System Of A Down

System Of A Down is a music group based in Hollywood, California, USA. The band is particularly known for its rousing musical style. Although most members live in Los Angeles, all band members have Armenian heritage. Their songs are often abstract, but serious subjects such as politics and war sometimes come up. Capitalism and the Armenian genocide have found their place among other, less somber themes. S.O.A.D often uses alternative (and lesser-known) instruments to give their music that special Eastern touch. Alongside standard instruments (guitar, bass, drums and piano), violin, mandolin and other less commonly used instruments have also been incorporated. The music of System Of A Down contains influences from many different musical styles, such as metal, hard rock, jazz and Eastern music.

In 1993, two musicians, Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian, met each other in a recording studio in California. The "click" formed immediately as they shared the same interests and vision about politics and society; the fact that they both had the same heritage further emphasized the friendship. The band Soil was formed, together with Shavo Odadjian, whom the two knew from school. With growing popularity, the decision was made to change the name, from then on the band would continue under the name System Of A Down, named after a poem Daron wrote, Victims Of A Down. The original drummer Andy Khachadurian was replaced in 1997 by John Dolmayan. The band clearly gained popularity among the local population.

System Of A Down had great success with the first singles Suite-Pee, Spiders, Sugar from their debut album System Of A Down, which came out in 1998. This album was produced by Rick Rubin and Dave Sardy. Nevertheless, their greatest success was still Toxicity, which topped the charts in the United States and Canada and probably also in Europe. Chop Suey is the most well-known and fan-appreciated song. The song was originally supposed to be called Suicide. (You can still hear "we're rolling suicide" at the beginning of the song.) Their third album was Steal This Album! This contained songs that didn't fit on the album Toxicity. With the song Boom! and the accompanying music video by Michael Moore, the band also takes a stand against the war in Iraq. Five versions of this CD are available. A CD-R written with felt-tip pen (printed, of course), and the four other versions were made by the band members themselves (Serj, Shavo, Daron, John).

In 2004 the band had made recordings for a new album that would be released in 2005. This album consists of two parts, starting with the album Mezmerize which continues with the album Hypnotize. Mezmerize is well received with a number 1 place on the Billboard charts. The album sold 452,990 copies in the United States in its first week. The album brings innovations with it; Daron Malakian takes on approximately half of all vocals in many songs and in the song Lost in Hollywood he even sings all the lyrics. The first single from this album was B.Y.O.B (Bring Your Own Bomb). This song is about the war in Iraq. The second single was Question. The album begins with a strange song called Soldier Side (Intro), with the lyrics "Welcome to the soldier side, There is no one here but me. People all grow up to die there is no one here but me." The song lasts only 1:03.

Half a year later the song appears again, this time on the album, as the closer of the album and as a full song. The first single from the album was Hypnotize, after which both albums are titled. The album also includes the song Lonely Day, a ballad written and sung by Daron Malakian, and also the second single from the album.

In May 2006, System Of A Down announced that they would take a break because the band members wanted to work on their own projects for a while. Serj Tankian has released his solo album Elect the Dead and is currently touring. Daron Malakian has formed the band Scars on Broadway together with drummer John Dolmayan (and 3 other members); they have already released their self-titled album. It is not yet known when System Of A Down will return from the "hiatus".