A fork of Rural Dictionary
A mainstream alt-metal band of Armenian descent. They are considered a political band despite the fact that most of their songs have nothing to do with politics, though they do concern moral/ethical issues at times. They are not left wing or right wing (they criticize both in their songs, so if you think they are just trendy Bush-haters, you are wrong) but moderates, and anti-war. One of the few nu-metalers from the '99-'01 years to survive the test of time, because they are actually good.
System of a Down saves heavy music once again from metalcore garbage and nu-metal cliches.
An alternative/experimental metal band with 4 current members that stayed together since and brought back great music into the mainstread. All the members of SOAD are of Armenian heritage and are grandsons of Armenian Genocide survivors.
Their lyrics are somewhat simple yet they have a deep meaning once you finally get the point to those songs (which are either very, VERY political or social).
A ton of people confuse System of a Down as a nu metal band because they happen to debut their first album when a bunch of new bands amerged in the same year and they have somewhat similar styles... although SOAD has disnounced that they are nu metal.
They are currently on hiatus.
Oh, and they are as pop music as Britney Spears is to metal... nice thinking, retards.
Memebers: Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian, Shavo Odadjian, John Dolmayan
Albums: System of a Down, Toxicity, Steal This Album!, Mezmerize, Hypnotize
I will try to leave opinion out of this until the end.
System of a Down has made 11 albums (6 of which are demo albums). As time went on, most would say they got more popular, but made less quality music. System of a Down has many different types of music (it's hard to believe that Lost in Hollywood and Sugar are the same band). System of a Down has evolved quite a bit from their first album. Before anyone insults them, listen to at least 2 songs from each of their albums. Before you compliment them, do the same. Don't say they're sellouts. They gained popularity, but what else would you expect from a band?
Now for opinion.
System is amazing, and has lots of talent. They've been my favorite band since I first heard them. I frequently listen to each and every one of their songs. System is one of the best bands ever. They don't like saying what their songs are about (they prefer to leave them for the listener to interpret), and try hard not to say. Some of their songs are about drugs (Prison Song), some about sex (Bounce), some about genocide (PLUCK), some about nothing (Vicinity of Obscenity). I recommend their unreleased works; they're much better.
System of a Down's albums (demos excluded)
System of a Down - 1998
Toxicity - 2001
Steal this Album! - 2002
Mezmerize - 2005
Hypnotize - 2005
Okay, a lot of wrong definitions here, most of which are just opinion rather than stating what System of a Down actually are. Here, I'll write a real definition (with my extra opinion, of course), rather than just saying "omfgz dey r da bezt!!!11" with no intelligent information or input whatsoever.
System of a Down are an experimental alt-metal/alt-rock band (no, they are NOT pop or nu-metal, before you start calling them nu-metal learn what the genre actually means) from Los Angles, California. They formed in 1995 and have released five studio albums to date. Some people are saying they're from Armenia, some people are saying that they're not. Let me get this straight... Serj (lead singer) and John (drummer) were both born in Lebanon. Shavo (bassist) was born in Yerevan, Armenia. Daron (guitarist) was born in Hollywood. Although, all band members ARE OF ARMENIAN ANCESTRY. They combine some middle-eastern elements in their music, also drawing influences from jazz, folk, blues and industrial.
Now for my personal opinion. System are an amazing band, and my favourite right now. I've been listening to them for nearly a year, maybe a bit longer. Although maybe in a few months time they might not be my favourite band anymore, they'll still be pretty damn great no matter how many times I listen to them. Yes, they've got a bit of commercial success. So what. When I first started listening to them I had no idea that they were popular. I'm fed up of hearing "they're popular, therefore they can't be good". That's bullshit. It's exactly the kind of crap you hear from small minded music snobs.
What also annoys me to no end are the stupid poser kids running around claiming to be their "#1 fan", whereas most likely they've only heard Chop Suey or BYOB. Good songs yes, but as a matter of fact, they have much, much better songs. If you're into heavier stuff (than say, Toxicity) listen to some of their self-titled album. One of the best albums ever created. And before you call yourself a fan listen to at least a few tracks off of each album (which, by the way, are all awesome).
(1998) System of a Down
(2001) Toxicity
(2003) Steal This Album!
(2005) Mezmerize
(2005) Hypnotize
Also, yes, some songs do have silly lyrics (Fuck the System, Vicinity of Obscenity, etc), which I personally have no problem with. But if you don't like it, don't judge them so quickly. Check out the lyrics for deeper songs such as Spiders, Mind, Aerials, Highway Song to name a few. Pure poetry. What I'm trying to say is don't judge System by the songs you heard on MTV or whatever. Listen to their less popular stuff then see what you think. Peace.
The purest forms of life,
Our days are never coming back...
~Highway Song (Steal This Album!, 2003)
System of a Down are definitely among the greatest, most intelligent and original bands ever.
One of the few nu-metal bands that never really seems to get dissed, probably because they're actually good. They have 3 albums: a self-titled album, "Toxicity", and "Steal This Album!". All 3 are orgasmically good. Their news albums, "Mesmerize" and "Hynotize" are due out in '05.
System of a Down has brought a glimmer of intelligence and talent to nu-metal.
A perfect example of how to take a message of Anti-Government, Anti-Corporate, Anti-Popculture, Uncool, alternative, freakish, underground anarchistic messages, and then Turn it into a Corporate loving, Corporate sounding, Popculture praised, Coolest hippiest, sell-out piece of shit to ever have ruin my eardrums. System of a Down sucks, the people who like it obviously have never heard TRUE underground, anti-athority, anti-system, music. They think they are so great and orginal, but all they did was steal underground culture, and push it through the pop-music-machine world and sell it to you. Then people think they are so amazing and awsome for their totally unique stance on things, even though they just stole it from the uncool, unpopular, never-heard of by main-stream bands, people, culture, and tribes out there.
Some other bands that can be included in this are:
Nine Inch Nails, Marlyn Manson, Nirvana, or anything else of such nature.
Loser: DUDE I JUST TOTALLY BOUGHT THE NEW ALBUM "STEAL THIS ALBUM" by system of a down!
Freak: Thats nice, I just downloaded some Snog and KMFDM, and then made copies for everyone. System of a down just copied everything from underground music and culture and then sold it to you, and you thought it was cool. fucking poser, preppy piece of shit trying to be alternative.
"Rip The System" (KMFDM)