Got to be the debut for me. I remember hearing it when I was 14, just after it came out, and thinking 'Wow, this is really different!' Toxicity is pretty ace too, though...

The first one

Gotta go with their s/t album. Every track on there is phenomenal! Toxicity is almost as good.

The first album.

Steal This Album! is amazing, idk why it has so few votes.

Toxicity is pretty good album but I can't choose one of these I like all of them

Toxicity! System Of A Down has good albuns. What annoy is one or two songs from each of they (Except Steal This Album, that is almost totally boring!)

Toxicity is far best album System ever realesed...

For me, it's between Mesmerize and the debut. The former has some really catchy songwriting and plenty of variation, whereas the latter is fresh and heartfelt. I actually don't like Toxicity much, I find its more radio-oriented tracks safer and less exciting than on Mesmerize (you can't seriously say Chop Suey is better than Cigaro) and its straightforward bangers more boring than on SOAD. It drags on too long, though it opens with two really good tracks.

Written by IronAngel on 01.07.2012 at 21:08
For me, it's between Mesmerize and the debut. The former has some really catchy songwriting and plenty of variation, whereas the latter is fresh and heartfelt. I actually don't like Toxicity much, I find its more radio-oriented tracks safer and less exciting than on Mesmerize (you can't seriously say Chop Suey is better than Cigaro) and its straightforward bangers more boring than on SOAD. It drags on too long, though it opens with two really good tracks.

You sir are quite mad =P Cigaro is a pretty dire song if you ask me, and on the whole I wouldn't call Toxicity more radio friendly compared to the softer, rock-oriented Mesmerize. I'm not a great fan of Mesmerize/Hypnotize overall; far too much of Daron Malakian singing and taking the front seat, he has an atrocious voice, and the songs are just a bit floppy sounding really.

Troy also said Prison Song was one of the few songs he liked from that album, it's probably my least favourite though. The second track is fantastic though, as is Forest which would have made a great single.

Mesmeriza/Hypnotize is definitely way more radio friendly. No doubt about it.

Written by Guest on 01.07.2012 at 21:43

You sir are quite mad =P Cigaro is a pretty dire song if you ask me, and on the whole I wouldn't call Toxicity more radio friendly compared to the softer, rock-oriented Mesmerize.

I didn't mean to say it was. But those tracks on it which are clearly radio-friendly and often mentioned as fan favorites (Chop Suey!, Toxicity, Aerials) are IMO not as good as their counterparts on Mesmerize (B.Y.O.B. and Cigaro, for example). And then there's tracks like Jet Pilot and Bounce, which make me feel they drained that pool dry on the debut.

I remembered wrong, btw. I was referring to Needles and Deer Dance, which are the second and third track, as the really great songs. Prison Song is cool by me too, and there are many nice individual songs. As a whole, it just doesn't feel as varied or as focused as its predecessor or follower. (I didn't like Hypnotize, either.)

Written by IronAngel on 01.07.2012 at 22:20


I didn't mean to say it was. But those tracks on it which are clearly radio-friendly and often mentioned as fan favorites (Chop Suey!, Toxicity, Aerials) are IMO not as good as their counterparts on Mesmerize (B.Y.O.B. and Cigaro, for example). And then there's tracks like Jet Pilot and Bounce, which make me feel they drained that pool dry on the debut.

I remembered wrong, btw. I was referring to Needles and Deer Dance, which are the second and third track, as the really great songs. Prison Song is cool by me too, and there are many nice individual songs. As a whole, it just doesn't feel as varied or as focused as its predecessor or follower. (I didn't like Hypnotize, either.)

B.Y.O.B. could stand up against any System song for sure, great tune. I'm not hot on Cigaro as I said, it just seems very simplistic and faux-heavy, but I really like Radio/Video, however.

Ah ok, yeah Needles and Dear Dance are great tracks. Bounce I'm not too big a fan of. It's an amusing track but a little novelty driven. I'm quite a big fan of Jet Pilot though, probably because it's System's lyrics at their most dadaistic.

Actually I'm listening to Serj's new album now and it's probably the most enjoyable thing I've heard since Steal This Album! (which I'm also a big fan of). I'm not gonna lie, I'm a majoy Serj buff and was hugely put off System's last two records because of how much he took backseat.

Their debut is also their best. Toxicity is 2nd

Toxicity is a classic in my book. I remember hearing "Shimmy" from the game Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4 for Play Station back in the day and I thought it was awesome. The rest of the album is simply great.

1. Toxicity (truly innovative)
2. Mesmerize (very catchy)
3. Steal This Album! (I can't believe this is just B-sides; it's fantastic)
4. Hypnotize (has it's moments, but is a little weak; still good, though)
5. System of a Down (a bit too raw...)

Mezmerize kicks ass, Toxicity is very popular and meaningful

Not sure if it's their best, but Steal This Album! is definitely their most underrated. It's also NOT a collection of B-Sides, that myth got spread because some of the songs from the album were originally slanted for Toxicity, but got cut. Not for the lack of quality, but just because they didn't fit the theme.

Mezmerize for me, it's the most consistent and the one I find myself listening to the most.

Self titled is my favourite, love the sound. Spiders may be my favourite System of a Down song.

Mezmerize and Toxicity round out the top 3. Some amazing songs on each but there's a few songs that feel a bit like filler.

Toxicity!

Well, I can't decide between Toxicity and Steal This Album. Maybe Steal, just for Highway Song? Although Toxicity has Aerials, so still no idea.
Where's my coin?

Pretty difficult to choose best SOAD album, but Hypnotize is easily the worst.

Written by Scintil on 08.11.2020 at 00:11

Pretty difficult to choose best SOAD album, but Hypnotize is easily the worst.

I didn't know the band was called Hypnotize, as their self-titled is clearly their worst one.

1. Toxicity - the band simply at its best, firing on all cylinders. Favs: Chop Suey!, Aerials, The Prison Song
2. System of a Down - their most experimental, still some absolute bangers. Favs: Spiders, Sugar, War?
3. Steal This Album - hard to rate, kind of hodgepodge but I had it as a kid so I'll always have a soft spot for it. Favs: Innervision, Boom!, I-E-A-I-A-I-O
4. Hypnotize - most put this last but to me Holy Mountains raises it up considerably such is its power. Favs: Holy Mountains, Attack, Vicinity of Obscenity
5. Mezmerize - I've spent the least time listening to this one so I'll put it at the bottom but I don't think the band ever released a bad album. Favs: Sad Statue, B.Y.O.B, Violent Pornography