System Of A Down 's self-titled debut album was released, the world was introduced to the somewhat eccentric style of the Armenian-American quartet. A mix of alternative metal, Armenian music, nu metal, and a circus-like, wacky aura reminiscent of a 'Looney Tunes' episode. The lyrics, with their strong political and social undertones, sparked a desire among the public for a metal version of Rage Against The Machine . But that was never the intention of Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian, Shavo Odadjian , and John Dolmayan .
On September 4th, 2001, 18 years ago, came System of a Down's second and definitive album, Toxicity . With a much more refined production, thanks also to producer/legend Rick Rubin , this is the band's masterpiece. In terms of audience, Toxicity reached the top of the Billboard 200 chart in its first week, selling 220,000 units.
Sonically, the album is much more complex and concise. The band experimented with a variety of styles beyond aggressive metal, including jazz and extended melodies. "I wanted to put a bit more harmony into the songs and that required a more flavorful mix of the light guitars amidst the heavy ones," Malakian said in an interview with Loudwire .
Thematically, the work stems from the musicians' love-hate relationship with Los Angeles, but also addresses mass incarceration, suicide, drug addiction, and even group sex. The lyrics are often enigmatic, and that's intentional. Serj Tankian has always said he doesn't like being asked what the songs are about. "I don't know what it means, but I know how it makes me feel," Rick Rubin said about the title track. There's a whole parallel between the band's writing style and 1960s rock, like Neil Young's. "The lyrics don't necessarily make sense, but they give you a feeling that something is happening."
Another controversial inspiration is serial killer Charles Manson . “ATWA,” written by Malakian, took its title from Manson’s movement, an acronym for “Air, Trees, Water, Animals.” “When they show a few seconds of what Manson said, something like ‘If I were to kill, I would kill everyone,’ they don’t show what he said for an hour before that phrase,” said the guitarist. “There’s a whole other side to Manson that isn’t bad, but is actually just and right.”
“Chop Suey!” was chosen by Loudwire as the Best Heavy Rock Song of the 21st century. This is probably the band's theme song, the one that comes to mind first when you hear the name System Of A Down. Interestingly, even though it was the album's lead single, it was banned and censored from several radio stations after 9/11, being considered "suspicious." This is how life imitates art, when American hypervigilance banned a song by a group that constantly fights against prejudice, abuse of power, and fascism.
Toxicity is, after all, a thematically relevant album, with a manic sense of heaviness and absurd lyricism. It's the official declaration of a band willing to break through any and all creative obstacles in the name of art and its ideals.
