System of a Down- Did they Decline?

I have all of System's albums: they are the only metal/rock style band I like, in fact. (I usually stick to classical)

Now I have heard from a lot of people that System's earlier albums, System of a Down, Toxicity, and Steal This Album!, were better than their later Mezmerize/Hypnotize double album. I'd like to know exactly why so many people think that.

Now I agree that Serj Tankian's voice is much better than Darom Malakian's, I will concede to that, but just because Daron is getting more vocal parts does not necessarily mean that their music is declining.

In my honest opinion, I think that their original self titled album is by far their worst, taking too much influence from heavy metal (too much screaming). Now, I have to concede that Spiders and PLUCK were great, but that's about all I enjoyed from that album. Songs like Mind and Suite-Pee were way too... "out there" for my tastes.

Toxicity and Steal This Album! were far better than their original album. They actually had less screaming, more songs with intellectual lyrics (there were intellectual lyrics in their first album, but there was so much screaming and cursing that I just couldn't listen to it), and of course, Chop Suey, their immortal tune about the fall of Armenia. They still had some bad songs there, like 36 and Bounce, but most of the other songs were enjoyable, like Aerials and Highway Song.

Mezmerize and Hypnotize, in my opinion, were equal to, if not better than Toxicity and Steal This Album!. They increasingly avoided cursing and screaming and all that rubbish (except where it was necessary in BYOB). Mezmerize's BYOB won a Grammy and that album included some great songs like Question and Sad Statue. Hypnotize included their best song, Holy Mountains, where Serj probably gives the best performance (at least on the CD) he has ever given. Of course, that album included the #1 song Hypnotize and the extremely political Soldier Side. Now, I have to admit, those two albums had some really (and I mean really) bad songs on them, like This Cocaine Makes Me Feel Like I'm On This Song, Vicinity of Obscenity, and She's Like Heroin, but those aren't worse than their bad songs in their earlier albums.

So, anyway, that's my opinion, and I wonder why so many people feel the opposite way about them.

I only got the first two. Their new stuff bores me.

I've found I go back to Toxicity more than I go back to Hypnotize/Mesmerize. H/M just seem to have a few songs that ruin it for them (U-Fig..wtf).

That said, my favorite SOAD song is 'Lost In Hollywood.'

Not sure why, it's just...soothing to listen to.

Originally Posted by The Fuzz

I've found I go back to Toxicity more than I go back to Hypnotize/Mesmerize. H/M just seem to have a few songs that ruin it for them (U-Fig..wtf).

Indeed, U-Fig was terrible, but at least it was better than Vicinity of Obscenity...

That said, my favorite SOAD song is 'Lost In Hollywood.'

Not sure why, it's just...soothing to listen to.

I like that one too.

I haven't listened to SOAD for a loooooooooooooooooooooooooong time, but I remember loving "Steal this Album!"

Yeah, Steal This Album had some good stuff on it (Mr. Jack).

I haven't listened to SOAD for a loooooooooooooooooooooooooong time, but I remember loving "Steal this Album!"

long time no listen...
But yes, I agree.

I have the first two albums. THere was such a decline in quality from the first to the second IMO (and I didn't think the first was all that great, to be honest) that I didn't bother with any of the newer stuff.

i think theyre in a slow decline

In my opinion Toxicity was their artistic height.

Double albums are almost always a bad idea. The Beatles could pull it off because they had three guys who could write songs. Pink Floyd could pull it off because of the concept. However in most cases double albums merely consist of good songs alongside should have been b-sides. That is what I felt about the RHCP double album and that is the feeling I get from the SOD double album.

Originally Posted by Earl of Rochester

In my opinion Toxicity was their artistic height.

Double albums are almost always a bad idea. The Beatles could pull it off because they had three guys who could write songs. Pink Floyd could pull it off because of the concept. However in most cases double albums merely consist of good songs alongside should have been b-sides. That is what I felt about the RHCP double album and that is the feeling I get from the SOD double album.

I agree with you here. If SOAD had released Hpynerize (), with the best tracks of both albums, it would have been a great album. I don't think they're in a decline though, they just made the mistake of showcasing some of the tracks that should wait for those 'b sides and rarities' albums.

Originally Posted by Earl of Rochester

In my opinion Toxicity was their artistic height.

Indeed. Chop Suey rocks.

Originally Posted by King Edward III

Indeed. Chop Suey rocks.

I don't understand why so many people love that song so much. I enjoyed Aerials, BYOB, and Holy Mountains a lot more than Chop Suey. Come to think of it, Forest was a great song too.

Originally Posted by Drtad

I don't understand why so many people love that song so much. I enjoyed Aerials, BYOB, and Holy Mountains a lot more than Chop Suey. Come to think of it, Forest was a great song too.

i likes cigaro :p
i like system from the early 00...
i dunno bout you guys.

All their albums have at least 4 or 5 songs that I enjoy like hell. (The first album maybe being the exception of which I only like 2 or 3). They made a change in their style for Hypnotize and Mesmerize but both are extremely well too. They are personally the best I've ever heard. Its a pity they are on hiatius (or however that's spelled), I hope they come back soon.

I'd say yeah, they did decline - and it shows by the hiatus. The band clearly felt that they weren't working well together. I'd say the high quality of Serj's solo album shows that they (he at least) are still capable of producing great work... but within the context of the band they were basically getting in each others hair. And H/M were the result.

I actually stole "Steal This Album."

Revival time!

I've listened to SOAD for a long time but I have to disagree with Drtad's opinion on the first album; Know, Cubert and Ddevil were great song. Toxicity was their height and Steal This Album was even a better step. Hypnotize/Mezmerize were also good album but I just think that you don't like screaming (obvious!), but I got used to it. Also, two questions: How does Chop Suey talk about the fall of Armenia? Have you checked Serj and Daron's solo projects?

Favorite song: Streamline

The only song of theirs that I listen to these days is, Vicinity of Obscenity.

Originally Posted by Tenhauser

The only song of theirs that I listen to these days is, Vicinity of Obscenity.

Which the OP hates.

I've got System of a Down and Toxicity, haven't listened to them in years though.