System Of A Down - Toxicity (And a general thought)

Its been about 3 or 4 years since I abandonned Nu-Metal and Rap, my collection has since been full of 70s and 80s Hard Rock and Metal. At first, I had to be tr00, and I'd only buy up CDs by "True Bands" so for the longest time I ignored Kiss, Guns N Roses, Van Halen, Twisted Sister, Motley Crue ect. Some time later, I realized that this is MY music collection and I don't listen to music to impress people, I liked their singles so I started buying the "poser" music, and soon found out their regular material was even better then the singles!

Well, while I was browing CDs, I saw this one for cheap. I've always been denouncing bands with the alternative label without really listening to it. I'd always assumed it would reek of Limp Bizkit cornyness that I revisted recently also.

So I ended up buying Toxicity and I've listened to the full album about 5 times. The first listen, I diden't feel too impressed, but I must of got a vauge hook because I revisted it in the same day. Now, I actually find myself singing along and headbanging, ect.

Really, this is probably not the greatest album in the world... not even close! But I really found myself enjoying it and having fun with it... and in the end that all that matters, right guys? ....right guys???


Where'd you all go?

You know what.....the so called Nu metal stuff is hit or miss with me but I find System Of A Down to be incredible. At least, Steal This Album and Toxicity. They have an infectious sound that I find very appealing. They are fast, heavy, incorporate some unusual elements and I like the vocals as well. I don't care, either, and just listen to what I like. I like SOAD!

Oh yeah...my research and the last couple years coming here and to the CMR have lead me back to the 80's and early 90's to bands I completely ignored then for the same reasons you state Chairman about being "true" and not a "poseur" or whatever. With a lot of the "hair" bands I ignored I've found as I've dug deeper that their best stuff never hit the airwaves....

System Of A Down has been one of my favorite bands, even since I got their second demo in 1997. I was blown away by that demo, but it's was the third demo that just made my head explode. I don't care what anyone says, I think SOAD is a truly amazing band. Even the latest two, with Daron doing a lot of singing, are killer. His voice is harder to get used to, but at some point it clicks, and I find it to be killer!

Its not my favourite, but it is very fun and nice to throw in on my way to work.

I might check out more of their stuff.

Toxicity is an album that defined my adolescence. I haven't given it a spin in a while, but it really is one of my all time favourite albums.

I've liked SOAD since first hearing them.They definitely bring a freshness that alot of bands dont have.Toxicity is a great album.

thrasher73 wrote:

I've liked SOAD since first hearing them.They definitely bring a freshness that alot of bands dont have.Toxicity is a great album.

I think they are pretty talented. But if I listen to them too much I start to go into a seizure.

On a slightly related note, I listened to Mezmerize and Hypnotize back to back the other day. I'd forgotten how well those two albums play off each other - it was a great listening experience.

Toxicity got me into metal, probably my first "metal" cd, for the non-purist metalheads.

I remember watching chop suey when i was what?? 12 GOOSEBUMPS..lol good times.

system of a down managed to incorparate commerical nu-metal leanings with a sense of arty creativeness that was never before seen in the likes of nu-metal which made them transcend the genre

alas i rarely listen to them anymore. gimme some thrash anyday

yeah I remember i bought this album when it was released, and damn! it was/is so good, I like all the songs, i don't care if it is metal or not, I like it and thats the point!

KissinMaiden wrote:

I remember watching chop suey when i was what?? 12 GOOSEBUMPS..lol good times.

I was lucky enough to be part of that video. Has it been 6 years already? I remember purchasing their debut album in 1998 the day it came out.

I think SOAD are a step above what have been termed nu-metal. Still enjoy them to this day.

above new metal to be sure due to their twisted genius. i hate chop suey

GrandNational wrote:

KissinMaiden wrote:

I remember watching chop suey when i was what?? 12 GOOSEBUMPS..lol good times.

I was lucky enough to be part of that video. Has it been 6 years already? I remember purchasing their debut album in 1998 the day it came out.

I think SOAD are a step above what have been termed nu-metal. Still enjoy them to this day.

Quite a few steps above. It's never been an easy task to create music that has a style and a voice that wholly unique, but it's even harder at this point in the game, where there's been so much music released and it's so readily available to hear now. Back in the day you could have a band in Russia and another in the US writing and recording the exact same material and most people would have no idea, but not today. Today a similar riff between two bands is debated from one corner of the net (i.e. world) to another.

System Of A Down has remained wholly original. There is no band that sounds like them. One could stretch some comparisons, but they remain a stretch. Now with Serj's solo stuff, and Daron's Scars On Broadway, we're likely to hear close similarities, but that's not quite the same. Haha. Either way, you can dislike the band, but you've gotta respect them. It's not easy to stand on your very own square these days.

