System Of A Down
System Of A Down, although now highly distinctive and seemingly marking a musical-movement of their own, are in some ways typical of other metal bands spawned in the latter half of the 90s. The reason for this is mainly down to their highly competent and unusual instrumental efforts, which were fuelled with song-writing reminiscent of underground thrash-metal from the prior decade, as well as the more commercial and experimental rock as adorned by Jane’s Addiction’s back-catalogue. However, since their inception, SOAD have clearly made a mould of their own which is uniquely theirs – and no-one else’s.
System of a Down were born in Southern California during the mid-\'90s, featuring vocalist Serj Tankian, guitarist Daron Malakian, bassist Shavo Odadjian and drummer John Dolmayan. Their rapturously-received live-shows and emotionally-charged blend of lyrics and musical accompaniment embodied something that many rock-fans were looking for, and it wasn’t long until word spread about their greatness as an emerging talent. Indeed, it was then with a three-track demo eventually leaking to regions all over the world that formed them immediate fan-bases in not just the States, but also in Europe and New Zealand.
It didn’t take them long to get a deal, unsurprisingly. By the end of ’97, their official musical-career began, with distribution secured via Columbia. The group’s eponymous debut album was released almost straight away in the following year, critics and music-lovers alike instantly triggered by a sound that was completely unrivalled by any other act producing metal for then. All that was awaiting System Of A Down’s further global recognition was the mainstream…
Though this didn’t take long to happen either. By the closure of the century, the band had not only secured support-shows with Black Sabbath, Slayer and played on the supporting-bills of many Ozzfest events, but they had begun writing a clutch of songs which would form the second LP, ‘Toxicity’, released in 2001. The response was fanatical. Not only did the record propel high globally around the world, but it gave the act unshakeable recognition in countries such as the UK, where they achieved a top-20 hit with ‘Chop Suey!’.
Now, with 2002 shaping up to be a year of further progression and success for the group, it almost appears as if there’s no end to the terminal velocity of System’s continual journey for producing nail-bitingly obscure, epic rock. And, as proven already, that can only be a good thing.
OFFICIAL SITE: Styled as a newspaper, and containing a navigation-system operated via a remote-control, this is good stuff.
1ST EVER EUROPEAN SITE: Claiming to be SOAD\'s first ever European fan-site, this highly-coloured affair boasts \'nuff info to keep interest.