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CD Review
Fri, 3 June 2005
by: Ando
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Band
Vocals: Serj Tankian
Guitar: Daron Malakian
Bass: Shavo Odadjian
Drums: John Dolmayan
You know what really gives me the irrits (apart from my Buttonhole superiors’ period pains!) – Sammy’s note: Sorry to hear that my pain is so troublesome for you, that is most inconsiderate of me. When critics and fans try and label a band like System of a Down ‘Alternative Rock’…‘Alternative Rock’; what the hell is that anyway? I think the first time I heard the term was in reference to Pearl Jam back in the early nineties. 15 years ago they used it because they couldn’t pigeon hole a sound and they’re still doing it today! “Who’s they?” you say…Them! The media! The music industry circus clowns, the marketing parasites! Anyway, I refuse to let a band that uses double kick, blast beats and death growls be labeled ‘Alternative Rock’. I think it might have something to do with the gallons of metal pride that run through my veins. The marketing parasites really have a hard time packaging bands like System of a Down. Just to give you an example of how hard this band IS to handle, their previous album Steal This Album (wait for it) had virtually no cover artwork at all. What it did have was “Steal this Album” written across what appeared to be a blank CDR with no cover sleeve in texta. After the explosive success of Toxicity (their second album), their label had little choice but to publish distribute and advertise such an outlandish album title and cover sleeve. That’s just a little sample of the bullish nature of these firey lads of Armenian descent that reside in California.
Anyway, Mesmerize is the new album, or the newest album. It won’t be for long mind you. Apparently there is another album scheduled for release in September. Yes that’s right, they’ve made 2 albums; Mesmerize and Hypnotize. Hooray for Freddo! Double the fun and twice the assault on the senses. Or is it? Mesmerize is 36 minutes long….Hardly pushing the boundaries of an 80min CD. One wonders if the agenda behind such maneuvers is economically driven when a new album (presumably of a similar length) is just around the corner. Regardless, the enormous success of Toxicity has obviously had little effect on the band in terms of the pressure of having play to by the rules, not to mention the anxiety of having to live up to the huge success they’ve had in the past. They seem to have transcended that expectation and pressure to bring us an even more diverse and radical sounding record. At times it borders on folk music, other times I feel as if Justin Timberlake has high jacked my CD player. Occasionally we are just treated to an excursion of pure musical extravagance, with great production quality and vocal harmonization. But mostly it’s just good hard, heavy and loud music with melodic vocals and interesting dynamics; a staple ingredient in their recipe for music thus far. This album is probably more of a return to form than anything; people are going to have a hard time with it for sure. It’s not as polished and consistent as Toxicity was. It’s more like their self-titled debut, which was more abrasive and edgy. This record is very in your face, it challenges you at every turn. It asks you to accept the unacceptable. For instance:
The first track, Soldier side, is a simple melodic guitar/vocal piece that makes no bones about being politically driven. It is also unashamedly NOT a ‘kick start the record’ metal song (as has been the norm on previous records). That changes pretty quickly though when we are overrun by the hard-hitting first single from the album - B.Y.O.B, which is even more political in its connotations. It gives you reason to be ill the first few times you hear it though, as the chorus is high jacked by an alarmingly good impression of a Justin Timberlake single. That said, when it kicks back in heavy, it’s all the more heavy and hard-hitting for it. The intensity is so strong that even these outrageous excursions into Timberlake territory fail to derail the knife-edge political determination underneath. Just to give an example of the political exuberance blasting out of this one this line pretty much sums it up: “Why don't presidents fight the war?.. Why do they always send the poor?”
The next track is Revenga, which is a more subtle and seductive song than the first two. Relentless rhythms drive the song hard, and together with almost an a cappella style vocal harmonies; this track makes for quite a powerful auditory experience that erupts into a dark and disturbing bridge section towards the end.
