System of a Down
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System of a Down is a political metal band formed in 1995 in Southern California, known for heavy metal guitar riffs in ritualistic rhythms.
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About
System of a Down, a.k.a "S.O.A.D." or "System" is a metal band formed in Southern California in 1995. System is known for cryptic messages running through their lyrics that criticize the decadence of modern life, society, and politics.
The band’s members are Serj Tankian-Main Vocals/Keyboard Effects, Daron Malakian-Guitar/Vocals, Shavo Odadjian-Bass/Video Producer, and John Dolmayan-Drummer. All four are of Armenian descent.
Their music, marked by ritualistic rhythms and strong guitar riffs, is considered by some fans and critics as a blend of underground metal and alternative rock rampant in the early 90’s. Others think thrash metal more appropriate. The dispute about the genre to which they belong was summed up in a 2005 interview, in which Malakian said, “I don't really feel that we fall into a heavy-metal category or a pure rock category. There's a lot of stuff mixed up into one.”
Awards & Certifications
Awards
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | MTV Europe Music Award | Best Alternative Act |
| 2006 | ECHO Award | International Rock/Alternative Male/Female |
| 2006 | Grammy Award | Best Hard Rock Performance for "B.Y.O.B." |
| 2006 | Woodie Award | The Good Woodie - (Greatest Social Impact) for "Question! [Armenian Genocide]" |
Certifications
| Year | Album | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | System of a Down | Certified Gold in US |
| 2001 | Toxicity | Certified Gold in US |
| 2002 | System of a Down | Certified Platinum in US |
| 2002 | Toxicity | Certified Platinum in US |
| 2002 | Steal this Album | Certified Gold in US |
| 2003 | Steal this Album | Certified Platinum in US |
| 2005 | Mezmerize | Certified Platinum in US |
| 2005 | Hypnotize | Certified Platinum in US |
Chart Toppers
| Year | Title | Billboard Hot 100 | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Chop Suey! | 76 | Toxicity |
| 2002 | Toxicity | 70 | Toxicity |
| 2002 | Aerials | 55 | Toxicity |
| 2005 | B.Y.O.B. | 27 | Mezmerize |
| 2005 | Hypnotize | 60 | Hypnotize |
News
No news for this group. Band is on hiatus.
Discography
Albums
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Singles
- Sugar (1998)
- Spiders (1999)
- Johnny (2001)
- Chop Suey! (2001)
- Toxicity (2002)
- Aerials(2002)
- Innervision (2002)
- B.Y.O.B. (2005)
- Question! (2005)
- Violent Pornography (2005)
- Hypnotize (2005)
- Lonely Day (2006)
- Kill Rock N' Roll (2006)
- Vicinity of Obscenity (2006)
Other artists
Contemporaries
Trivia
- All four members of System of a Down are descendants of survivors of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, which also happens to be a staple topic in the band's music.
- The song A.D.D stands for American Dream Denial.
- The song P.L.U.C.K stands for Politically Lying Unholy Cowardly Killers
- Their song "Soil" is talking about a friend of Serj's from a previous band called Soil, who ended up committing suicide.
- On the week of the September 11, 2001 attacks, while on top of the charts, the hit single “Chop Suey!” was pulled out of the air waves due to the sensitive lyrics it contained, such as “trust in my self-righteous suicide”
- Mezmerize and Hypnotize are two parts of one album
- Axis of Justice, a non-profit organization with the purpose of bringing together musicians, fans of music, and grassroots political organizations to fight for social justice, was formed by Tom Morello of Audioslave and Serj Tankian of System of a Down.
- In May of 2006, the band announced they were going on hiatus.
Reviews
These guys RULE!!! - Mezmerizer
External Links
- System of a Down Online. A Fansite with resources similar to official site
