{"title":"System of a Down","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAbout System of a Down\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSystem of a Down formed in Glendale, California in 1994 around Serj Tankian (born August 21, 1967, Beirut, Lebanon), Daron Malakian (born July 18, 1975, Hollywood), Shavo Odadjian (born April 22, 1974, Yerevan, Armenian SSR), and Andy Khachaturian. John Dolmayan (born July 15, 1972, Beirut, Lebanon) replaced Khachaturian as drummer in 1997. All four members are of Armenian heritage, with Armenian Genocide awareness and Armenian political activism being throughout the band's career. Their 2001 album Toxicity - released on September 4, 2001, just one week before September 11 - became the first metal album to reach #1 on the Billboard 200 in the post-9\/11 environment, eventually selling over 12 million copies worldwide. Their double LP Mezmerize \/ Hypnotize (released six months apart in May and November 2005) both debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. They have not released a full studio LP since 2005 due to creative tensions, with Tankian launching solo career and Malakian pursuing his Daron Malakian and Scars on Broadway project (2008 Scars on Broadway \/ 2018 Dictator). They reunited in 2011 for touring and continue intermittent touring activity. They released two new singles (Protect the Land \/ Genocidal Humanoidz) in 2020 to fundraise for Armenian causes during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but no new studio LP has been. Their foundational influence on contemporary heavy metal, nu metal, and broader extreme music is widely cited.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSound and style\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSystem of a Down's sound combines heavy metal, nu metal, alternative metal, progressive metal, Armenian music influences, hardcore punk, and political metal with Tankian's distinctive vocal delivery (range from melodic crooning to extreme growled phrasing), Malakian's foundational dual-vocalist contributions, integration of Armenian musical traditions and Armenian political content, virtuosic Malakian guitar work, and lyrical content addressing the Armenian Genocide, American politics, war, environmental issues, and broader political themes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eDiscography highlights\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSystem of a Down (1998, American\/Columbia)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eToxicity (2001, American\/Columbia) - 12M+ copies, Billboard #1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSteal This Album! (2002, American\/Columbia)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMezmerize (2005, American\/Columbia) - Billboard #1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHypnotize (2005, American\/Columbia) - Billboard #1, same-year companion to Mezmerize\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProtect the Land \/ Genocidal Humanoidz singles (2020, American\/Columbia)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFor collectors\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmerican Recordings and Columbia Records pressings of the System of a Down catalog have been issued in multiple color variant editions and limited deluxe pressings, with collector demand.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhere to start\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eListeners new to System of a Down typically start with Toxicity (2001) or Mezmerize (2005). \u003cspan class=\"related-collections\"\u003eExplore more: \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/metal-vinyl-records\"\u003eMetal\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"system-of-a-down-toxicity-cd","title":"Toxicity CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eToxicity, the highly anticipated sophomore album from Columbia \/ American Recordings artists System of a Down, contains 14 brand new tracks written by the band.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540735176887,"sku":"210000050315","price":13.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/toxicity.jpg?v=1781154058"},{"product_id":"system-of-a-down-self-titled-cd","title":"Self-Titled CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe band has built a hard-core following that originated in L.A. and has been developing nationally and internationally based on reviews of their live shows.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540736127159,"sku":"210000058375","price":13.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/systemofadown.webp?v=1781154057"},{"product_id":"system-of-a-down-steal-this-album-cd","title":"Steal this Album CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eSystem of a Down has managed to make tracks from a seven-year period sound cohesive without having to embellish or sacrifice.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540736192695,"sku":"210000033082","price":13.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/s-l960-7.webp?v=1781154056"},{"product_id":"system-of-a-down-mezmerize-vinyl","title":"Mezmerize LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe fourth album from System Of A Down continues their heavy political style of metal.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540793143479,"sku":"210000033851","price":23.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/system.jpg?v=1781154287"},{"product_id":"system-of-a-down-toxicity-vinyl-140g","title":"Toxicity LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eSystem Of A Down's sophomore album from 2001, following and building on the success of their 1998 debut\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540793209015,"sku":"210000033849","price":23.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/syst.jpg?v=1781154287"},{"product_id":"system-of-a-down-self-titled-vinyl","title":"Self-Titled LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eSystem of a Down is the debut studio album by Armenian-American heavy metal band System of a Down, originally released on June 30, 1998, by American Recordings and Columbia Records.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540793274551,"sku":"210000033848","price":23.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/3827092.jpg?v=1781154286"},{"product_id":"system-of-a-down-steal-this-album-vinyl-140g","title":"Steal this Album! 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eSYSTEM OF A DOWN Title STEAL THIS ALBUM! s the third studio album by Armenian-American heavy metal band System of a Down, released on November 26, 2002.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540962062519,"sku":"210000033852","price":32.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/stealthisalbum.jpg?v=1781154874"},{"product_id":"system-of-a-down-mezmerize-cd","title":"Mezmerize CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eMezmerize is the fourth studio album by the Armenian-American heavy metal band System of a Down. Includes hit tracks \"B.Y.O.B.\" and \"Radio\/Video\".\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785664639159,"sku":"210000034691","price":16.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/722308.jpg?v=1783045591"},{"product_id":"system-of-a-down-hypnotize-cd","title":"Hypnotize CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eWith \"Hypnotize,\" System of a Down hits the gas hard, racing through the shadows of modern existence. Each track, from the biting riffs of \"Attack\" to the chilling reflections in \"Soldier Side,\" demands confrontation with the chaos within. Picture this album as a turbocharged engine propelling a restless soul through the night, the sound drowning out everything else. This level of intensity makes heavy metal pulse with life, echoing long after the ride is over.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785669161143,"sku":"210000036263","price":13.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/775086.jpg?v=1783045604"},{"product_id":"system-of-a-down-hypnotize-vinyl-140g","title":"Hypnotize LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eSystem of a Down's \"Hypnotize\" tantalizes with a collision of playful melodies and sinister themes, ensnaring listeners in a disquieting allure. Tracks like \"Holy Mountains\" lay bare harsh truths beneath ethereal layers, propelling a critique that extends beyond mere heaviness into the depths of modern alienation. This album isn't just metal; it's an audacious interrogation of conscience wrapped in arrangements that insist you engage.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785944314039,"sku":"210000038013","price":23.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/system-of-a-down-hypnotize-vinyl-lp-36734092-480x4.jpg?v=1783046358"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.waxtraxrecords.com\/collections\/system-of-a-down.oembed","provider":"Wax Trax Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}