thing was way better than I was expecting. Why do I give it four stars? I wanted to.
If I had been a SOAD fan, I’m assuming this is the one I would have considered my favorite. Manic energy that more bands need.
Love me some system!! Good debut. Sets up what is to come. Well worth the listen.
love it, lowk gas
Absolutely brilliant melting pot of emotion. Frenetic staccato rhythms and creativity. A ball of energy. This was an excellent debut.
pas le meilleur mais très bon
Faith No More meets Rage Against the Machine. Very talented, very tight. Knew the name but I should have listened earlier! Solid. 4.1
Hell yeah brother
I do love some SOAD and this is really fun. Serj’s voice is killer
Very nostalgic, wore this CD out back in the day
I'm not historically a big SOAD fan. I had my run with the Toxicity album in high school, but that's about it. "Suite-Pee" sets the tone for this record right away. "Know" - this riff scratches an itch in the best way, but might be the influence for the worst single-dad butt-rock of this era. "Sugar" - hey, I know this one!
Not my style, but they do it well.
What a great first listen!! I don’t listen to music as heavy as this very often but I had a great time.
Poison!
4.0 Im not a huge SOAD fan or anything but its a great hard rock metal album. Seems like the song is the driving factor, not their image or trying to be the heaviest. Toxicity is a 5 starer if we ever get it,
I was really, really surprised by how much I enjoyed this. There's something almost sweet about it's earnest straightforwardness.
3.5 (40:36, 13 tracks, debut, 1998) heavy metal/ Nu Metal OK so I disliked SoaD in 1998, I don't like the metal gwaaaar sound and the elf talk is worse (but I do like some metal); however, I really never gave them a fair shake. After listening to this album once I moved from 2.5 (leaning 2) to 3, then four more listens and I'm up to 3.5 leaning 4 (that's probably the biggest movement over listens of my 115 albums rated). Serj has an insane range for any genre but has to be the best in metal (wish haters could comment here and prove me wrong). Personal Favorite - Spiders Always loved the artwork (Heartfield) and use on this album "Open your eyes, open your mouths, close your hands and make a fist"
Some time ago I listened to Toxicity, because well, one of the most famous Heavy Metal album's form the late nineties. But I didn't really like it that much. So expected not too much from their debut, other than an amazing cover, but the musicality really surprised me. From the start the band competently exploits Serj Tankian amazing vocal ability. Suffers from being a bit too long, but definitely worth checking out.
Why have I never listened to System of a Down before? This is great. Right up my alley. Heavy with enough nuance to make it interesting. Good musicianship, interesting lyrics and Serj has a fantastic voice. Glad I discovered them on this thing. A strong 4
Probably great. There were moments I liked but also some I didn't. I'm not much of a metal guy but if you are I'm sure this is wonderful to your ear. I definitely liked the creativity and production and rawness but I didn't connect with it the way some people do.
I like to think that this would send Victorian children and adults into a coma
I like how the songs change around during each song. I dig the energy. I'm not sure how I feel about the production
Das Debut von SOAD. Der typische Sound ist schon da, auch wenn ich keines der Lieder kannte, kam mir alles vertraut vor. 4/5
The kombucha mushroom people indeed
Album #985 I've heard a few of their songs before, but nothing from this album. It's heavier metal than I was expecting, with the eccentricities of the singer going from weird goofy voice to screaming to growling. Entertaining, but I think maybe overdone in some places. One song had a cool guitar solo (maybe it was Suggestions?) that I wish they did a bit more of that, but solos were kind of out of style by the late 90s. The lyrics probably have a political slant, but I couldn't really understand them anyway, so that's whatever. I did hear a bunch of swear words they wanted to make clear, which felt like forced edginess. All in all, it was a nice, heavy alt-prog metal album. I'll give it another go in the future.
Smart debut by SOAD which packs a punch.
sugaaaaaar I hope toxicity will continue in the future, or else I don't understand anything about music at all.
Serj Tankian's rookie season and he's already averaging triple doubles. He's #him.
I was surprisingly impressed with this. There are some great moments and while the genre still does not grab me--there's something different here. Started as a surprised 3 and ended up a more surprised 4.
!!!!!!
The best band to come out of the nu metal/alt metal scene. Well, probably. I just know I’ll take this over Slipknot eight days a week. Best song: Sugar
High intensity and high energy, I’m stunned by the quick changes and mystical lyrics. I can only take nu-metal in small doses, but nothing else quite sets you off this way if you want to be pissed and violent.
A forgotten favorite. Sound is a bit dated because it was very much Of Its Time, but surprisingly I still like this one a lot.
This album generator has made me respect and appreciate more recent metal a lot more, although only with this and slipknot so far, Korn was not a great experience. This is my favourite of those though, I thought this was very fun and goofy in a good way with great instrumentals and powerful yet playful vocals. It doesn’t sound like the more kind of mainstream sound from their later stuff which I like cause the heaviness made this great. The screaming vocals i’m never usually a fan of but it wasn’t too bad here and wasn’t done to an extreme, the energy was matched nonetheless by the guitar and drums though which were both very powerful, the bass worked really well in the quieter moments as well. Favourites: Spiders and Ddevil although all of them had some great riffs. Overall, 7/10.