Just curious, have any of you heard The Apex Theory? This is the band SOADs original drummer Andy was in after he left SOAD. He was the singer. He's since the left The Apex Theory and started his own projects called Ontronik (on hold) and Vokee. All three bands are excellent. Not as heavy as SOAD, but quite original, all three.

Eyesore wrote:

GrandNational wrote:

KissinMaiden wrote:

I remember watching chop suey when i was what?? 12 GOOSEBUMPS..lol good times.

I was lucky enough to be part of that video. Has it been 6 years already? I remember purchasing their debut album in 1998 the day it came out.

I think SOAD are a step above what have been termed nu-metal. Still enjoy them to this day.

Quite a few steps above. It's never been an easy task to create music that has a style and a voice that wholly unique, but it's even harder at this point in the game, where there's been so much music released and it's so readily available to hear now. Back in the day you could have a band in Russia and another in the US writing and recording the exact same material and most people would have no idea, but not today. Today a similar riff between two bands is debated from one corner of the net (i.e. world) to another.

System Of A Down has remained wholly original. There is no band that sounds like them. One could stretch some comparisons, but they remain a stretch. Now with Serj's solo stuff, and Daron's Scars On Broadway, we're likely to hear close similarities, but that's not quite the same. Haha. Either way, you can dislike the band, but you've gotta respect them. It's not easy to stand on your very own square these days.

Just curious, have any of you heard The Apex Theory? This is the band SOADs original drummer Andy was in after he left SOAD. He was the singer. He's since the left The Apex Theory and started his own projects called Ontronik (on hold) and Vokee. All three bands are excellent. Not as heavy as SOAD, but quite original, all three.

Ya, I know the Apex Theory. Actually picked up their debut album the day it came out. Was able to see Vokee at concert once I believe at the Whiskey-A-Go-Go. Also, my aunt's husband's brother ( not related to me) happens to be Andy's dad. Crazy huh?

Cool. Andy is a great guy! I love The Apex Theory and Vokee. The Apex Theory went into a more progressive direction after Random Bursts/Topsy Turvy and Andy left. Their Lightpost EP is one 15+ minute song, and the inthatskyissomethingwatching EP is equally as progressive. They now lack Andy's poetic lyrics and melodies, but Art does a great job.

Anyway, I'm a big fan of these Armenian dudes! Haha. They know how to create some outstanding music.

Eyesore wrote:

Cool. Andy is a great guy! I love The Apex Theory and Vokee. The Apex Theory went into a more progressive direction after Random Bursts/Topsy Turvy and Andy left. Their Lightpost EP is one 15+ minute song, and the inthatskyissomethingwatching EP is equally as progressive. They now lack Andy's poetic lyrics and melodies, but Art does a great job.

Anyway, I'm a big fan of these Armenian dudes! Haha. They know how to create some outstanding music.

Ya, I know all about Armenians, I happen to be one myself . Most of us grow up listening to Armenian/Greek/Arabic music and little hints of it comes out when we try our hands at heavy music, and it works quite well I've got to say.

Yeah, I sort of assumed you were Armenian. Haha. It definitely seems to add a nice dynamic to the music. Though I have heard some crappy Armenian bands. Haha.

Eyesore wrote:

Yeah, I sort of assumed you were Armenian. Haha. It definitely seems to add a nice dynamic to the music. Though I have heard some crappy Armenian bands. Haha.

Oh ya, for every good one, there are a bunch of bad imitators.

Quote :

Quite a few steps above. It's never been an easy
task to create music that has a style and a voice that wholly unique,
but it's even harder at this point in the game, where there's been so
much music released and it's so readily available to hear now. Back in
the day you could have a band in Russia and another in the US writing
and recording the exact same material and most people would have no
idea, but not today. Today a similar riff between two bands is debated
from one corner of the net (i.e. world) to another.

System Of A Down has remained wholly original. There is no band that sounds like them.

I agree with this 100%. I think SOAD stand above and also to the side of other so called Nu Metal bands. I think they've created their own little niche...

I listened to one of their songs and just didn't care... But then again, I happen to dislike what's called nu metal and whether SOAD is above its average or not doesn't mean much to me.

I guess it's the fact they're so popular that bothers me most... while there are quite a few amazing real metal bands that are just going to sell a few K's copies of their albums.

CIIC wrote:

I guess it's the fact they're so popular that bothers me most... while there are quite a few amazing real metal bands that are just going to sell a few K's copies of their albums.

Well, this means nothing, of course. You can't really say millions of people are wrong and expect that to strike a logical chord with people.

I didn't say millions of people are wrong. I don't see how you can be wrong when it comes to tastes anyway. If people like SOAD, good for them.

What I'm saying is SOAD is a trendy band and what bothers me is there are lots of real metal bands which put out great stuff that will never get the attention they deserve because they're not "popular" bands.

As to logic, there's no such thing either in the music industry otherwise record sales would be proportional to the quality of the material. And how can you compare the sales of a band signed to a major with its promotion and distribution power to that of an indie band?