Background
"Toxicity," an important song for System of a Down,was initially brought to the band by bassist Shavo Odadjian,who introduced the composition under the title "Version 7.0." [5] Odadjian conceived this title in reference to the then-popular AOL software,stating,"When this song comes out,it'll be on Version 7.0,and we'd be telling the future." [5] Despite the band's reputation for guitarist Daron Malakian and vocalist Serj Tankian as the principal songwriters,Odadjian's original concept played a crucial role in the song's development. [5]
During the recording process,the band,encouraged by producer Rick Rubin to "over-write," entered the studio with an extensive repertoire of approximately 44 songs. [5] However,"Toxicity" nearly went overlooked,with Odadjian recalling that it had "fallen through the cracks." [5] He reflected,"I felt so good about it,and it wasn't taken well." [5] It was only when Malakian revisited the composition that the song was fully realized,marking it as a significant addition to their album. [5]
Recording
"There were times when we fuckin' threw down. [Once], John and I were totally going at it. My lip was all cut up, and I took a microphone stand and hit him across the head and his head was all bashed in. Shavo and Serj were looking at us saying, 'Awww, man, we're done.' But right after we fought, we took each other to the hospital and got stitched up right next to each other. Both of us were sitting there laughing, saying, 'This is one of the coolest moments in the history of our band.'"
Daron Malakian, speaking about the conflicts during the recording of "Toxicity". [5]
The recording of "Toxicity" involved intense collaboration and conflict among band members, leading to its distinctive sound. [5] The song's beat was crafted by drummer John Dolmayan, who drew inspiration from a moment of irritation with Odadjian. [5] Dolmayan humorously recounted how he mimicked Odadjian's gestures while trying to find the right rhythm, ultimately leading to one of his most recognizable beats. [5] Dolmayan wrote, "I was trying to figure out beats. Shavo was right in front of me and wouldn't stop talking. I was like, 'Shavo, give me a second to try and come up with something.' He was like, 'Why don't you try it like this?' He was moving his arms up and down. To mock him, I did what I thought he was doing. That beat came out of complete irritation. It was very much just, 'Get the fuck out of my face. I'm going to do this so you leave.'" [5]
Malakian's vision for "Toxicity" steered the band toward a more melodic and anthemic direction, expanding their sound beyond their metal roots. [5] His focus on crafting songs with larger choruses was a departure from the band's earlier style, reflecting an evolution in their musical approach. [5] This shift was not without its challenges; intense disagreements sometimes erupted into physical altercations, exemplified by a notable brawl between Malakian and Dolmayan. [5] Despite the violence, the aftermath of their confrontation fostered a renewed sense of camaraderie, propelling the band to complete "Toxicity" alongside other key tracks like "Chop Suey!" in a burst of creativity. [5] Dolmayan reflected, "Maybe [the fight] was positive for us because the week after hospitalization, we went in, and 'Chop Suey!' and 'Toxicity' were completed." [5]
Composition and lyrics
"Toxicity" is a defining track within the nu metal genre, characterized by its fusion of heavy metal, punk, and alternative rock elements. [6] It has also been described as progressive metal, with Brendan Appleton of Kerrang! Radio arguing that "they certainly verge more towards progressive metal on this track." [3] He challenged critics for their use of the label "nu metal" on the vast amount of artists, stating that "you'd certainly never say that Evanescence and SOAD were similar." [3] As one of the standout songs from the album, it exemplifies the band's ability to transcend the conventions of the early-2000s Ozzfest circuit. [6] According to Dominick Suzanne-Mayer of Consequence, System of a Down is "arguably one of the better bands to emerge during the period," with "Toxicity" standing as a testament to their artistic ambition. [6]