Strong debut album by Serj and the guys
*One of the best bands from the Nu Metal era *Awesome lyrics and rhythmic patterns *Don't love the screaming vocals but the other singing is fantastic
it was ok
I couldn't get into SOAD because I had a roommate in College that would the very same 8-9 songs every day for two semesters. Given that was 10 years ago, I guess I can finally listen to SOAD and not have to hear the same shit over and over again. I would've thought their next two albums would be on this list over their debut, they were more commercially successful and might have more of their memorable songs. At least they would make more sense than fucking Kid Rock being on this list. In any case, the SOAD self-titled debut is for people like me that find SOAD to be a bit obnoxious in their delivery, but in terms of nu metal this is a top tier record. That's mainly because of Sturgeon's Law, but Nu Metal as it was forming in the late 90s was becoming its own movement bringing metal with hip hop and pop punk elements. Genre bullshit aside, it's a fine record. Wait Korn is on this list aren't they? oh nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Aggressive, progressive, energetic, conciousness and all out insane. I always appreciate SOAD from afar but as I get into my older ages. I appreciate it so much more. Highly skillful musicianship in the nu-metal era. There is a lot to appreciate and enjoy. A good example of their sound as opposed to "Steal This Album" or "Toxicity". Definitely will come back to this album in life.
This album brought me back to my highschool days and now my hip hurts. I’m knocking a star off for that.
Not the SOAD album that I would have assumed would be on this list, but a welcome decision nonetheless
I really enjoyed this album and enjoyed getting to learn and read about the band! :)
Not bad for heavy metal
too heavy at first, but it got better
enjoyed more than I thought I would. some good stuff.
Only have heard limited amount of this band but I like this one . Cant wait to dive in to more .
Biased nostalgic opinion incoming - loved this debut album when I was 12 and I love it now. Just the right balance of rage/aggression, vocal gymnastics, and weirdness.
Never got into SOAD in their prime but…yeah, this rules. Great riffs, great sounding record (the mix and production make every element present), unique vocals…sounds sort of like a more prog version of early (good) Metallica with some of the Armenian/Eastern influence in the harmony. I get not liking it if you don’t like metal, but I think it’s really original and great.
I thought Toxicity would be a better album. Either way SOAD is a great inclusion. Alternative metal with great riffs, using traditional Armenian scales.
It defintely wouldn't be a daily driver, but I throuoghly enjoyed it.
one or two great tunes the rest do not speak to me at all
After a couple of days' news of new political horrors justified by mobs of complacent and nihilistic Christian nationalists, this album hit just right. They also have the musicality to make songs with an often surprising mix of rage, sadness, and playfulness.
I was never able to keep up with SOAD's energy when they were first breaking through. Besides a single or two, I found the frenetic explosions a tough hang. I always appreciated Serj Tankian's more melodic vocals, and when songs were built around something earworm-y (like "Aerials," for example) I was captivated by it. They had a singular sound that elevated above almost every other "nü-metal" band of that era, but when the guitars and drums hit 100mph and Serj growled into a scream or even that yawp he is so good at, I lost interest. This time through their debut though, I was enthralled. Those frenetic bursts worked for me and I found it tough to sit still for want of a mosh pit like the music calls for. What clicked? I'm not totally sure, to be honest. It got in my bones and I was happy to be tossed around the room by it. That said, the last third of the album grew a little thin. It felt like the ideas had run out and they were powering ahead on adrenaline in lieu of melodies. As a sidenote, it's wild to me that this album made the list but not Toxicity. I fired that up at one point today, and it expands on all of the ideas introduced here in briliant ways, and doesn't suffer from the band hitting the same gear over and over again. It's also helped by two of the most earworm-y tracks coming very late in the tracklist. Toxitcity left me wanting more where their self-titled left me wanting. But for ¾ of the runtime, it had me. That's plenty for four stars.
This isn't really an album I could listen to any part of on its own, but I enjoyed my stay while I was there! It's good stuff, tasty instruments and solid lyrics.
FUUUUCKK YEAHHHH now THIS is what alt-metal is all about. This shit got me headbanging AND contemplating the overarching societal effects of the Armenian genocide and the veil of complicity that allows atrocities to be perpetuated on the marginalized - heavy as FUCK and also still all too relevant today. Good shit all around.
It's an incredible debut, and to my ears the band at their most unhinged (which is one of their greatest strengths). Just a wild, brilliant ride from beginning to end. Now, is it perfect? No, that would be Toxicity. And it blows my mind that the editors included *two* Shitknot albums on the list while giving only one slot to SOAD, one of the most poignant, politically charged, and timeless metal acts of their era.... and it's only their comparatively raw debut. And still, Slipknot could never. Standouts: Sugar • Spiders • Mind • Peephole • P.L.U.C.K.
I had forgotten just how good this one was. They went on to do even better, but as a debut, this was pretty excellent!
I remember when this came out how novel it was to intertwine these sounds. It never was my personal soundtrack but I've listened to it several times prior. It's a good album and ticks a lot of boxes for me. I actually like a song that winces between styles and tempos.
