Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Light 4
I've never listened to their debut, but I love Toxicity. And though I prefer that album, this was a great listen as well. I will absolutely give it another listen and read all the lyrics, probably exploring them on Genius. This band is worth that effort.
Great album, a little bloated compared to toxicity though
Perfect in its genre, just not my type
Really odd. But dares to be different. Ok in places and genius in others. I’ll be generous with the score
most are lit
Such a great early Nu-Metal release, although I think the first half of the album is better than the second half. Standouts: Sugar, Suggestions, Soil and Know
my head hurts!
Great debut album from the band that became a classic 2000's metal sound. It presents an extraordinary voice of Serj Tankian and shows what the band is capable of. And now, while I'm typing this, we've been waiting for 20 years for the new album. Nice...
I don’t like nu-metal as a general rule. I’m not sure if this album exactly counts as nu-metal, but there are some similarities - regardless, System Of A Down is an exception to the rule. It’s interesting how familiarity plays into how you feel about an album; in a lot of cases, overexposure makes me inclined to rate an album lower, but this is one that benefits from nostalgia. 3.5 rounded up
4☆/5 10.27.2024
I don't listen to this anymore... but when I was a teenager this album was very cool... still kind of holds up honestly. Sugar is wild. It's over the top for sure, but still I'm gonna go 3.5+
Oh yeah, I remember the fun times this album brought back in the day. System of a Down was one of the few bands from that era who truly had their own style. They always had this chaotic playfulness, shifting seamlessly between aggressive heaviness and melodic passages. Serj Tankian really brought a lot of personality to the music, with his dynamic range moving from energetic screaming to melodic singing, and even playful spoken word. No matter what vocal style he uses, he always hits the key notes perfectly, adding a unique flavor to every track.
A classic genre defining album! Not overly my thing, but it is a damn good album, and certainly deserving of its place on the list.
Nu metal. Un megahit. Un 4.
I forgot how crazy SoD was. They were so popular with the Slipknot listeners that I kind of wrote them off back when this came out, but this really was next level musicianship and artistry. I’m still not going to add them to my regular rotation (I prefer non-nu-metal), but I will definitely give them more respect.
Mind, Spiders
Shocked to see this album on the list but happy all the same! I love SOAD and this album packs a wallop!
While this certainly rips, it does nor rip as hard as their later stuff. I do like how much more raw and aggressive this album is. I bet it would have been life changing in a basement. That said I like the polish of their layer albums. I think it lends itself better to their super theatrical style, especially the more melodic parts. Album cover: C
I absolutely love System of a Down. It is a universal truth that every pre-teen boy must be given great wisdom by their peer's older brothers, late-teenage neighbors, or the metal-head in the back of their health class. It is on this review that I shall offer my thanks to Jason Hannah, Martin Hannah, and Christopher Bull. You each conferred upon me great lessons in metal, and for this I am grateful. It was Chris who showed me System of a Down. I was eleven years old and my friend Seb had a birthday party where we all camped in a massive tent in his backyard. In attendance was myself, Seb, four other eleven year olds who I hadn't met before (Seb went to a different school), and Chris. Chris was fifteen. He was a pillar of knowledge, wizened by his many years, and lessons flowed from him as great rivers descend upon the plains from lofty peaks. The fertile grasslands of our youthful minds received gratefully his knowledge of early YouTube, albinoblacksheep, and Real Music. The human brain stores enduring memories if they are associated with strong emotional responses. I don't remember a lot from my childhood, but I remember so vividly the moment that Chris took out his phone and began playing a low quality mp3 of Vicinity of Obscenity (which I am aware isn't on this album). Each of us listened in awe. When the song finished we demanded to hear it again. And again. And again. He continued to show us songs until Seb's dad came outside and told us it was time to go to sleep. Little did he know, the six eleven year olds who entered the tent that night had been transformed. We arose from our sleeping bags reborn, young metalheads with the seeds of political dissidence planted deep within our consciences. Seb's dad was surprised when I asked him what Tiananmen Square was over breakfast. I don't think I got an answer. I never saw the other four again, but I assume each one has gone on to become a political revolutionary. Or maybe they forgot about System of a Down as soon as they got picked up from the sleepover. I certainly never did. This album rocks, but not as much as their future ones. It's their first record and I think they went in the opposite, and better, direction than many groups do. A lot of bands open up with their strongest performances, the products of many years of creative energy, and then struggle to bring it back there. System of a Down seem to not quite have figured out who they were yet on this record. They knew they were hard as fuck, but they didn't know they had to get way more absurd, and even more political. The bones of their signature sounds are here, the sudden transitions from hard metal to slow soft interludes, Serj's wild screaming followed by beautiful harmonies. I like this record a lot, but they have the dials at 6 and they will go up to 10 in the following years. I really enjoy "Sugar", "DDevil", "Soil", and "P.L.U.C.K." 7/10
Hell freakin yeah!! Not their best but man they are such a cool ass band!
hell ya
I love SOAD... they kick such extreme ass
Remember buying this album after seeing SOAD perform in the sanitarium tour back in 99. I loved their uniqueness and unpredictability. That’s way before Toxicity was released. It has a nostalgic scent since then
I wrote these guys off as generic nu-metal at the time, I was into different stuff back then. Giving it a proper listen now has opened my eyes to how wrong I was, this is great. More depth and fun than I'd expected.
good album, as a debut is very good. I get why they blew up even more with Toxicity right after, as this was a very good debut. not a lot of tracks to skip, some good ones - Spiders, Suite-Pee, and War?
So good. Leaving off a star for Toxicity, which is better.
I'm ofter quite snotty about the repeated tropes of metal and rap but this is just astonishing. . Take your 4 you big beautiful beast of terror.
Oh hell yes, love me some SOAD, great to do their first album as a whole. I'm partial to later albums, but this one has a lot of elements that make SOAD so fun and refreshing vs. other bands in that era. This list better have Toxicity. 4* because it's not an all-bangers album for me. Highlights: sugar, mind
System Of A Down(SOAD) is one of my favorite bands of all time, and ironically, this is actually my least favorite album from them. Since it's SOAD, it's obviously still great though. I can feel the rage in my veins, shouting the lyrics of their politically charged album. They've always been ahead of their time. Favorite Song: "Spiders".
Tolles Album. Vielleicht noch ein bisschen roh.
