An album review written by: Lee Sonogan
System of a Down – 44:01 (2001) Alternative metal, thrash metal, nu metal
Life is a waterfall,
We’re one in the river,
And one again after the fall. – System of a Down – Toxicity
Toxicity is the second studio album by the Armenian-American heavy metal band System of a Down, released on September 4, 2001, by Columbia Records. Categorized as alternative metal, hard rock, art metal, heavy metal, nu-metal, and more, Toxicity features elements of multiple genres of music including folk, progressive metal, progressive rock, jazz, Middle Eastern music, and Greek music. Many of the album’s lyrics are political, being about topics such as the overpopulation of prisons, the CIA, and Charles Manson’s beliefs about the environment.
Toxicity was recorded at Cello Studios in Hollywood, California. Over thirty songs were recorded by System of a Down for Toxicity but the band narrowed the number of songs on the album to fourteen. Toxicity had mainstream success with the album at number one on both the Billboard 200 and the Canadian Albums Chart. Selling 220,000 copies in its first week of release. Was certified triple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and sold at least 2,700,000 copies in the United States.
Tracklisting for the album:
- Prison Song
- Needles
- Deer Dance
- Jet Pilot
- X
- Chop Suey
- Bounce
- Forest
- ATWA
- Science
- Shimmy
- Toxicity
- Psycho
- Aerials
The final single, ‘Aerials’, went to number one on the Mainstream Rock Songs chart and on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. Toxicity received mainly positive ratings and reviews from critics, getting a 5 out of 5-star rating from AllMusic and a 10/10 rating from Blabbermouth.net. Many critics praised the album’s sound and innovation.
If you did not know. system of a Down is my favourite bad. In my opinion, this is one of their best albums. With a few songs well-recognized for their originality, many songs remain underrated. Such as the songs ATWA, Science and Forest. Forest is particularly good performed live. I saw them play live in Australia a few years ago. I recommend this album to people fans of creative metal and to the impressive band, System of a Down.
8.1/10
Trust in my self-righteous suicide I cry when angels deserve to die In my self-righteous suicide Why cry when angels deserve to die? – System of a Down – Toxicity