Should have been toxicity but still an insanely strong debut with iconic vocals
Nyt on rytmiä ja tykitystä. Viisi tähteä ei ole koskaan ollut lähempänä
4.25
Enjoyed it, but was not in the mood
First time listening to this album, and I’ve gotta say I’m surprised I haven’t heard more of this previously. This is the exact type of bubblegum ear worm pop candy the kids normally dig en masse. This should’ve been on every pop radio station, all across the nation, all the time. OK, so this isn’t normally my type of thing. I do love hard rock and even a bunch of metal, but this is a touch outside of what I would normally listen to. That said, I think it’s easy to hear that these guys are actually pretty talented. Most of the songs are in your face (understatement) but really not bad. When they went a bit less aggressive, such as with Spiders, they reminded me a lot of the Deftones. An excellent album, all in all. Not something I would come back to, but it was worth a turn. Now I’m gonna try and resist the urge to swear at strangers and punch babies. Maybe I’ll opt instead to listen to some Yanni and Christopher Cross to regain my equilibrium.
Serj Tankian’s voice needs to be studied for future generations. Not my favorite overall, but I found the ensemble impressive
A slapping banger from my middle school days!
System of a Down were always scary, yet intriguing to me. I obviously wasn't aware how politically charged they were when I was younger, thus I gained a larger appreciation as I got older and started hearing some of their stuff in a different light. This specifically was the group's debut, released in a time where this "freaky" nu metal sound was taking off. All led by arguably one of the most unique lead vocalists ever in Serj Tankian. It's a frantic ride that skips the anticipation and immediately jumps to the first hill. I'm sure many would agree that "Toxicity" is the group's magnum opus (myself included), but I guess I can see the merit of including their debut album here. Their sound was truly unlike anything else.
Aaaw 🫶🏻 12-godisnjakinja u meni i dalje vrišti 😁 4/5, 8/10
Only heard the hits by SOAD so this is the first time hearing the first album. It is way harder than other albums I feel. But Sugar I heard before. I can get if people have a hard time with them. Serj has a very unique way of singing and the music shifts from almost Death metal to Operatic verse with a lot of unregular drum beats. Probably wouldn't have enjoyed the album if I hadn't heard them before. Don't think I found much new because I'm not a huge SOAD fan. Spiders was pretty good. They do deserve a spot here in my opinion, they had a big impact on 90s-00s alternative rock music and seemed to be bit of fresh air in the scene
I think it's so musically complex that everyone should hear it at least one time. They later perfected much of the concepts they outline here. Of course it lines up on the "metal"/"rock" side of the scale, but it's so creative. The message. The energy. No wonder they became such a big hit.
man what a throwback. I forgot how good these guys were before Daron Malakian had to shit up every song down the road. Serj sounds great as usual, their trademark sound is here, I liked some of their later entries more but as a debut this is pretty good.
Totally based on nostalgia this is a 4! Very heavy and Serj has the most ridiculous vocals but man I listened to this a lot back in high school and it reminds me of good times.
I don't care that it's not "dance music" I danced my way through the entire thing
Ok, cet album là est tellement over the top qu'il en devient rocambolesque, ça vient surtout du range démesuré de Serj qui passe d'une ptite souris à un psycho-screamo en un quart de seconde. En vrai, ça décoiffe, un bon 4 est approprié. - Ok, de retour! Je suis aussi surpris que toi de ne pas retrouver le Blue Album, Discovery/Random Access Memory, Fashion Nugget, In The Airplane Over the Sea (qui est absolument partout et que je n'ai toujours pas écouté en me disant qu'il était forcément dans la liste originale), Currents et aucun Godspeed You! C'est des turbo classiques, heureusement qu'ils ont été rajouté dans la liste des utilisateurs. Pour ma part, j'ai été vraiment déçu que la liste comprenne si peu de Gorillaz, de Jamiroquai et de King Crimson. Demon Days/Plastic Beach, Travelling Without Moving/Space Cowboy et Red/Discipline sont les chefs-d'oeuvres de ces créateurs qui ont grandement influencé la scène musicale. Je suis aussi surpris qu'il n'y ait aucun album de Gentle Giant, pourtant pionnier du prog. Parlant de prog, je suis furibond que Brain Salad Surgery de ELP ne soit pas dans la liste, MAIS QUE PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION LE SOIT! C'est mon chouchou, certe, mais ce que ELP on réussi à accomplir avec des sons 8bit de synthé de 1973 est vraiment ahurissant, en plus le cover est *chef kiss*. C'est probablement mon deuxième album que je vais ajouter à la user list, même si la réception risque d'être similaire à celle de l'Heptade. Sinon, en vrac: Breakfast in America de Supertramp, Fire of Unknown Origin de Blue Öyster Cult, RAM de McCartney, Thick as a Brick de Jethro Tull, Great Escape de Blur et Days of Futur Passed des Moody Blues. Aussi, j'ai longtemps cru que Picture of Nectar de Phish et Roaring Silence de Manfred Mann's Earth Band était des grands classiques, mais j'ai rarement vu quelqu'un d'autre en parler que moi 🤣 Donc, voilà quoi, on se tiens au jus! Ps: Si le design de pochette t'intéresse, tu peux te lancer quand tu veux, c'est vraiment un cool de processus et ça peux devenir un super hobby!