Мда уж хорошенькое начало В общем дико экспериментально-альтернативный метал альбом. Мне такое нраится, но было много проходных треков, которые либо слишком скучные, либо слишком э кспериментально-альтернативные
Wild, chaotic, frenetic, somewhat schizophrenic but a solid album here. I do think Toxicity is a better album and should be on this list as well but this is a worthy addition to the book.
very angry
Bang!
lowk cunty. I like these guys(I will never listen to this again) 9/10 -- metal goes unreasonably hard when I need to be productive, do need to cleanse my ears afterwards tho
I listened to this cd so much in middle school - if you had asked me yesterday which SoaD cd I jammed to I would've guessed Toxicity but as soon as I saw the tracklist for this self titled album I realized this was actually my jam (specifically I remembered suite pee, sugar, spiders, and PLUCK). The album that taught me about Kombucha! Definitely my first cd with multiple multiple F Bombs, very transformative! Anyway, it's been 2 decades since I listened to this the whole way through and all of my recent System of A Down interaction has been shouting "YOUWANTEDTO" with my wife. I wasn't sure how I would feel about this one but it actually fucking rules.
I didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did.
Toxicity is the better album overall imo, but honestly SOAD is one of a kind in the best way
This was a lot quirkier than I expected. A lot of energy and screaming but also mixed in was humour and melody! Shocking. I quite liked it as a result.
A classic that would be many band's greatest work. This is not many bands.
fast, heavy, and aggressive. the only “nü metal” band that i really cared for, to be honest. they have a distinct sound that stood apart from any other band, led by the incomparable serj tankian’s striking vocals. this is one of the most angry albums that i have heard in a long time. topics of politics, religion, and genocide (all of the band members are of armenian descent). if you’re a fan of loud, angry music, don’t miss out on this one. highlights: “suite-pea” “sugar” “war?”
Cool ass debut. Almost 5 starts just for the "america awake" breakdown of spiders on Conan. Worth looking up if you haven't seen it. Serj can really sing, and the metal vocals are tastefully used with moderation, which entire genres could learn from. Tight as drums. The kombucha mushroom people, sitting around all day!
Great album, never listened to it before but will definitely listen again
Toxicity still my favorite. Sorry
This was good, original, exciting, and possibly cathartic. Every member of the band working in perfect unison to create such a chaotic album. Really enjoy System Of A Down, but after a good forty minutes of listening, there isn’t one song that I can pick out from memory. One that stands above the rest. They all blend together, for me at least. All songs slap though and I’ll never turn it off. 4/5
Vocals are great—don’t know anything about ska but some of the instrumental makes me think of it. Tony Hawk soundtrack music.
Really pretty cool. System of a Down has a knack for doing what few metal acts do (although I’m sure they could, but just refuse to) and that’s to actually write a catchy hook or guitar riff. This album uses a lot of great shifts in pace to keep it interesting too. 7/10
I love how eclectic and manic these tracks are. This album is so heavy and raw.
Wondful punch in my face nostalgia.
Love this artist and album, raw energy, fiesta beats, amazing guitar and bass, incredible vocals. Great.
Did not know this album as well as their other work, but it is just as good, perhaps a little too exhaustive for full stars but close.
I usually turn to Toxicity for some System of a Down, but this debut is already pretty good.
Heavy stuff with care for melodies: I like it.
Love them. Love the album.
Just started getting into metal music, but this album is such a fun listen. The singer's voice is unbelievable, guitar is grimy, and bass/drums are so hard.
Good fun. It laughs in the face of metal but not in a novelty way. There are some Middle Eastern sounds in there too. I liked it
This is quite a strong 4. The lyrics, the riffs, the energy etc. all make this album a really good listen. Shoutout to War? for mentioning the Seljuks, that's definitely a bit of a historical deep cut.
Nice
Listening to this album really makes it hard to believe that it's the only System Of A Down album here. Like, no way this is the only notable thing they've ever done. You listen to Serj's vocals and how weird their instrumentals can get in places and tell me TOXICITY doesn't also deserve to be here at least. Come on, book. They've made some fun-ass angry music, and they deserve to get a double instead of a single.
Highly energetic, with a message in the lyrics that still prevails in modern times. Truly ahead of its time.
That’s a much better Apocalypse Dudes, to the point where I’ll even go from a 3 to a 4, just because I liked it that much. My biggest problem with Apocalypse Dudes is that it never really gave me a chance to breathe, and that it never really felt like there was that much variance in its sound; both of them came out in the same year, so I feel confident in saying this album does the heavy hard rock thing so much better. In terms of both the actual instrumental performance, the actual variance of tracks (i.e., that nothing blended together endlessly), and just the general passion for each track (Apocalypse Dudes felt sort of plastic and fake by comparison), this album just does everything way better, way catchier, and way more memorably. Top notch guitar and percussion work; my only knock is that the vocals felt a little too sharp at times, and that the lyrics (save for the last track and a handful of others) just didn’t add too much depth. Still though, really fun 3 that I enjoyed enough to bump up to a 4.
Not their best album but in some ways their hardest. Suggestions, Spiders, War? and Suite-Pee are all stunners. The breakdowns are brutal, the singing is unparalelled. They would only rise from here.
Banger
Sugar is the shit!
pretty decent, quite unrefined, energetic, I prefer the next couple of albums tho YYN
Roligt, intressant och jävligt heavy. Spiders är en jävligt bra låt och det är ett bra album.
Yes!! 4.5
Really great for a debut album, though not quite complete as their others albums. Fav song: Spiders
Love the rage. Some spots on the album don't hit
Un album artistiquement intègre, aux sonorités uniques dans le metal, qui même s'il n'est pas le plus facilement écoutable en boucle, n'en reste pas moins impressionnant.
Man this is a dumb, fun album. All the voices the singer uses are insane and add a lot of flavor to the songs. Sugar is still the standout song here, and one I remember listening to a bunch when I was young. Also some of these songs are basically metal polka, like Suggestions, which surprisingly works.
Chaotic, messy and quirky lyrics, and a guitar sound that is a bit murky aside; this is so much fun! One singer that manages to sound like three, and songs that twists and turns not to be artsy, but because it suits them, and its fun to throw in stuff like a double guitar solo in a song like Soil, just before it turns into a full on hardcore screaming session. On the other hand Spiders is a clear pointer towards the next three records, who I rate as three of the best metal albums of the 2000s. I was lucky enough to get to see them live in this period, probably on my top 5 list of concerts.
I'm not sure why this SOAD album is on it in place of Toxicity, a far superior album. No question this is a great record from a very unique metal artist, but there are better examples of this band and what they do. That being said, System of a Down is amazing.
I like Toxicity; I can remember many, many nights out around 2006-2008 soundtracked by SoaD songs, but on reflection their music for me is nostalgic - it is for a younger, dafter audience. I hadn't heard this album before. The guy has an incredible voice, I really enjoy the changes in intensity within songs, and think the album is varied enough to maintain attention. 3.5 stars.
not bad actually pretty fucking good actually? but his voice annoys me good work music since there's enough dynamic contrast to keep things interesting
@musicwithnessa on ig
Aggressive and melodic.
