Big. But What Are They On About? (Toxicity - System Of A Down)

Member Name: XICripZ

Product:	Toxicity - System Of A Down
Date:	03/01/09 (90 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Consistent quality

Disadvantages: Nothing specific

"Toxicity" came out in 2001, and was the second album from the Nu-Metal band, System of A Down. The group had released one album prior to this, and after the hype of their self-entitled debut was brought up, they managed to come out with a hit #1 album with this one as they brought there alternative sound to the Metal genre.

1. "Prison Song"

To start it all off, they do it in a big way as they do an excited one to wae you up. Their well-known stop-start style is put into effect from the beginning, and it gives it makes it all seem quite unpredictable as they burst with energy, and then sudenly stop it all, and then out of nowhere bring it all back. Once it settles into the hardcore Metal, who can't help but get taken over by it all.

**Four Stars**

2. "Needles"

The composition of this one is absolutely perfect in in creating the ideal setting to do one which reveloves around the theme of drug abuse. You have it going from poar opposites in mood swings to reflect the theme which they are working with. It is chaotic, and suits the subject without any difficulty.

**Four Stars**

3. "Deer Dance"

I really don't have a clue how the title to this one relates in any way to the title of the thing. As a matter of fact I don't get what is said in the lyrics at all as Serj, the lead vocalist sings about random things, (which he must have some understanding one). It is a banger of a track and keeps up the energetic nature of this release,

**Four Stars**

4. "Jet Pilot"

This one is explosive as it begins with urgency and, after a quick beginning it settels for a short while before becoming intense and raging into a hardcore Metal song. You can't really fault it in many areas as it is full-on quality with lots of things gogn on, all directed in a single direction to come out with a sucessful result.

**Four Stars**

5. "X"

This is one of two track which last under two minutes and in this quick recording, you have them coming up with one of their most intense tunes as they just ut all their energy into things as they do a dark, yet uplifting Metal track which seems to deal with major social issues, despite being shrouded in these Metal surrounding.

**Four Stars**

6. "Chop Suey!"

This was the big single off the album, and the one which everyone sees as their big one. I have to say that although I enjoy it, and got excited by the dramatic stop-and-start composition, the melodic sections are really off-ptuting to me, and this is the main reason why I can't fully engage with it evertime I hear it.

**Four Stars**

7. "Bounce"

This is the shortest recording from the album, and one of the best too. When they do thequick ones, they always seem to kill it off as they don't need to wory about making it progressive or gradual in the way that it comes around. It is a highly-impactful tune with lots of energy to it.

**Four Stars**

8. "Forest"

This is a fun little track in which you get them experimentaing with what they can possibly implemetnt into a Metal track without it seeming too far out-of-place. They keep it all together, and somehow give out a great deal of originality with unique sound effects too. It all works and leads to them coming out with another big one.

**Four Stars**

9. "ATWA"

This is probably the most mellowing track on the album, and although this one contrasts qte significantly to the rest of the material hear, the high standard is upheld as as they manage to fuse the soft material with their usual work, without it seeming as if they were changing their ways in some way.

**Four Stars**

10. "Science"

This one has them going for some straight Metal. Ths one seems to get the relaxing their experimental side for a while as they settel for the normative stuff however they manage to give their quirky twist with mad lyrics which I simply don't get. The are able to twist anything to their own distinct ways, even when they go for a pretty usual one.

**Four Stars**

11. "Shimmy"

This is one one the best songs on the album, and it gets them doing a whole track in a high tempo, and for me this is when they perform to their highest standard. It gets them tearing it all up with lots of rolled drumming and exciting riffs to get everyone moving. The only thing that holds this one back is its short duration.

**Four Stars**

12. "Toxicity"

This is the titel track to the album, and just as the rest on it, it keeps up the high standard of things in what is one of the most consistent albums I have come across. I haver to say that this is probably among two others which could be considered the best on the album. I was just so excited by the way the thing swings from gentle sections and their typical metal stuff with simple transitions.

**Four Stars**

13. "Psycho"

I liked the fact that for this one I was finally able to comprehend the lyrics as they do one out towards the groupies, but not the usual ones, they do one towards the "Psycho"-type ones, those described as "cocaine-crazy", and all attetnaion is put on expressing rebellion against these as with hard percussion and a heavy guitar riff.

**Four Stars**

14. "Aerials"

Ending it all off "Aerials" maintains all the high-energy Metal that has been heard from start to end in this album. The Hip Hop legnd responsible for the production in LL Cool J's historic "Radio", plays a key role in it for this one, and he helps to give this one some of that alternative feel into it by encorporating his bst-suited genre into the work.

**Four Stars**

This group is pure Metal, and I have to say that I enjoyed that they kept to this (as many Nu-Metal acts experiment in the wrong directions, and this band seem to have found something which works well, and have stuck to it, without it getting too repetitive or annoying with time. You can't really fault much in this release, as it is all quality stuff. I fI was a proper Metasl fan, I'm sure that this would be an absolutely flawless release from the band.

Summary: System Of A Down's second album