Yea man. This thing rocks.
Whew I need to lie down (complimentary)
Solid debut by the band, and a couple banger sright from the get-go. This record becomes the foundation they build their following releases on, expanding and experimenting with this particular style.
kombucha mentioned
Bardzo dobry, nie słuchałem wcześniej ale podoba mi się bardzo. Szczególnie Sugar
A good album and my usual style of music, I liked Suite-Pee, Suggestions and War the most.
The freneticism of System of a Down is so enjoyable. I think Toxicity is their most listenable album but this is still really damn good.
I have always been a huge system of a down down fan, I prefer their later stuff but overall enjoyed a lot of the songs within this album and their general sound overall
Was really in the mood for this right now, very good album!
++: Suite-Pee, Know, Sugar, DDevil, Soil, War?, Mind, CUBErt +: Suggestions, P.L.U.C.K +-: Spiders, Peephole, Darts 8,8/10
grande marco do metal
70/1001 System of a Down - s/t Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ Honestly, such a mad record and I kinda love it. Nothing more to add 😂
Combine the political orientation of the Dead Kennedys complete with the vocal gymnastics of Jello Biafra, and add to it a stew of different metal genres including thrash, doom, and hard rock - and you have produced the most innovative metal band in recent memory and one that completely shook up a staid genre setting it off in an entirely new direction - unfortunately, one that was bastardized by other bands into the frequently irritating nu-metal genre. This is SOAD at their rawest, most punk, and least melodic, with highlights including the single "Sugar" and the searing commentary on the Armenian genocide "P.L.U.C.K.". They would produce better albums, but none that made a bigger statement.
Классный альбом, не думал что мне систем оф а даун так понравится. Майк паттон что ты наделала? ( всё правильно наделал) 8/10 Highlights: Оч много таких, так что, это прикольный альбом.
This debut album is chaotic, political, and completely unpredictable, the kind of record that makes you sit up straight the moment it starts. From the jagged riffs to Serj Tankian’s unhinged vocal delivery, it refuses to play by the rules of late 90s metal. Songs like “Suite-Pee” and “Sugar” are explosive, jumping between thrash aggression, surreal humor, and sudden melodic turns that keep you guessing. It is heavy, yes, but it is also theatrical and strange in a way that gives it real personality. What makes the album stand out is how tight the band sounds while still sounding like they could collapse into chaos at any moment. The rhythms lurch and swing, the guitars cut through with razor-sharp precision, and the lyrics mix dark satire with blunt political commentary. Even with all the noise, it feels focused, never dull. System of a Down set the template for everything the band would become known for, and it remains one of the most distinct and inventive debuts in modern metal.
I can see what’s confusing about these guys. It goes from punk to metal to something to something. It’s intriguing to say the least. Operatic vocal tones mixed with a sort of funk style guitar playing. Although screaming may not be Serje’s specialty, he pulls it off very effectively. My grandma and my mom wouldn’t like this but anyone under 50 and older than 18 should find the talent and enjoyment in this album. Choice cut: Sugar
Very nostalgic.
Fun
Super fast and accurate big dirty distorted guitars that clean up instantly to create contrast within the individual songs as well as the album as a whole. All musicians are highly proficient on their instruments. Angry songs, silly songs, and aggressive songs all “peacefully” co-existing while staying stylistically appropriate. The vocals are very prominent and are a big part of the musical diversity.
Not their best album, idk why this one was picked, but it was nostalgic of middle school and it's good metal.
Pretty good stuff.
Favorite songs: Sugar, War?, Suite-Pee, Darts, Marmalade, Suggestions, Spiders, Soil, CUBErt, Mind Least favorite songs: DDevil 4/5
Welp, just the generator doing generator things. I was supposed to see these guys in September 2025 (like two weeks from the creation of this review), but had a different life-changing opportunity that I'm taking. Am I mad about it? No, not really. I'm unsure if I'll get either chance again. But man, what a trip back to the late 90's. I owned this album as a angsty, grungy teen. I specifically remember the DISDAIN my bestie at the time had for this.. It wasn't the cooing sounds of Seattle grunge, and therefore rejected by my peers. But not me.. The whole record is a BLENDER of heavy riffs, relentless rhythm, and Serj going full mad-professor/scientist/philosopher/dissident/logician/historian. Musically, oppressively heavy, but never sloppy. It makes me think of Korn if Jonathan Davis had his shit together vocally (he's not horrible, don't @ me), but SOAD is a whole Echelon above the likes of Korn, Limp Bizkit, Slipknot, etc. Politically smart too, a la Rage Against The Machine, which keeps it from just being noise for the sake of noise. As far as debut albums go, this one rushes in like a bullhorn, unhinged but locked-in at the same time. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Suite-Pee - Sugar - Spiders - Peephole
I recall this blowing my mind as a young teen when it was first released. Seth’s wild, almost circus like vocal delivery impressed and entertained me so much. The band is equally impressive with their energy and speed. Listening back, now 25 years later, it doesn’t hit quit the same but it’s still impressive. As a teen, Suite-Pee and Sugar were my favourites, today Spiders is the obvious standout for me. What a great gloomy jam. 4 stars
Decent.