7.5/10 - 4/5 Crazy. Love the really unique rhythms and frantic switches in energy. Good, uncanny vocals, great screams. I've never heard anything like this album before that didn't come from SOAD.
Great album from my past.
a beautiful kick to the face
Tipa 3.5. Imaju i boljih albuma, al nije lose.
incredibly syncopated vocals/hits with hectic guitar, drums and screaming/shouting contrasted with exotic Phrygian minor scales. the live music at the end is absolutely hectic. It's interesting to see the almost thrash/hardcore influences from SOAD's early work compared to the more maximalist epics that they became popular for later
Heeeey I used to have this album, it is as chaotic & wonderful as I remember.
Love System of a Down, but never listened to this album all the way through. Like their other stuff, its quirky, heavy, sporadic. I like the combo of spoken/chanted/sang/screamed vocals. The crazy swings and changes of pace make it a fun album to listen to. Glad to have listened. It's now 530am and I'm ready to go lift.
I don’t think this is their best album, but it’s still System of a Down. Lead vocalist is very unique and unmistakable. Songs are super dynamic and energetic.
Thoughts before listening: SOAD were always my favorites of the nu metal scene although i never owned any of their records. There is a complexity to their music and lyrics that sets them well above the Limp Bizkit set. Most of the SOAD music I know is from the Toxicity album, so I may be less familiar with these songs. Review: Well this certainly sounds like the SOAD I know and enjoy. I do recognize "Sugar" which is a very fun hit of the late 90s as well as "Spiders" which is much more restrained and anthemic. Both are complete bangers that easily rise above the fray in what was a mostly terrible time for mainstream rock music. The rest of this album falls in the same vein with a mix of high energy metal mixed with more playful styles, often inspired by their Armenian heritage, that you wouldn't typically hear from their contemporaries. This is a 4-star album.
Enjoyed. Heavy and catchy is places
Totally blown away by how good this record was. Was not expecting death vocals. Can't say I was familiar with a single song on here which is also surprising. A lot more progressive than I was expecting as well. Very cool. Will probably revisit on my own time.
If Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem reorganized to cater to an adult heavy metal crowd you might get something like this. There is a lot of good music on this album punctuated with moments of insanity that kept me a little off kilter and left me wondering what might be next. While I don’t always love this genre and have a tendency to be put off by the harder growling of the genre, this album never wore out its welcome and had a lot of crazy vocal moments that seemed to roam somewhere between death metal and opera. Utterly unique and unexpected - I often laughed in amazement. Yeah, I’m digging this scene!
I’ve officially hit the halfway mark of this project with the debut album of perhaps nu metal’s most cerebral band. With lyrics concerning such heady subjects as the Armenian genocide and government corruption, SOAD burst onto the scene with energy and enthusiasm.
Lleno de adrenalina
Listened Before? Yes Lot of nostalgia wrapped up in this one. I had this on a burned CD, probably sourced from BearShare or Limewire and the audio was complete trash. Bad quality and volume level was super low. Regardless it got a lot of play while I was skating around. This was pretty much no one's introduction to SoaD -- that honor goes to Toxicity; however it is easily their second most mature release. While this lacks the punchy developed song writing shown on Toxicity and actually translate into radio hits, this one has a raw and pure energy along with all the weirdness of Serge on display. A loveable oddball who makes for a unique frontman with an unmistakable voice and energy. This album is a classic for the genre of nu metal. Some standouts: Sugar, War?, Suggestions, Suite Pea. Added to Library? Yes
I did not know this album existed I always thought their first album was Toxicity. I am a fool for that because this album was awesome and I wish I learned of a bunch of these songs way long ago. Soad has always had such good song writing andy favorite part of them is that their songs are very uniquely structured so you never get bored listening to an album. Serj has probably my favorite metal singing voice, just something about it makes songs sound powerful. Sugar and war were the two standouts on this album for being pretty insane. But I loved listening to every second of this album not knowing what was coming next. Very high 4
Don't think I've heard most of these. Pretty much just have listened to the mainstream SOAD songs that everyone knows. Excited to dive into their debut and see how much (if at all) their sound changed. Classic Nu-Metal sound on these songs (not a bad thing). I'm really digging Sugar. Just kidding I've heard Spiders and fucking love it. Sounds like a "prequel" to Aerials. This is getting me pumped for Toxicity which I'm guessing is on here. Outro of Soil fucking rules. Really loving Peephole too even with its weird circus sounds. SOAD is some classic nu-metal with some quirky aspects to it. Solid 4 for being entertaining and hyping me tf up.
Not my favorite, not bad
Suite-Pee - 4 Know - 5 Sugar - 3 Suggestions - 3 Spiders - 4 DDevil - 3 Soil - 4 War? - 5 Mind - 4 Peephole - 3 CUBErt - 3 Darts - 4 P.L.U.C.K. - 4
1. Suite pee - 3 2. Know - 3 3. Sugar - 4 4. Suggestions - 5 5. Spiders - 5 6. Ddevil - 3 7. Soil - 4 8. War? - 4 9. Mind - 4 10. Peephole - 5 11. Cubert- 3 12. Darts - 3 13. Pluck - 4 3.84 Some of the tracks are a little bit repetitive, but amazing vocals and incredibly creative lyrics and guitar work.
System of a Down by System of a Down Monday 2/5/2024, 10:53, office S Tier————————— Spiders A Tier————————— Suite-pee Soil Sugar P.L.U.C.K. War? Mind Know B Tier————————— DDevil Darts Suggestions CUBErt C Tier————————— Peephole
great guitars
very original. veers away from basic nu-metal cliches to keep my interest. funny too!
I really enjoyed the Mike Patton carnival weirdness and how up front everything is with the anger and energy. Though not my go to, this album, and band, has a lot unique and interesting things to offer and engage the listener. It's hard to deny how strong of a debut this is.
Great
It’s seem like there aren’t a ton of modern bands on this list and for SOAD to be on here you know it has to be something special. It is. Such unique songwriting and interesting instrumentation are what most certainly got this album on here.
banger
4.5/5. This is the good shit, almost insulting to consider this nu metal when it’s far superior to every band in that genre.
