Artist: System of a Down
Label: Sony Music
Release Date: 5/17/05
Rating: 5 Skulls
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Title: Mesmerize Artist: System of a Down Label: Sony Music Release Date: 5/17/05
Rating: 5 Skulls |
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Reviewed by Death (7/29/05):
Sure, it's popular with the mainstream, debuting at number one on the Billboard charts. But here's the thing underground metalheads might not know about the new album from System of a Down - it's actually good, and for them, really freakin' heavy. I must admit, I thought the band was just OK before, but I took the time to check out this release and I'll be damned, it's for real. Killer riffs, good guitar playing, creative and interesting arrangements all delivered with passion, intensity and an aggressive urgency that often borders on sonic violence. System of a Down employ first-rate musicianship with a strong and creatively yet directly presented message designed to piss off the establishment and to mow them down with aggressive guitar riffs. Think Frank Zappa meets Slayer with the balls to overtly scream about Iraq and you're getting warm. Seriously, there's not much that has to be said about System of a Down other than to say that fans of progressive, interesting metal such as Opeth, fans of so-called "hard rock" a la Tool, etc., fans of complex music like Meshuggah or Dream Theater, and fans of left-wing, political hardcore or grindcore music like Napalm Death will all find something to like about Mesmerize. I have no idea what to expect from the companion studio release due later this year, but for now, System of a Down are clearly at the top of their game and are in killer form. So drop your pre-conceived notions, quit worrying about making sure the bands you listen to are firmly entrenched in the underground, and embrace and enjoy a very cool new record that just happens to be really popular too.
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