Good album, though there are some moments where it feels "too gimmicky". I ended up liking far more songs than I originally expected.
Not my style per se, but such a well done debut album. They have such deftness in switching up style, vocals, tempo, etc.
Yesss, I love the heavy stuff
Hmmm, had possibly always unfairly tainted them with the "nu-metal" brush (and nothing wrong with nu-metal at all, don't @ me) but coming back to SOAD for the first time in ages, this felt like a cut above. But most of all, it made me feel ANGRY. GOOD ANGRY.
Such a weird album. Theres good weird and annoying weird but I enjoy it.
Not my favorite SOAD album, and I’m honestly surprised this one was chosen over Toxicity or Mezmerize. But I’ve known some of the songs for years, never really listened to the whole album. It flowed really well together and was a fun listening experience and throwback to my middle school years.
I loved this album when it came out and just kind of forget about how original it is and lumped it in with the rest of the Nu/rap metal scene. Serj skirts the line of absurdity with his vocal acrobatics but always pulls it back in with his vocal power. Original and timeless album.
An absolute assault from start to finish.
All I ever knew was Toxicity and Hypnotize/Mesmerize, perhaps because this one came out when I was ten. It's not toxicity levels of enjoyment but this still had the fun of those albums and the absolute carnage that I loved too. My wife asked me to turn it down whilst I was making lunch though.
Armenia’s pre-eminent nu-metal weirdos appear on my screen, and this feels out of left-field. I am just a touch too young to have been fully swept up in the nu-metal craze of the early 2000s, and when people were sardonically throwing around this band’s name due to tracks like “Chop Suey,” I avoided it as one should always avoid the recommendations of stoned 9th graders. In the years since, I have enjoyed some music from “SOAD” (strike me down for that r/music acronym) but don’t know how I’ll react to a full 40 minutes of their sound. Only one way to find out and other clichés. Suite-Pee - Taking a term of endearment and turning it into a phrase that conjures up a urine soaked hotel room takes a special eye. I do love hearing riffs during these reviews. Feels so rare. Excellent breakdown here too. Know - These people are insane. The riffs just dive up and down around these bizarre vocals. This sounds like a schizophrenic preacher’s final recorded thoughts before the meds kick in. The song meanders more than the previous, but it still rips pretty good. Sugar - A CLASSIC. Check out the music video for this one. Jeeeesus. The spoken word sections, the lyrical freefall into insanity, and the voice breaking. This is unbelievable. Suggestions - I love the insane vocals here. This feels entirely unique although I’m missing the riffs here a little bit. Spiders - This is exactly like being sad in middle school. The teacher assigned me homework but Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 just came out. Will I ever see the sun set on this agony I feel within my soul? DDevil - This one kind of passed me by a little bit. Sad to say. Soil - This is a guitar heavy “S song.” I was kind of bored by the noodle guitar, but then that dissonant polka breakdown came in and I was back. Whole lotta swearing and angry riffs. You can see why this took the nation’s drywall punchers by storm. War? - Yeah war is real bad. Always top of mind lately as the world seems to further crumble into conflict and ecological distress. I suppose humans have fought over whatever for eons. The reason to kill must be approved by man’s god. Doesn’t get more clear than that. Mind - Sick bass intro interrupted by strange lovesick poetry? Hey. What else did you expect? Oh god, then a borderline death metal riff? In this economy? Too many question marks. One of the more bizarre songs and one of the best so far. Peephole - Seamlessly faded into from the previous ode to mental instability, we get what sounds like a field recording of a raving hobo. Then of course, hard polka. The lyrics here might be above my head, but they feel silly rather than interesting. The song itself is interesting enough, but the lyrics are distracting here. Don’t ask me about my mermaids, Serj. CUBErt - This reminds me of my buddy Cubert and that time a burgeoning nu-metal band wrote a song about him. Really lifted his spirits in the face of being named “Cubert.” Cube the Pube they called him. His mother thought, “Hey, Regis Philbin is successful,” but Cubert looked particularly cumbersome on that Dollarama name tag. Darts - With this track being called “Darts” and starting with “May I please,” I thought I was being asked for smokes by the world’s most polite burnout. P.L.U.C.K. - I have nothing intelligent to say. I believe they’re speaking about the Armenian genocide, but I need to do more research there. Of course, by “research,” I mean skimming Wikipedia. This is just so unique. The vocal breaks that indicate completely unbridled emotion are the basis of what is a dizzyingly angry release. System of a Down may occasionally be pegged as proprietors of nonsense, but they prove in their debut that there not to be trifled with, and silly guys get angry too. Put that on an instagram t shirt that will occupy a landfill in two months. See? The world sucks, which makes it all the more important that we have music like this to match the growing disdain for our rulers. One of the progenitors of the often bastardized nu-metal genre produced a moment of purity on this record that simply could not be matched by future participants in the genre. 4 HIGHLIGHTS: Suite-Pee, Sugar, War?, Mind
Goes hard. Very hard. I like it's oddness. The vocals set it apart. A pleasant surprise.
Great debut. Sugar and Suite-Pee are great and love the instrumentation and singing on this. 8/10 Favourite: Sugar Least Favourite: Qubert
System of a Down's such a fun band.