4.0
Fun yelling music with beautiful instruments
Love this album
Love it
System of a Down is an acquired taste. Even for people who already enjoy metal, they are unique. This album is a landmark in the early development of the sub-genre later to become known as Nu Metal. Thankfully I've already acquired that taste for SOAD and this album was a joy to listen to as I've mostly only listened to their hits and the Toxicity album. I think the most impressive element of SOAD is Serj's vocal range. The way he is able to bounce back and forth between high pitched singing and gutteral growls is insane. Another notable aspect of this album is the topics it covers. From anti-war to anti-religious extremism it really is a criticism on a lot of the brainwashing that happens in America.
awww yiss
This is really great. I missed it back when it was released but it is very good!
I know this album. I love the band. It might not be the best System of a Down album, but it has such a unique character and songs that easily still hold up today. 4.5/5
why the fuck did you take him away from us you motherFUCKAHHHH
OHHHHHH MMAAAAANNN. i really really wanted to give this album a five but it's just 2 songs too long. Honest, pure angst. Clever and edgy without crossing over into cringe. This band is way too good
i've been aware of system of a down but i've never sat down and listened to them. i didn't know what to really expect, but i came into this one pretty reserved because similar music doesn't really tend to be my thing. however, i was really into this one! fun and loud and aggressive and kinda goofy in the right way. never a dull moment, just a fun thrash throughout. i definitely feel like i could listen to more of them!
brings me back to my late teens - can remember hearing suite-pee on a metal hammer (i think) covermount CD and just having my brain melted. Stands up well, shades of nu-metal but slightly askew
Classic of my teenage years. Prefer their second album, but this hits hard. Unique stylings, powerful vocals, and heavy hitting instrumentation, while hinting at the melodic beauty that is more fully realized in their later works.
Aggressive and inventive
Heavy, angry alt metal. Even though I’m getting a little old to like music this angry, I did kinda enjoy it lol. Had some very nice guitar riffs 3.5/5 I don’t know the difference between nu metal and alternative metal
I don't usually go for this kinda thing but I can't help but really like SOAD. This one comes out the traps at 100mph and doesn't stop. Plenty of moments of brief respite stop it being just an impenetrable wall, and he really has a superb voice. Cracking listen, that'll get your blood pumping.
I have liked what I have heard from SoaD from the radio and such. This is a bit more... intense than I was expecting, though. Still, I enjoyed this a lot. "Soil" was... what WAS that? Most of the others I dug. A lot of people talk about a Zappa influence, but I don't see it as much on this album. The stuff I have heard off the radio I have seen it, perhaps that's why I dug it. It's weird, a little goofy, but not overly goofy. Definitely need to delve into more of their stuff.
I was trying to explain System of a Down to my 13 and 14 year old the other day. Not easy to do when you're trying to get them into rock because this style is so in your face. But I love everything they stand for - politically-charged lyrics, complex (or complicated) musical and vocal arrangements - even if I don't love everything they do. And yep, they can go overboard and be downright scary sometimes. But mad respect. This album isn't perfect and they get better after this debut, but thank god these guys emerged in the nu metal scene so it wasn't just Limp Bizkit or Korn that were the torchbearers. The two singles, Sugar and Spiders, are gems.
Ah, what fun!. That hand on the cover, it pleads like the hungry five petaled face of a demogorgon... Self aware and funny ... I hope it's intentionally a giant pisstake of everything an angry young man struggles with. A nice light touch for the genre. Refreshing. Happy. so playful and varied. A soundtrack to a video game life wish a big dash of Dead Kennedy's insouciance ... 1. Does it belong on a list like this? Absolutely. Wonderful example of a well executed stuff most sane people will never willingly explore but this is enormously entertaining fun. (Example "Chop suey!" On another album). All of it is probably in bad taste but I haven't assessed the lyrics yet... 2. Did I like it? Oh yeah, I probably like the album called "toxicity" more for it's entertainment value. Score? 4.5 because it should be played more. But ONLY when your up to it ... Go for it .
I’d heard of this band, but had never listened. Was pleasantly surprised by the light&shade, the variety, and the mix of melodic & impact-oriented vocals (likewise for the instruments, I guess). And all this from a band that clearly had important things to say. I’ll definitely come back for another listen.
Fever Dream, but in a good way.
Great first album from SOAD and easily one of the best thing to come out of the nu-metal craze.
4/5 This has been a pretty good week for music. Again, although this isn't my favourite album from SOAD, it still rocked. Metal is one of my favourite genres, then add some classically trained musicians, some cultural and political spice and I'm hooked.
I had to listen to this twice. I like it but I think it's an album for a certain mood rather than an everyday album. Or it is for a white British lady hearing it for the first time in her late 30s.
shoutout to the guy at my high school that wore a SOAD hoodie every day of sophmore year
Strong
Nu metal. Un megahit. Un 4.
Great metal album. The singing on this is insane and the instrumentals are frenetic, which makes for a burst of energy put onto record. Enjoyed it and I’m thinking of listening to Toxicity now that I’ve heard this one.
I'm glad to see System of a Down make this list! They hands-down have always been known for doing their own thing in the metal space. They also never shy away from social and political commentary in their work, while still finding opportunity to be humorous and a little bit purposefully bizarre and chaotic. They somehow have always been ahead of the curve when it comes to setting all of these kinds of trends, too. These are all things that they have consistently brought to the table, even on this first album. From a nu-metal perspective, these guys definitely were part of the movement that spearheaded this sound in the late 90s, as it didn't really take wider hold until a few years later, further into the 2000s (closer to around when the band released their second album, Toxicity). Speaking of Toxicity, I think many millennial fans probably discovered that album first and then went back and tapped into this self-titled album, and rightfully so. Again, this is another band that had a strong sense of self from the beginning, so what listeners find here is fully realized, enjoyable metal content from a band that already knew who they were, even on their first album. Really, this is an example of an incredibly talented metal band bringing their best and establishing their sphere of influence on their first album!
I had only heard the singles from this album before, but that was a fun listen.
3.5
I remember thinking Toxicity was pretty cool back in the day, but I never took the time to seek out their earlier work. I hit play optimistic but was not charmed by the opening track. By the time I got to the end of Sugar I was was happy to be listening. These guys are proper bonkers. Best songs: Sugar, Spiders. 4.5
Highlights: Know, Sugar, Spiders, Darts
If you're a millennial, you probably have some familiarity to this cool band. The debut is very good, Serj and Daron sound awesome. It features wild energy, wacky song structure, and many political messages. Classifying this as nu metal, while technically true, seems like such an insult in hindsight.
Les prouesses vocales de Tankian distinguent ce groupe, mais les guitares et la batterie ne sont pas en reste
Kinda goofy in spots that undermine its as a whole but it has a row power and anger that are meaningful then and now. Hard to ignore.