The song's composition features a dynamic interplay of aggressive instrumentation and melodic hooks, driven by Daron Malakian's vision to evolve the band's sound beyond traditional heavy metal. [5] He noted, "I liked songs like 'Aerials,' 'Toxicity,' and 'ATWA' that brought an evolution to our sound," indicating a shift towards anthemic choruses and complex arrangements that address deeper themes of societal dysfunction. [5] The track is also notable for its intense drumming, with John Dolmayan's beat emerging from a moment of frustration during recording. [5] This dynamic energy is particularly evident in the breakdown at the end of the song, which showcases Serj Tankian's inimitable vocals at their peak. [6] As noted by music critic Dominick Suzanne-Mayer, "join us in going absolutely goddamn wild to that breakdown," highlighting how the song remains a powerful representation of the band's innovative spirit and impact on the nu metal genre. [6]
Lyrically, "Toxicity" is filled with vivid imagery and cultural references. [5] The line "eating seeds as a pastime activity" draws from Armenian culture, where snacking on roasted sunflower seeds as a common tradition. [5] Malakian explained, "My family gets [sunflower seeds] raw... a lot of Armenians do this," using this imagery to juxtapose the mundanity of life with the song's broader commentary on societal issues. [5] Another aspect of the song is the lyric "sacred silence and sleep," which reflects a deep connection to Native American spirituality. [7] Serj Tankian has noted that "sacred silence" alludes to the spiritual understanding within Native American cultures, serving as a state of meditation where one can find both loss and discovery. [7] He cites inspiration from the works of Tom Brown Jr., a survivalist and author who explores Native American wisdom, emphasizing the importance of living harmoniously with nature. [7] Tankian elaborates that the lyric encapsulates a unique moment experienced during REM sleep, where meditation and consciousness intertwine. [7]
System of a Down is an Armenian-American heavy metal band formed in Glendale, California, in 1994. Since 1997, the band has consisted of founding members Serj Tankian ; Daron Malakian ; Shavo Odadjian ; along with John Dolmayan (drums), who replaced original drummer Andy Khachaturian in 1997.
Serj Tankian is an Armenian-American musician and activist. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the alternative metal band System of a Down, which was formed in 1994.
Shavarsh "Shavo" Odadjian is an Armenian-American musician, best known as the bassist of heavy metal band System of a Down. He also plays bass in a trap group called North Kingsley and in the metal band Seven Hours After Violet.
John Dolmayan is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American musician, best known as the drummer of System of a Down. He is also the former drummer for Scars on Broadway. Dolmayan ranked number 33 on Loudwire's list of Top 200 Hard Rock + Metal Drummers of All Time.
Toxicity is the second studio album by the American heavy metal band System of a Down, released on September 4, 2001, by American Recordings and Columbia Records. Expanding on their 1998 eponymous debut album, Toxicity incorporates more melody, harmonies, and singing than the band's first album. Categorized primarily as alternative metal and nu metal, the album features elements of multiple genres, including folk, progressive rock, jazz, and Armenian and Greek music, including prominent use of instruments like the sitar, banjo, keyboards, and piano. It contains a wide array of political and non-political themes, such as mass incarceration, the CIA, the environment, police brutality, drug addiction, scientific reductionism, and groupies.
Steal This Album! is the third studio album by the American nu metal band System of a Down, released on November 26, 2002, by American Recordings and Columbia Records. Produced by Rick Rubin and Daron Malakian, it peaked at number 15 on the US Billboard 200.
System of a Down is the debut studio album by the American heavy metal band System of a Down, released on June 30, 1998, by American Recordings and Columbia Records. The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in February 2000. After the success of the band's following album, Toxicity (2001), System of a Down was certified platinum and has since gone double platinum.
Daron Malakian is an Armenian-American musician. He is the guitarist, songwriter, and second vocalist of the metal band System of a Down, and the lead vocalist, lead guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter of Scars on Broadway.