Good stuff. Exciting after receiving 300 (hyperbole) soul albums off this list.
No lights!
Probably going to be a lot of haters on this one. I like the album, and I like System of a Down. There, I said it. Pretty kickass music. 3.65/5 = 4 stars Check out: Suite-Pee Sugar DDevil P.L.U.C.K.
There truly is nothing else that I can think of that sounds like this. I appreciate the style and uniqueness of it even if it’s not what I would choose to listen to. The only other song I could think of by them was chop suey, so this album surprised me.
SOAD along with Rage Against the Machine rise above the nu-metal label slapped on anything vaguely metal from the 90's to early 2000s by 1.) being extremely fun and inventive and 2.) being overtly political. Compare P.L.U.C.K - a moving track about the Armenian genocide to something like Break Stuff by Limp Bizkit which just channels the general but ultimately impotent rage of genX and the elder millennial. SOAD tries really hard to make you not take them seriously but it's hard not to when you really listen to the lyrics - it's woke circus metal and it's brilliant.
I feel like not a lot of people have done ''nu-metal'' well, but these might be one of the only ones, I think its something to do with the vocal delivery, he just doesn't take it too seriously, which I think some others do. It could also be because they are very political, which I think sets them apart from other bands of this genre and time which feel like slop because they have nothing to say. Guitars and beats are really good, vocals are very varied, both in tone and quality imo. He's actually got a nice 'conventional' singing voice, and the yelling stuff isn't that bad in most places, does get a bit stale sometimes. I think quite a lot of the instrumentals have a different groove to standard thrash stuff, lots of stopping and starting. I think the Toxicity album is probably better than this, which I don't think is a hot take. Favourite songs: suite-pee, know, suggestions, spiders, soil, mind. Overall around 7/10
I was surprised at how much I liked this. I do like heavy metal -- Sabbath, Priest -- and some of the newer heavy bands, like Tool, which has a distinct industrial influence. This definitely slots into that same general feel. Four stars with room for growth!
What a fun album. Sugar and spider are standouts for me and really show this band's versatility. 4.2 out of 5
I've listened to System of a Down's 2nd album Toxicity countless times, but this is the first time I've listen to their 1st album. This shit slaps too. LOL
A great record. I enjoyed almost all the tracks. The songwriting is excellent, and the performances are tight. There's a lot to enjoy here. Favourite Track(s): Suite-Pee, Sugar, Soil Least Favourite Track(s): Mind
Супэр, но будет и лучше. Лучшая песня - Spiders.
Original review a couple months ago with 4 stars: "This is a good album. I never really branched beyond their more famous tracks. Each song is as good as the others I already know." Having listened again it seems fitting, I'll stick with that.
Already heard this album, its not their best album but its definitely good for what it is
SOAD has such a distinct sound because of their singer, but his voice doesn't fit with every song. I really liked Suggestions, Spiders, and Peephole, but the vocals in some of the other songs made them sound worse. Feels like this was SOAD figuring out their style, so they could come back and create Toxicity.
I woke up grumpy and it’s been a tough week of work. I needed this for a Friday morning! Holly F-bombs though. Obnoxiously angry music. Gritty,circus sideshow like. Lyrics are the most random ever. Never cared for SOAD in the 90-2000s but appreciate the musical talent. Could never get past the lyrics. If you ignore the words it sounds better.
If ever there was an album that speaks for itself.
not the one i would have chosen but good could i write poetry to this? y
Toxicity would have been my choice, but still a real good album
Really really enjoyed this
Så veldig veldig veldig ikke for mæ. Spor fem va ikke så ille, men det e jo på ingen måte en overraskelse at æ like det best når det ikke går på full mundur i heavy metal-greia.
fucking awesome
i'm not sure how much i liked this, but i do think it's important and a worthy inclusion on this list. i'm confused why one of their other albums wasn't on here instead, though. surely toxicity would be the more logical choice? regardless - 3.5 rounded up?
April 2005. Austin, TX. System of a Down at Austin Music Hall followed by ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead at Emo's. Surprised I still have my hearing after that night. I remember feeling like my chest was going to explode with every kick of the bass drum at the SOAD show. I've had a soft spot for them ever since. I'm surprised (pleasantly) that they showed up on this list and hope we also get Toxicity. Though I fear they may only get one album in order to make room for the 8th album from the likes of Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and, god help me, Steely Dan. I'm hedging my bets and rounding this one up just in case this is their only showing. Suck it, nerds. 3.25/5
A great stoner album.
I don't like the vocals, but the music is very well done.
i didn’t know most of these. this was fun.
It does not have the tracks I know on it, but I do love how quirky they are. More metal bands should be this fun. More every genre of bands should be this fun.
For the sin of Toxicity not appearing on the 1001 albums list this one should really be dunked by a further 3 stars. It’s still an absolute blast of a debut however, full of brutal headbanging riffs and lots of tasty, twisty turny tempo and textural changes. It has that very unique sinister Middle Eastern vibe thanks to the band’s Armenian heritage and the lyrics are so super-charged whether it’s political, spiritual, personal or being plain goofy and singing about ancient arcade games. Frontman Serj Tankian is a maniacal voice acrobat genius with about 60 different vocal personalities and his death growls are as sonically pleasing as every time Frank Sinatra purs into the mic.