Great energy, great lyrics, the guitars and drums slap. 4.5/5
Really great debut album. It's definitely less polished than Toxicity, but the band's unique sound is impressive. My only complaint is that I didn't realize this before, but the guitar riff from Spiders was reused on their next album.
I used to dislike System of a Down. They were too much for my young brain to handle, but I've grown awfully fond of their unique style. Admittedly, I haven't been to the gym since before the pandemic, but they were regulars on my cardio playlist. They just get you pumped up. They're loud and fast, on even on this, their debut, they were coming out the gates with memorable hooks and deep lyrics (often related to their Armenian roots). Serj has one of the most recognizable voices in metal.
Great album.
Great album.
Damn, it’s been a while. Interesting choice of SOAD album. I’d have gone with Toxicity but maybe I’m dating myself. Have to give this one 4 on angry teenage nostalgia alone
Solid debut, very enjoyable but a bit raw compared to some of their later material
I had never listened to this album before although I know Toxicity well. System of a Down sounds like no other band who came before them. This album is perfect for completely replacing your workout playlist. Pure adrenaline and fun.
Soad stands as one of the most recognizable and strangest bands in mainstream metal. They're chaotic, wild, and fun, with incredibly fast riffs that keep changing every few seconds. It's an andrenaline fest. Serj's mix of singing and screaming reflects the psychotic nature of these songs. It's insanely impressive this is only their debut, but their very next album Toxicity is even crazier chock-full of hits. We have a few hits here, most notably "Sugar" and "Spiders", but you have a mix of both accessible and highly experimental songs. In fact, most songs somehow cross the line between the two.
I've already hear this album before 😡
- Never listened to a System of a Down album before - Thought it was very good, especially last couple of tracks - Think Toxicity is their most popular so will need to check that out - Fav songs: Darts, P.L.U.C.K., Sugar
solid heavy metal sound...generally liked it, but perhaps for more sentimental reasons.
Awesome album. Right up my alley. Adding to rotation.
I dipped out of popular metal in the late 90s as I did not consider nu metal to be improving upon anything that came before it. I really liked a few of the early touchstones (Deftones 'Adrenaline', Korn 's/t', Sepultura 'Roots Bloody Roots') but it all became a bit too polished and over-saturated shortly after. I'm happy now to go back with the dust-settled and see what is still standing. In looking at a lot of what I like from that time that I skipped the first time around, it seems that I'm still not into most nu metal but ALTERNATIVE metal from that same time period is more my speed. System of a Down is a pretty great little band and this album is a fun listen. It's heavy, fast, high energy, and unpredictable. 8/10
Much better than expected!
Best Song: Sugar. A perfect encapsulation of the quirkiness of SOAD. Worst Song: Mind. I've never been a fan of their slower tracks (even when the slowness is only a component that serves as a foil to the forthcoming speed). This one contains an entirely needless "intro" before the song proper that could have been cut for no loss. Overall: I like how distinct and unique SOAD feels. They are unlike any other metal band, so even when their artistic choices don't pan out, I'm still appreciative that they tried something interesting. This isn't their best album, but the impressive vocal ranges and the chunky, spastic rhythms still work.
4.5
8/10 GIVE ME ONE I HAVENT HEARD AAAAHHHHHH.
Awesome album. High energy, awesome voice, interesting message. Added multiple songs to my playlist. This was before I knew SOAD so while it sounded familiar it was new.
Entertaining. Not an everyday or every mood listen. Interesting music though.
Pretty good
One of my favorite bands, but not my favorite album by them. System's output improved over time as the songwriting improved and continued to bring in more varied elements. This one is still great, but not the album I'd have on this list. 1 - bad 2 - average 3 - good 4 - great 5 - outstanding
Heavy metal riffs with oddball songwriting and the personality of an unhinged Armenian makes for some pretty damn good music! Who knew? SoaD is unlike anything else really. It's an incredible burst of energy that hits hard and plays around with different ideas. Alternative metal, as a genre, would gain favor after the rise in popularity of grunge in the 90's, but even then, SoaD's style of alt metal will not take to everyone. It took to me though.
I was expecting to like it less, to be honest. Serj sings well when he isn’t screaming. I really liked Suggestions and Spiders. I really didn’t like Mind to the point that I skipped the last third of it. I’d give it a 3.5 overall I think, but I’ll bump it to 4 for the political lyrics. My average rating is looking to be high. Maybe I should get pickier, but it isn’t happening today.
Spiders. Fucking epic. Never get sick of these. They went a progressively more cartoony as they went along so this is generally the album I return to but Toxicity is excellent as well. Toxicity is more consistent right to the end, whereas the debut loses just a touch of steam between War? and Darts. (actually, just listened to Toxicity following on from this - it's a far better album - but this definitely the second best SOAD and still bloody great) Angry, political, loud, fast, musically tight as fuck. I have no idea how they keep the off-kilter rhythm of the verses in Soil on the rails. So many absolute bangers. We will fight the heathens. We will fight the heathens. Best: Spiders, War?, P.L.U.C.K, Suggestions
I wouldn’t listen regularly but I didn’t enjoy it
Reckon it's not as good as their later stuff but probably nostalgia. Very good album with a refreshing sound
Absolutely batshit in the best way, I wish more musicians were this unabashedly weird.
Not their best, but still good
I think System of A Down is a great band and I greatly enjoy their music. This album was awesome, I loved it.
Awesome
I had listened to a few System of A Down songs prior to this album, but I really liked this. I didn't expect it to sound as well produced as it did, it doesn't sound too raw especially for a debut album. Serj Tankian's voice is really something. Love the guitar in DDevil. Fave track(s): Suite-Pee, Spiders, Soil
Nu metal at its best. Really solid debut.
Mahtavaa! Kuitenkin blind chänneliä kopsailtu muutamassa kohdassa.. siitä... lähtee herroilta tähti pois...
I really like this band, I think they're smart, they stand for something, and they have a very unique and recognizable style. They really keep the album moving, and interesting with their stops and changes, that are always very tight. I would have rather seen Toxicity on the list, but this album is good too.
I've been needing some energy (given the last eight albums), and this gave me it.
Good but lacked the skill and nuance of their follow up efforts, Toxicity especially. 3, maybe 4 depending on mood.
Hadn't heard their debut album (pre-toxicity)...so good that I broke things.
