This Is The Bar

Occasionally, some artist’s work becomes amplified over time instead of weakening. Thus is the case with the third album Mezmerize from mainstream anomalies System of a Down.System’s sound has been enhanced encompassing the best parts of punk and metal into a refreshingly exciting musical experience. Choice pieces of splintered heavy rock subgenres are distributed amidst eleven ambitious tracks. “B.Y.O.B.” consists of both satirical political commentary and death metal screams: “Why do they always send the poor?” The alternating shifts from sweet ska to power metal in “Radio/Video” are reminiscent of the spastic genre hopping Mr. Bungle made famous. Even further away are the electronic swoops and robot-style vocals throughout “Old School Hollywood.”

Along side John Dolmayan’s pulverizing blast-beats the most noticeable changes are in the vocals. As was the case sporadically on Toxicity guitarist Daron Malakian now contributes backing/lead vocals on nearly every song. Daron and lead singer Serj Tankian’s voices contrast in just the right way. The shrill vibrating tone from Serj melds irreplaceably into Daron’s quivering high pitch, the two emphatically belting “Do we, do we know / When we fly / When we, when we go / Do we die” on “Question!”

In fact, all writing credits herein are split between the two. The most amazing of which is “Violent Pornography.” That song is the argument, case and point for System’s stupefying popular acceptance. It is simultaneously silly (near yodeling from Serj), poignant (lyric: “It’s a violent pornography / choking chicks and sodomy / the kind of shit you get on your tv”), and infectious. All this, plus the 2nd half of this double album Hypnotize later this year? Hot damn.