Yes, this is nice
Rock on!
Was waffling between 3.5 and 4 stars for this, but honestly, while it’s not the type of music I consider my fave, I really enjoyed this! And was surprised at how much I enjoyed it! I grew up during the heyday of SOAD and always thought they were kinda over dramatic and goofy, and their fans took them really seriously. And I think that’s all still true, it’s just now maybe I’m more on their wavelength. I like weirdness and theatricality. Serg’s voice is all over the place and doing five different things in a single song. The drums are chunky, the riffs are heavy, the compositions are interesting and catchy, and I enjoy the political and religious allusions that permeate their lyrics. A real kick-butt listen that had my head banging.
i sit 🪑 in my desolate room 🙇 no lights ❌💡no music❌🎶 just anger☑️💢🤬
Always preferred the second album in my younger days, but on a re-listen this does hold it's own
Peephole was my favourite and the album was generally pleasurable but nothing amazing
SOAD is an awesome band, but I prefer a couple of their later albums more.
Been thinking I should do a deeper dive on these guys and the universe delivered today. This certainly starts off strong with “Suite-Pee,” which grabbed my interest immediately and didn’t let go until “Spiders,” but not before introducing us to their more melodic guitar style, which is transfixing in its own right.
This is a good album. I never really branched beyond their more famous tracks. Each song is as good as the others I already know.
YEAHHHHH ANGRY MUSIC.
Awesome debut album! crazy album from start to end.
I can’t believe I dismissed this band while they were putting out albums. This is amazing.
System of a Down’s debut album is an absolute riot from start to finish. It’s chaotic, political, weird as hell, and a whole lot of fun to listen to. Even after all these years, I can’t deny how interesting it is. Especially for the time it came out. The way it balances raw aggression with bizarre, theatrical vocal deliveries and darkly humorous lyricism makes it stand out from a lot of the heavy music that was around in the late ‘90s. That said, as much as I love this album, I can’t pretend it hasn’t aged. Some of the production choices and overall sound feel very much locked in the era they came from. The lyrics are brilliant. SOAD have never been afraid to tackle heavy subjects, and this album is no exception. War, government corruption, drug abuse, media manipulation, it’s all here and it’s delivered with a mix of anger, sarcasm, and absurdity that keeps things engaging. War? and P.L.U.C.K. hit hard with their politically charged themes, while Sugar and Spiders show a more surreal and eerie side to their songwriting. The vocals are a major highlight for me. Serj Tankian’s delivery is genuinely one of the most unique things about this album. He shifts from manic screams to eerie whispers to theatrical spoken word in seconds, and it keeps you on edge the entire time. It’s unpredictable in the best way possible. Instrumentally, this band is tight. Daron Malakian’s guitar work is punchy and unpredictable, constantly switching between heavy, thrashy riffs and almost Eastern-inspired melodies. His backing vocals add another layer of unhinged energy to the mix. Shavo Odadjian’s bass work doesn’t get as much credit as it should. He lays down some seriously groovy foundations that give these songs their signature bounce. And then there’s John Dolmayan on drums, who is just ridiculously tight, fast, and dynamic. His playing makes even the strangest time signatures feel natural. Production-wise, the mix is solid, especially for a debut. The rawness of the sound actually helps rather than hinders it gives the whole album this frantic, barely-contained energy that matches the band’s style perfectly. While I really enjoy System of a Down, I can’t ignore that some parts of the album do sound a bit dated. It has that early 00s nu-metal sound that hasn’t aged as gracefully as some other albums. The production is still solid, but certain moments and the overall tone do feel a little stuck in time. That said, it doesn’t ruin the listening experience, but it’s something to acknowledge if you’re new to this era of music. There are a few tracks that, while fun, might feel a little repetitive or even a bit over the top at times. Some of the transitions between tracks don’t always feel as smooth as they could, and in some spots, the experimental nature of the album can feel a little uneven. It’s almost as though the band was trying to cram too much in at times, and it can throw off the overall flow. Despite some dated production choices, System of a Down is still a killer debut. The energy, the raw aggression, the thought-provoking lyrics, and the sheer weirdness of it all make it such a fun and unique listening experience. The vocals are a huge highlight, the riffs are memorable, and the way the band locks in together is something special. It might not be their best album, but it’s one hell of an introduction to a band that would go on to completely change the landscape of heavy music. 4.4/5.
If I would've listened to this ish when I was in middle/high school, I probably would still be listening to it every day. So it's good that I didn't, but man it's pretty fucking great. Last track hits hard. 9/10
One note, but a damn good note. Better than other earlier works on a re-listen.