Serj Tankian has such a memorable, weirdly melodic voice for rap metal. Really enjoyed their debut (although “Toxicity” was my trusty high school companion and will always have a special place in my brain), my favorite parts are where they add other cultural influences to come up with demented, brilliant songs (like in “Sugar” and “Suggestions”) and things you still don’t hear anywhere less. Extra honorable mention to “Spiders”, still one of my favorite SOAD songs.
awhh yeaaahh🙏🙏
Not as refined as some of their later albums but brings back a lot of memories
Really gotta hand it to this album
lol I have a soft spot for SOAD, they feel like they should be grating, but instead I’m just having a good time
This still hits incredibly hard, I can barely imagine the impact it must have had at the time. It's not as refined as Toxicity but probably their most distinctive and unhinged record, just am absolute slap in the face by a big red hand
Fun album and good debut!
Raw, unadultered. Really cool
Brilliant album - angry, joyous and political nu-metal. Bucks trends, challenges conventions and brings a lot of head banging, screaming fun along the way. Not too be taken too seriously but not to be dismissed either!
raw, crunchy, weird, and never exceeded (even by Toxicity)
It's funny to listen to this album. SOAD was one of my favorite bands during my teenage years, and I still enjoy their music. However, I have never listened to this album as a whole album since today. It was a great experience that reminded me why I liked them 10 or 15 years ago.
Non male, ma mi aspettavo di meglio.
This is a really good album. Not quite as good as toxicity but still really enjoyable.
Raakaa, kontrastia, herättelevää = toimii
A Classic SOAD's debut is punchy and heavy, full of personality Favorites: Sugar, Spiders, War?, P.L.U.C.K
yir
Classic. But toxicity is better sorry. Still love rocking like a middle schooler
I liked this. it was for more punk than i would have imagined and more melodic. I will certainly listen again and look for more of their stuff
Very good, not as good as toxicity tho
Really dug this. Some solid jams. Wasn't too nu-metal or goofy as I thought it might've been. Great album
Classic metal album. Full of head bangers and a fun time. Saw them live and they played a few of these songs. Not their most best songs but some of the coolest.
Suit-pee:8/10 Know:8/10 Sugar:7.5/10 Suggestions:8/10 Spider:7.9/10 dDevil:7.7/10 Soil:8/10 War:8/10 Mind:7.9/10 Peephole:8/10 Cubert:8/10 Darts:8/10 Pluck:8/10
While it's great to listen to the debut album from System of the down their sound really matured and found itself with Toxicity and I'd really recommend leaving this album for the hard-core fans and giving Toxicity a listen first specifically starting with these songs in this order especially if this is your intro to this style of music and bane 1.Chop Suey! 2. Toxicity 3. Aerials 4. Dear Dance, and for a finally 5. X enjoy!
Listened Before? N Not everyone is going to like this one... The style of music and the singer's voice can be very polarizing. That being said, here's my thoughts: The pacing on this album is incredible. At times, it crawls, only to break free into an unrestrained sprint, before returning to a crushing crawl. Tankian's voice moves from a deep guttural growl to a high squeak effortlessly. I liked this album a lot more than I had presumed I would. I'm more familiar with their later work but this is quite a bit better in my book. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Sugar
Had het album al meerdere keren gehoord, maar zie nu duidelijk hoe ze de basis leggen voor hun toekomstige albums. Goed gerief.
Used to love SOAD. Solid album but not on my regular rotation any more. Enjoyed listening again but found it fatiguing towards the end
Amazing as expected. Very approachable hard rock. Great message. Interesting music.
This was great. I liked it a lot. There were times where I thought their sound might grow a little stale, but before I knew it something exciting would happen. I'll be coming back to SOAD for sure.
great lyrics and social commentary on religion, war, government control, and clinton-era politics, as well as the album in general just being insanely enjoyable. not to mention Serj has to be one of the most creative vocalists oat. one of my favorite debut albums.
Great in spots, I got less in other songs tho
agresividad y la parte prolífica del metal de fines de los 90s comparado a lo que sonaba en esa época prácticamente avant grade. banda con un sonido unico, ultra protestante y maleable. fav songs: suite pee ☆ sugar ☆ suggestions spiders war? ☆ 4.0
Good to head bang. Concert would be awesome.
i've loved this album since i first downloaded it one track at a time on a shoddy bluelight banner ad serving internet connection
Even though I was thrown into listening to metal because of college roommates, I forgot how much I like this music. I think it helps this band is really good. I'm liking this album more than I thought I would.
Banger, Sugar is the standout hit of the album but there are interesting parts found all across the record.
The album starts off really strong and is a lot of fun for a bit, but after a couple tracks the madcap energy loses a little bit of charm. I never really disliked the album at all but there are definitely points where I could use less of the quirky voices and such. It's like the band really wants us to know that they've heard Mr. Bungle before. It's still a really good album. I wasn't expecting to see it here. I winder if Toxicity are the cut as well?
Myönnettävä on, että en oo SOADn isoin fani mut toimiihan tää.
A whole mood.
I’ve only heard parts of Chop Suey and know nothing else about System of a Down. I’m not a huge fan of metal and do not like heavy metal. That said there are a few bands that are metal/hard rock that I do like, so I have some familiarity with the genre, even if it is much softer than System of a Down. I can definitely now see the appeal of mosh pits at metal concerts now after this album. I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. I especially like how quite a few tracks start quieter then get louder quickly. Fav Track: Spiders 4/5
all high energy fun album with one saved for future listen song
Harcore, basis for a lot of metal
ruido agradable, gustoso como soad siempre fue, falta ponerle atención a la letra, no estoy del todo seguro sobre los temas que hablan, pero lo musical es buenísimo, mi favo es "War?" y "Darts". en la tercera escuchada me gustó "Mind", un álbum disfrutable si se busca un rock-metal-pesadito
Tinkle dinkle (AHH), Rabba Rabba (AHH!), Ya hinko dinko... *Adam Sandler voice* Why do the imperialists presume themselves the guardians of morality?
frábær plata
There's so much going on here musically, I feel this would be perfect for listeners with shorter attention spans. So many different ideas all held together with some epic, aggressive metal riffage. In all, a fun, testosterone fueled, scattered record, though I don't think this is SOAD's best. Standouts: Know, Sugar, Peephole
I do like soad but I haven't heard this whole album before. It's surprisingly solid for a debut, they already had their sound figured out.
It’s funny, SOAD never really got to be classified as underground, since they caught on almost immediately. But I don’t think a band this weird caught on since Faith No More. I’ll always have a soft spot for their later material, but I understand why their s/t does it for so many. It is pretty bitchin’, and everyone kills it. B+
Teen me would have loved this and had it on heavy rotation with Faith No More's 'Angel Dust'. It's a bit thrashy for my current self and I can't think of a time I'd ever play it outside of this but it was a fun listen.
Punchy and fun
I was a sophomore in college when I first heard SOTD and I listened to them constantly. They may have been the unofficial soundtrack to flipping burgers at A&W in South Fargo. I've always loved the mixture of a hard rock with the Armenian ethnic vibe.