There is always a tongue firmly planted in cheek (or Mugwai’s arse) with these guys. But they do have a message in most of their songs. Often it is encrypted in language, and it’s always left up to the individual to decipher the message and look at it from their own perspective. The next track is no different. Radio/Video is, well…let’s say a journey of musical discovery! It goes from being hard edge metal to folk music, to reggae pop, to metal again all in the space of 4 minutes. In very little time at all! The bridge section is particularly amusing and would be very much suitable as background music to a Greek wedding supplemented by some plate smashing and wild dancing. It’s that good...or bad…I’m not sure which one. On the face of it, it would appear that their roots in Armenia inspire some of these songs and all the power to them I say, but just don’t expect me to hold a straight face OK?
Cigaro is the next track: A peculiar little song, with lyrics that would make Howard Stern blush. And I quote “My cock is much bigger than yours, My cock will walk right through the door with a feeling so pure…My shit stinks much better than yours….” Again decode the secret message and win a prize…I’m not getting much myself, to be honest. Cigaro made a live debut at this year’s Big Day Out, to much approval from the crowd apparently, and has a little bit of a status as the flagship for the album.
From there we go on to experience This Cocaine Makes Me Feel Like I’m On this Song. Yes, I know, couldn’t they have come up with a shorter more meaningful less drug related title??? This song is a probably as good as it’s title, in other words not very! It kinda reminds me of Bounce from Toxicity, or “PogoPogoPogoPogoPogoPogo” as I like to affectionately/irritatingly refer to it. This one should have been left for a B-side if you ask me. But no-one is and they’d (System) probably prefer to tell me to Get f@#ked! So yeah, this is one of the lesser tracks on the record.
The next track Violent Pornography has quite an uplifting effect, as again we are treated to some very interesting (for want of a better word) lyrics and disturbingly addictive chorus melodies. It is so addictive, in fact, that I dare anyone to resist singing along in the car on those long rides home. Maybe it’s just me.
Anyway, the beautiful melodies get even more melodic with epic rock/ballad piece (They seem to have one on each album) Question! This is a stand out track for a couple of reasons. The harmonized vocals are amazing in range and diversity, and give an epic feel to a very well written and powerful piece of music.
This brings me to my favourite song: Sad Statue. This one really pumps! It kicks in hard and is addictively relentless from beginning to end. The chorus has another one of those ‘Dare you to resist’ melodies that is just unquestionably addictive. The song has an unidentifiable appeal factor that just traps you in its grasp from woe to go. I have a hunch it may make single status some time soon. Great song…“Best on Disc!”
The record starts to wind down from here on as Old School Hollywood and Lost in Hollywood go on to end the record, and explore their strange fascination with Hollywood and all of it’s inherent impurities. Old School Hollywood takes the cake for the most bizarre track on the album. Essentially it’s an ambitious venture into electronica. A first in that genre for System and while it’s a bold and challenging sound to accept at first – it has the trademark attitude of the System machine that keeps you coming back for more. Lost in Hollywood is the melodic finale to the album. It has a soothing and relaxing vibe that has quite a therapeutic affect after the chaos and carnage of the lead up. It’s almost as if it lays you down gently to rest and recuperate after the shock and turbulent nature of the rest of the album.
Mesmerize is very much a new record for System. They haven’t taken the safe road by trying to emulate Toxicity that’s for sure. In fact, they have done quite the opposite. There is risk and controversy every step of the way (I respect and even get off on that). I respect artists who leave the comfort zone and this album definitely goes places they’ve never dared before. One of the most prominent features of Mesmerize is the vocals. Lead vocalist Serj Tankian is solid as usual, but Guitarist Daron Malakian really steps up to the plate on this record. He leads the vocals on numerous tracks, and plays his usual harmony part to perfection on literally every track of the album. Their voices seem to layer so well that in some songs you will believe it is one vocalist. Ear candy at it’s finest!
I get giddy at the thought of another album coming out in September (Hypnotize). System of a Down will undoubtedly have held back some quality material for the second release and I for one am looking forward to it big time. For this album though, I give a big thumbs up. It’s risky, even wrong at times, but incredibly stimulating and invigorating for the most part. My suggestion to you is… Challenge yourself!
by: Ando
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