9/10 Ridiculously fun, I don’t care if it’s a product of its time or that it’s predictable or that it’s angsty, it takes the raw spirit and anger of the 90s Nu Metal ethos and channels it into one of the most zany and politically charged Metal records of its time. Some people may have contentions with it being labeled as “Nu Metal” but you’d have to be in denial to believe this record isn’t spiritually tied to the genre’s cultural force, SOAD is what the best parts of that genre could have been had it maintained its relevance. It does stagnate a tiny bit in the last leg but who care I love you Armenia I’m sorry Forrest said all those things about you
I like system of a down purely for how chaotic they are. But also like this guy can seriously hit a crazy vocal range. It’s just so unhinged they really keep it interesting for you, and I was definitely in the mood for a heavier album so I was ecstatic to hear this one. Love it
Good kind of screaming. Stand-out: Spiders
4.0 - Very Good
I've got an up and down relationship with SOAD. It interests me and puts me of sometimes too, but it's highly entertaining. Put Serj Tankian in any other band and it would grate me to no end but the fourpiece musically just clicks well together.
Absolutely loved this album back in the day when it first came out. I've mellowed out some with age but boy does this ever still rock hard!
A great debut. I rocked the shit out of this in Grade 10. Their songwriting got more complex on their following records, but all of the tracks on this one are bangers. Serj is a beast.
super fun
Shit slaps
i have zero idea how System of a Down made it in this town. like, the band is quality, but what was the soul of the country like when everyone heard them and thought "yes, let's make these guys one of the biggest metal acts in the world. they should open for Slayer and Metallica." it's not even the weirdness of Serj's vocals or the subjects being covered -- i mean Rage Against the Machine is huge and that's basically as political as rock music gets -- it's how the guitar often goes out of its way to sound atonal and dissonant, like the siren sounding tapping on "Mind" or the little squirts of strangled guitar notes as the main lick on "Sugar". the organ waltz on "Peephole" doesn't scream platinum album seller, it screams weirdo album with a cult following of underground dweebs. and yet, it's huge. it's probably the first metal band you're gonna get into. then again, it's hard to deny how fun the album is. fun! it's not always fun, as you've got "Spiders" and "P.L.U.C.K." bringing the lights down low, but so many tracks ("Darts", "Soil", "CUBErt", and the aforementioned "Sugar") feature Serj just doing the goofiest possible voice and Daron Malakian doing insane death metal growls to back him up. it's hyperactive, bouncy metal that has a lot to say, but it says it so quickly and loudly that you can miss it if you aren't paying attention. it's infectious energy bringing people in, making them want to mosh. SoaD are like if the Pied Piper lured teenagers into going monkeyshit with electric guitar. anyway, fuck the Turkish government, stop denying the Armenian genocide, and free Artsakh. that is all.
Would have been 3, but gave it a nostalgia star
A good introduction to a great metal band
Never gave them a fair listen before but this really hit! Relentless, hard and crunchy, fast and precise expressive vocals.
Good nostalgia, not a bad album.
Great
Manic, silly, chaotic and hard. I love System of a Down. The singer, Serj, has such a wide range, he’s almost operatic at times. The drummer is absolutely mad and thrashes through the entire record. The chord progressions, harmonies, and transitions are awesome. Great record.
Great surprise! I was expecting a crawl through sludge similar to Metallica/Megadeath but I found this much more sonically varied and lyrically interesting. Highpoint was the Santana-Jingo riff giving way to Lydon era PiL crooning in Know. Artsakh Armenia!
Solid metal albúm. Þeir settu svip sinn á árþúsundamálminn og voru stærsta rokkband í heimi þarna á tímabili. Mér finnst þetta svolítið mikið nostalgíudæmi og ekki alveg jafn gott og áður. 3,5.
first listen Serj is crazy and i love it
Good debut
what a jam, through and through.
grate
Never heard this before but really enjoyed it. Best listened to in a weight room
This album finally clicked for me. Liked it a lot
Sooooo many god damn bangers. Sugar is a 10/10 song btw.
This was always my favourite System of a Down album, because they focused on what I feel they were best at. Their chaotic, angry and heavy side is what they were far more suited to, later on they frequently slip into a melodramatic sound that I'm really not keen on. They do do it on Spiders but that's it really, pretty easily overlooked That doesn't mean I don't enjoy the quiet-loud dynamic. They do it well on tracks like Darts or the intro of Mind, where heavy, chaotic segments are contrasted with quieter, but still eerie, mood-building moments There's also no lead vocals by Daron Malakian here (that I'm aware of) thankfully, as I can't really stand his voice and he really ruins songs for me on later albums Peak SOAD Highlights: Suite Pee, War?, Know, Sugar
Mnm
I hadn’t listened to this in a long, long time and in my mind it was one of the weaker SOAD albums. It might not be their best work but it’s still great
I hate to keep repeating the same point on here, but I really wish they would have picked "Toxicity" rather than this album for System Of A Down. The first album fetish continues to annoy the gosh darn heck out of me. This one is...fine. This is admittedly the first time I've listened to this album start to finish as their later albums drew me into them. I had heard "Sugar" a bunch of times before, and it still slaps. ...OK, it's better than fine, and holds up fairly well in its own right. I appreciate how they later cleaned up their sound a bit, but there's lots of good stuff on here and I'll probably give it a few more spins in the future. These guys are pretty good at what they do. 4.3
Including this over Toxicity is wild to me, since that one is definitely the band's magnum opus and most well-known album, but this album still absolutely rocks so I'm not that upset.
Heavy metal the way Ken Chutney wants it. 4.3
This is the first album of one of my favorite bands. You see the energy, the heavy riffs, the lyrics and all the alternative change of times. Really good stuff