Really good album I particularly enjoyed ‘Soil’ and ‘War’ I will revisit this album. Might have 5 star potential.
4.5
Classic but I prefer the album with chop Suey
Neki dan slušao, najdraži njihov album, a isto tako i najžešći. Jutrima dost dobro dođe do posla. Jedan od bendova koji po meni nemaju baš ono loš album, Steal this Album ima svoje loše trenutke, ali općenito sve kad se uzme imaju jako dobru diskografiju.
This one is tough to rate. SoaD is such a good band, but I can't stand the screaming growling vocals. If he would just sing, I think they would be one of my favorite bands.
This was System Of A Down’s explosive introduction to the world at large: crunching riffs, sinuous shapes, kombucha mushroom people and all. Play 'Sugar' as the first dance song at your wedding.
The beautiful musical madness of SoAD begins.
Every single boy aged 13-17 that I went to high school with in the early 2000s seems to have been fucking obsessed with SOAD. My nu-metal loving skiddy husband was stoked for me to get some System today, his all-time favourite band. He’s a man of his time. There’s more than meets the eye here. I appreciate that it’s not just metal, loud for the sake of loud. The socially conscious hyper-aware lyricism driven by angry, furious instrumentals is so effective. It’s a compelling, well-structured album that rocks.
Highlights: Sugar Spiders Mind Peephole Artwork: 7 / 10 Rating: 7,5 / 10
J’aime la prod de ce band. Ils ont une façon de faire de la musique agressive mais pas agressante. C’est toujours « rond ». J’aime mieux Toxicity qui est un peu moins brouillon que celui-ci, mais c’est bon pareil. Serj Tankian a toute une apacité vocale quand même. C’est aussi le fun d’entendre les influences arméniennes dans le son du band.
Guitarrazos con buen groove y mucho poder. Sugar la mejor del disco. Sólido 4.
Creo que ahora sí valió la pena tener un disco debut porque este es bastante bueno y no lo conocía. Sí tenía la noción de que Toxicity no era el primero, pero no había buscado más. Y bueno, no es cualquier debut… Aunque las rolas no sonaron tanto como las del siguiente disco, igual ya traían a Rick Rubin de productor y la verdad es que en general es muy entretenido y con muy buenos gritos y tamborazos. Se gana la 4a estrella.
Not as familiar with this as some of their later stuff, and it's weird this is on the list rather than "Toxicity", but hell, it still rocks _hard_. Fave track - "Peephole" this time around...
This was pretty much as far as I went with nu-metal. I always thought they had something more going on than, say, Crazy Town or Papa Roach; revisiting it now reminded just how short most of these songs are, too, they did quite a lot in these short spaces. Gets a bit wearying at times, perhaps, but solid on the whole.
I think this and Korn have made me realize I like more alternative metal/nu metal. Always though metal wasn’t for me but I can get down with this.
Great one
Thoroughly enjoyed the album. I haven't listened to System of a Down in-depth and found that I liked most of the songs. They're different and heavier than what I normally listen to
It was good. Rock on metal.
Distilled rage produced well as an album
System of a Down has such a unique musical, vocal and lyrical style that stands out from other heavy bands.
This is a great debut by a very creative band, that always challenge the limits of alt and nu metal. The lyrics are, mostly, great, tackling genocide and religion. And I say mostly because System of a Down always finds a way to sound a little conspirational. But in 1998 the world was completely different and it feels more naive than insane. The instrumentation is great, especially Dolmayan's drums - a great influence for other nu metal bands. They also chose the right singles, since "Sugar" and "Spiders" are the best songs.
This album could be pretty annoying in large doses but as a one-shot it can't help but get you pumped up. Lyrics are incredible and the energy is off the charts. Can't handle more than one listen in a row though.
I’m surprised that this album is on the list and not Toxicity. That was the album that really broke the band in to the mainstream.
Oh wow this is going to be fun, haven't listened to System since high school. I always loved Serj's voice in contrast to the heavy metal instrumentals, and their goofy ass lyrics as well as the political stuff they get into. I also remember being so proud of my little trivia tidbit that Serj was an opera singer before SOAD, hence his ridiculous ability to switch up vocal styles. Turns out I still dig it, you can tell they really MEAN their political stances, it's not angsty teenagers this is a lived experience. The music bangs, it's loud, it's angry, and it kicks ass. Also, the squirrely dude isn't singing much on this one which is a plus, let Serj handle the vocals.
Love this, but I can’t go to 5. It’s a hell of a first record and set a standard for 15 years of metal, but not quite as complete as Toxicity or Mezmerize/Hypnotize.
Probably the most famous contemporary Heavy Metal band. And certainty the most underrated when it comes to sheer talent, musicianship and songwriting. This albums is produced so well, has a timeless aspect to it, and the signature dynamics and vocals of the band really make them stand out. A bit too long of an album, and lacking in big singles, but a great album nevertheless!
Good and highly unique/creative album. Very much liked the "up and down" between hard metal and softer parts
Fun. I was more used to their later work, so it is great to hear an earlier album.
meh not for me but I can see why someone would like it
I've never been a huge SOAD fan, more casual, but there are some tracks I really enjoy here.
I love this album - I'm listening to it on vinyl today, which should give you an idea! Within four opening tracks, you have Suite Pee, Sugar and Suggestions, three wildly different tracks showcasing the crazed mix of styles SOAD can deliver - often within the same song. This is an alb for anyone who has ever thought metal is a one note genre. You're wrong. Serj Tankian's lack of inhibition when it comes to his vocals is a delight, moving from traditional metal growls and screams, to opera, to ridiculous comedy squeaks is a pure joy. And yet, while making such a fun album, they also manage to raise serious political issues. I genuinely cannot think of another artist who has done more to raise awareness and recognition of the Armenian genocide by Turkey a century ago, and made genuine, brilliant progress.
I'm not sure why I can explain why I like System of a Down. Or why I still like them? I had this album back in '98. But I have only listened to SoaD in scattered bits in the last decade. Would I still feel the same way at 41 as I did at 18? Turns out the answer is yes. And there are definitely things I listened to in the late 90s that I no longer feel the same affinity for. But surprisingly SoaD is not one of them. I still really like the wild and weird variety with which Serj Tankian uses his voice. Sometimes it's lovely, sometimes it's guttural and gritty and ugly. And he shifts so effortlessly between those extremes. I think I'm gonna be the outlier in the group here, hellyeah. No spread of every score 1-5 here, I may be the only one with a positive review. But I can't quite give it a 5. A few more on the level of "Spiders" might've gotten it there. I liked "Toxicity" even more than this one back in the day. I'll have to revisit that and see if it can earn a 5.
