1998 studio album by System of a Down
System of a Down
Released June 30, 1998 (1998-06-30 ) Studio
Genre
Length 40 :36
Label
Producer
"
Sugar " Released: May 24, 1998
"
Spiders " Released: February 10, 1999
System of a Down is the debut studio album by the American
heavy metal band
System of a Down , released on June 30, 1998, by
American Recordings and
Columbia Records . The album was certified
Gold by the
Recording Industry Association of America in February 2000. After the success of the band's following album,
Toxicity (2001), System of a Down was certified platinum and has since gone double platinum.
[4]
Composition
The album is generally considered
nu metal and
alternative metal , both of which would become staples for the band. Lyrical themes throughout the album vary, with many songs following a theme of being anti-war, but also has topics of
genocide ,
religion , and
brainwashing . "Suite-Pee" is a criticism of
pedophilia within the Church and
religious extremism .
[5] "Soil" is, according to guitarist
Daron Malakian at a
Lowlands show, "about death, and friends that die, and life that dies". "Mind" talks about government mind control, specifically mentioning
CIA brainwashing in the album's liner notes. "P.L.U.C.K." is a song dedicated to the victims of the
Armenian genocide , and is meant to be a criticism and denouncing of the
Turkish Government .
Artwork
The cover artwork is from a 1928
anti-fascist poster designed by visual artist
John Heartfield for the
Communist Party of Germany .
[4] The text on the original poster is: "A hand has 5 fingers! With these 5 grab the enemy!"
[6] This slogan inspired part of the text contained on the back of the album: "The hand has five fingers, capable and powerful, with the ability to destroy as well as create". Later, it is written in bold letters: "Open your eyes, open your mouths, close your hands and make a fist" (used later by Serj Tankian in the song "Uneducated Democracy").
Reception
System of a Down received acclaim from music critics.
[13]
Q called it "an excellent starting point for this most curious band".
[11]
The album is featured in the book
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die .
[14]
Loudwire included the album in its list of The Best Metal Debut Albums , at number 22.
[15]
Track listing
Original release
All lyrics written by
Serj Tankian , except where noted. All music written by
Daron Malakian , except where noted.
Title Lyrics Music 1. "Suite-Pee" 2:31 2. "Know"
Shavo Odadjian , Malakian, Tankian 2:56 3. "
Sugar " Odadjian, Malakian 2:33 4. "Suggestions" 2:44 5. "
Spiders " 3:35 6. "DDevil" Odadjian, Malakian 1:43 7. "Soil" 3:25 8. "War?" 2:40 9. "Mind" Odadjian, Malakian, Tankian 6:16 10. "Peephole" 4:06 11. "CUBErt" Tankian, Malakian 1:50 12. "Darts" 2:42 13. "P.L.U.C.K." (Politically Lying, Unholy, Cowardly Killers) 3:33 Total length: 40:36
Japanese edition bonus tracks Title 14. "Marmalade" 3:02 15. "Störagéd" 1:19 Total length: 44:57
Limited edition bonus CD
Title Music 1. "Sugar" (Live) Odadjian, Malakian 2:27 2. "War?" (Live) 2:48 3. "Suite-Pee" (Live) 2:58 4. "Know" (Live) Odadjian, Malakian, Tankian 3:04 Total length: 13:17
An early version of "X" from Toxicity was originally recorded for this album.
[16] The songs "Honey" and "Temper" from Demo Tape 2 were also recorded for this album but ultimately did not make the cut. The re-recorded versions of these songs have yet to surface anywhere.
[17]
[18]
Personnel
System of a Down
Production
Produced by
Rick Rubin with System of a Down
Mixed by
D. Sardy
Engineered by
Sylvia Massy
Engineer/assistant engineer:
Greg Fidelman
Additional recording/finishing Touches: D. Sardy
Assistant engineers: Sam Storey,
Nick Raskulinecz
Assistant mixdown engineers: James Saez, Greg Gordon, Andy Haller
Second assistant mixdown engineer: Bryan Davis
Extra piano by
Rick Rubin
Photography: Anthony Artiaga
Cover art:
John Heartfield
Art direction: Frank Harkins & System of a Down
A&R direction: Dino Paredes, Sam Wick
Recorded at Sound City, Van Nuys, California
Vocals and additional recordings at Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research, Hollywood, California
Mixed at
Record Plant Studios , Hollywood, California & Hollywood Sound, California
Mastered by Vlado Meller at
Sony Studios, New York City
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Sales and certifications
References
^ Burgess, Aaron (September 9, 2014).
"10 Nu-Metal Albums You Need to Own" . Revolvermag . NewBay Media.
Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2015 . Technically spotless, wildly eclectic, and out-outspokenly, er, Armenian, System of a Down's 1998 self-titled debut turned more nu-metal on its ear; and with this darker and more streamlined follow-up, the band proved that it was more than just a novelty–though spastic lead single "Chop Suey" is still one of the most awesomely bizarre songs to ever get repeated play on the radio. [
dead link ]
^
"The 50 best nu metal albums of all time" . April 2022.
Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022 .
^
a
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Erlewine, Stephen Thomas .
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AllMusic .
Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2010 .
^
a
b
"17 Years Ago: System of a Down Release Self-Titled Debut Album" . Loudwire.com .
Archived from the original on July 3, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016 .
^
"System of a Down's Daron Malakian Dishes on Politics and Religion" . Loudwire .
Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021 .
^
"John Heartfield Poster - Five Fingers Has The Hand" . Johnheartfield.com . Archived from
the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2016 .
^ Webb, Jody (October 1, 1998).
"CoC : System of a Down - System of a Down : Review" .
Chronicles of Chaos . Retrieved April 25, 2024 .
^ Nettleton, Chris (April 21, 2003).
"Album Review: System of a Down – System of a Down" .
Drowned in Sound .
Archived from the original on June 27, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2019 .
^ Perry, Neil (September 19, 1998). "Albums".
Kerrang! . No. 717.
EMAP . p. 44.
^ Ruggeri, Kevin.
"System of a Down: System of a Down" .
Pitchfork . Archived from
the original on October 3, 2000. Retrieved August 15, 2019 .
^
a
b "System of a Down: System of a Down".
Q . No. 182. October 2001. p. 152.
^ Harris, Keith (2004). "System of a Down". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.).
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.).
Simon & Schuster . pp.
800 .
ISBN
0-7432-0169-8 .
^
"System of a Down: Armenian Metal Proprietors" . Musiclegendtrend.com . March 12, 2013. Archived from
the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2016 .
^ Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (March 23, 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition . Universe.
ISBN
978-0-7893-2074-2 .
^ Hartmann, Graham.
"No. 22: System of a Down, 'System of a Down' – Best Debut Metal Albums" . Loudwire .
Archived from the original on June 27, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2019 .
^ Moss, Corey (June 21, 2002).
"SYSTEM OF A DOWN TO RELEASE TOXICITY OUTTAKES" . MTV News. MTV.
Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022 .
^
"r/systemofadown - Honey and Temper Re-Recorded versions on Limewire?" . Reddit . August 5, 2017.
Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2019 .
^
"ACE Repertory" . www.ascap.com .
Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2019 .
^
"System Of A Down - System Of A Down" . Hung Medien.
Archived from the original on October 30, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2021 .
^
"System Of A Down - System Of A Down" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
Archived from the original on October 30, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2021 .
^ Zywietz, Tobias.
"Chart Log UK: DJ S – The System Of Life" . Zobbel.
Archived from the original on December 17, 2009. Retrieved October 30, 2021 .
^
"System of a down Chart History (Billboard 200)" . Billboard.
Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2021 .
^
"System of a down Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)" . Billboard.
Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2021 .
^
"System of a Down Chart History - Catalog Albums" . Billboard .
Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2023 .
^
"System of a Down Chart History - Top Alternative Albums" . Billboard .
Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2023 .
^
"System of a Down Chart History - Top Hard Rock Albums" . Billboard .
Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2023 .
^
"System of a Down Chart History - Tastemaker Albums" . Billboard .
Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2023 .
^
"System of a Down Chart History - Vinyl Albums" . Billboard .
Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2023 .
^
"System of a Down Chart History - Top Rock" . Billboard .
Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2023 .
^
"System of a down Chart History (Billboard 200)" . Billboard.
Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2021 .
^
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"System of a down Chart History (Mainstream Rock Airplay)" . Billboard.
Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2021 .
^
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"System of a down Chart History (Alternative Airplay)" . Billboard.
Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2021 .
^
"Top 200 Albums of 2002 (based on sales)" .
Jam! . Archived from
the original on September 6, 2004. Retrieved March 23, 2022 .
^
"Canada's Top 200 Alternative albums of 2002" .
Jam! . Archived from
the original on December 4, 2003. Retrieved March 26, 2022 .
^
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Jam! . Archived from
the original on August 12, 2004. Retrieved March 23, 2022 .
^
"Brazilian album certifications – System of a Down – System of a Down" (in Portuguese).
Pro-Música Brasil .
^
"Canadian album certifications – System of a Down – System of a Down" .
Music Canada .
^
"Italian album certifications – System of a Down – System of a Down" (in Italian).
Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved July 22, 2019 .
^
"British album certifications – System of a Down – System of a Down" .
British Phonographic Industry .
^
"American album certifications – System of a Down – System of a Down" .
Recording Industry Association of America .
External links
Studio albums Singles Tours Related