"Chop Suey!" is a song by the American heavy metal band System of a Down. It was released on August 13, 2001, as the first single from their second album, Toxicity (2001). The single earned the band its first Grammy nomination in 2002 for Best Metal Performance. "Chop Suey!" is often considered the band's signature song, and its music video has reached one billion views on YouTube.
Hypnotize is the fifth studio album by the American heavy metal band System of a Down. It was released on November 22, 2005, six months after the release of its companion album Mezmerize. Mezmerize and Hypnotize both debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
Mezmerize is the fourth studio album by the American heavy metal band System of a Down, released on May 17, 2005, by American Recordings and Columbia Records. Upon its release, the album received acclaim from critics. The album sold over 450,000 copies in its first week, and immediately topped the Billboard 200.
"B.Y.O.B." is a song by American heavy metal band System of a Down. It was released in March 2005 as the lead single from their fourth album Mezmerize. Like their earlier song Boom!, it was written in protest against the Iraq War. The song reached number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100, the band's only top 40 hit.
"Question!" is a song by American heavy metal band System of a Down, released in July 2005 as the second single from their fourth studio album, Mezmerize (2005).
"Innervision" is a song by American heavy metal band System of a Down, released as a promotional single from their third studio album, Steal This Album! (2002).
"Sugar" is a song by American heavy metal band System of a Down. It was released as the band's first ever single on May 24, 1998, and as an EP on May 26, 1999. The song was taken from their debut studio album, System of a Down (1998).
"Lonely Day" is a song by American heavy metal band System of a Down. It was released in 2006 as the second single from their fifth album Hypnotize (2005), and written by guitarist Daron Malakian, who also provides lead vocals on this track. The song received a nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.
System of a Down is an Armenian-American heavy metal band formed by vocalist Serj Tankian, guitarist Daron Malakian, bassist Shavo Odadjian, and drummer John Dolmayan in the mid-1990s. They have released five studio albums, nineteen singles, and thirteen music videos. By the end of 1997, the group had signed to American Recordings, then distributed as Columbia Records. The following year, they released their eponymous debut album, which peaked at number 124 on the United States' Billboard 200 and number 103 on the United Kingdom's UK Albums Chart; it was later certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and gold by Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA). Their eponymous debut album produced a single for the song "Sugar", which reached the top 30 on the Billboard mainstream rock songs and alternative songs charts. Their follow-up album, Toxicity (2001), topped the US and Canadian charts, and also reached the top 10 in Australia, Finland, and New Zealand. The album was certified triple platinum in its home country, and triple platinum in Australia by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), as well as double platinum by Music Canada. Toxicity produced singles for the title track, "Chop Suey!", and "Aerials". The last of these peaked at number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs and Alternative Songs charts.
Daron Malakian and Scars on Broadway is an American rock band founded by Daron Malakian of the metal band System of a Down, who also became the sole member of the band. The band's self-titled debut album was released in July 2008.
"Protect the Land" is a song recorded by American heavy metal band System of a Down. It was released as a double A-side single with "Genocidal Humanoidz" on November 6, 2020, through American Recordings and Columbia Records, to raise awareness and funds for Armenia and the unrecognised Republic of Artsakh amid the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. It is the band's first release in 15 years since their fifth studio album Hypnotize (2005), their first single in 14 years since "Vicinity of Obscenity" (2006), and their first two singles to not feature their long-time producer Rick Rubin. The two singles have raised over $600,000 that was donated to the Armenia Fund to help those who have been affected by the war.
"Genocidal Humanoidz" is a song recorded by American heavy metal band System of a Down. It was released as a double A-side single with "Protect the Land" on November 6, 2020, through American Recordings and Columbia Records, to raise awareness and funds for Armenia and the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh amid the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. It is the band's first release in 15 years since their fifth studio album Hypnotize (2005), their first single in 14 years since "Lonely Day" (2006), and their first two singles to not feature their long-time producer Rick Rubin. The two singles have raised over $600,000 that was donated to the Armenia Fund to help those who have been affected by the war.