I remember System of a Down from when I was in middle school and high school. I was not allowed to listen to them. I was extremely pleasantly surprised to find a very interesting album with interesting melodies and guitar lines. It kept my attention the whole time and this is a genre I never listen to by choice.
Track 01 - 4/5 Track 02 - 3.5/5 Track 03 - 4.25/5 Track 04 - 3.5/5 Track 05 - 4.25/5 Track 06 - 3/5 Track 07 - 3.25/5 Track 08 - 3.75/5 Track 09 - 3.5/5 Track 10 - 4/5 Track 11 - 3.25/5 Track 12 - 3/5 Track 13 - 3.25/5 Overall: 4/5 Album Art: 3.5/5
Good album, somewhat heavy
System Of A Down had their sound basically fully formed on this album, in time to lead as kings of the nu metal scene. They have this sense of dynamism and groove that is so rare in this space. Tankian's voice soars on Spiders. Soil and War? both have powerful lyrics. Mind I am not too fond of.
Great album
bara ágætt
Really thrashy
some nice songs but the rest eh
Better than expected, the vocals are good and you can see the talent very clearly; however I get overwhelmed easily by the sound
I want to give all metal albums a five, but have to be reasonable. I like very specific SOAD songs, and respect what they did for alt and nu metal, but this isn't a 5 album. A 4.5 sure, but not 5. || Mostly I'm impressed with their willingness to bring attention to issues that we are STILL grappling with today, 21 years later (Church sex abuse, armenian genocide denial, endless war). It's bummer how relevant this still is, but mad respect for them being so unapologetic.
Rating: 7/10 Best songs:
Super heavy
great album
This is exactly what I remember SOAD being. I guess I appreciate it a little more now.
I've heard Toxicity before and didn't like it. Chop Suey is one of the most annoying popular rock/metal songs in existence. Serj Tankian's singing grates on me, and I was in the middle of my "man, FUCK nu-metal" phase when they really blew up anyway. I may have heard a song or two from this around 98-99, I definitely knew OF them before Toxicity came out, but it's likely they were just lost among the rest of these bands. I wasn't exactly starving for nu-metal in 1998. Ok, this is way more "standard late 90s nu-metal" than Toxicity. I had assumed it would be full of Armenian-style melody/wailing - instead it sounds like a mix of Korn, Incubus and... Static-X? In hindsight it makes a lot more sense for a debut album to sound more like established bands. There's still a BIT of vocal silliness going on, but it's far more tolerable. Overall, this is pushing a 5 - the only thing holding it back is a few tracks using that cliche " subdued drum/bass/vocal verse, heavy unhinged chorus" formula that really didn't do the genre any favours. 3.5? 4?
I like it but I like other SOAD albums more
Hard hitting album. Thought provoking. Still good and enjoyed listening 23 years later.
edgy angry sardonic high school energy. reminds me of high school
Es hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Die Originalität der Band zeigt sich jedoch am besten in den Liedern, die die I liked it very much. However, the band's originality is best seen in the songs that cross the line between genres, both in the ethnic realm, especially the syncopated Middle Eastern metal fusion, but also the foreign musical accents , in the pop realm, like the bombastic power ballad Spiders. (8/10) Favorite Tracks: Spiders, Suggestions
- Funky and energetic. A more musical RATM. - Great vocal delivery, lots of time for it. - Would have loved to hear more of the bassist and drummer
Listening to this now is way more fun than it was all those years ago. Not sure if this is because I've listened to so much dreck between now and then that I appreciate it more, or (more likely) I'm just enjoying the comfort of familiarity.
have listened to b4
I really liked this. I feel a bit silly for convincing myself that I "didn't like metal" even though I had never really given it a try. It's definitely not something that I could listen to all-day-every-day, but a lot of the songs pack a real punch and I loved the political lyrics.
Nostalgic and Politically charged, but damn, I was getting anxiety listening to his screaming. That's the point though, right? To make you feel something.
Love the bits of Arminian style mixed in with the metal.
Energetic! But not out of control. This will pump you up. Love the drums in the mix. While I prefer Toxicity, this is still a great album of the era. Fav track: Spiders
Loved the album but a lot of explicit content
Enjoyed this a lot actually, holds up well sonically and some obviously bold choices made throughout. Only major critique would be the slightly on-the-nose edginess - just borders slightly on the cringe side for me. But still great music overall. Really enjoyed the live tracks at the end of the Spotify edition.
A bit too energetic for me, but I enjoyed listrening to it in the background.
Great debut! I could never get into SoaD before but listening to this really clicked with me!
Pretty decent nu metal
First time listening: 11/13 songs liked Damn....this album goes HARD. Not a lot of their more melodic works I'm used to, but it makes for a great listen. One song saved
Before listening to this, I was only familiar with Toxicity. I would never typically say I like metal but I've always found System of a Down's music to be more interesting that would I would generally think of as metal music. And I love a bit of politics - System of a Down do that better than anyone else. This is a generally good album, but I would say it has less stand out songs than Toxicity does. For a debut album I think it's extremely cohesive. I particularly enjoyed the latter part of the album (from Peephole onwards)
Not my favorite album of SOAD, but still a great album, it's quite different from all of their future releases. It is punkier and Thrashier than rest of their catalog. But i still enjoyed re listening to it, with better focus on lyrics.
I was first introduced to System of a Down by a friend in HS who put this album on in his truck while we drove to lunch. I hadn't really heard anything like it at the time. Skull crushing metal mixed with Serj's unique vocals. This album ruled then and it rules now.
Suite-Pee is probably the right ringtone I've been looking for...Insane first three tracks (Suite-Pee, Know, Sugar) I like the way the next few songs have a acousticy intros/riffs and then go full metal bomb...Overall brilliant album!
SOADia on jonkin verran tullut kuunteltua, mutta en tätä ekaa bändin nimeä kantavaa levyä ole kokonaisuutena kuullut. Ainoastaan singlenä julkaistut Sugar ja Spiders oli liveseteistä tuttuja. Vasta seuraavalla Toxicity-levyllä ollut Aerials taisi olla ekoja biisejä, mitkä ainakaan kuulin SOADilta. Ensimmäinen levy on näin jälkikäteen kuunnteltuna vahva lupaus siitä, mitä SOADin tuotannolta saattoi tulevaisuudessa odottaa. Jotenkin päällimmäisenä SOADin musiikista tulee mieleen nerokas hulluus ja omalaatuisuus (muusta MASSAsta erottaututuminen). Nelkun levy.