![]() ![]() The album’s tracks are also peppered with System’s operatic and Middle Eastern flourishes. The songs are equal parts discord and harmony. Grinding and vicious guitar rushes interspaced with deliberately poppy interludes somehow seamlessly hold together, despite the obvious tension. Mezmerize is at once a savage and frenzied sonic outpouring and a delicately crafted totem. However, a more conscious effort reveals the album’s nuances and intricacies. As a result, passively listening to the album can lead to the conclusion that the guitar riffs are redundant and the sound formulaic. Mezmerize is not as melodic as System’s previous release, Toxicity. Guitarist/co-songwriter Malakian takes added lead-vocal time on this album, which compensates only somewhat for the noticeably diminished vocal role of Tankian. But it drifts to the background on Mezmerize. Tankian’s iconic voice has lent much to the band’s unique sound. ![]() Other than the brevity of the new album (a mere 36 minutes long), its only shortcoming is that it suppresses the band’s previously ever-present frontman, Serj Tankian. This is readily evident in such songs as “B.Y.O.B.,” “Sad Statue,” “Cigaro,” and “Radio/Video.” However, it is the fierce musical content that ultimately dominates Mezmerize. It is an unflinching indictment of the sociopolitical landscape-a diatribe of anti-war, anti-corporate and anti-celebrity sentiment. Mezmerize is also a vehicle for System’s razor-sharp commentary. Indeed, Mezmerize showcases the band’s uncanny ability to effortlessly blend diverging styles and influences to achieve its emblematic sound. Despite this long absence, the band-which features lead vocalist Serj Tankian, guitarist Daron Malakian, bassist Shavo Odadjian, and drummer John Dolmayan-shows no signs of slowing down. ![]() The band System of a Down seems to have achieved this equilibrium.įollowing a nearly four-year absence since its critically acclaimed Toxicity album, System of a Down released Mezmerize, the first installment of a two-album set-Hypnotize will follow sometime this fall.
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