Hypnotize (album)

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• alternative metal
• art rock<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>39:40* American
• Columbia* Rick Rubin
• Daron Malakianx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}}

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. Both Mezmerize and Hypnotize debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. As of November 2025, Hypnotize remains their most recent studio album.

Reception

Hypnotize received generally positive reviews. It opened at number one on the Billboard 200, with 320,000 copies sold in its first week. The album also debuted at number one on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 47,000 copies in its first week. The album was certified gold and platinum by the RIAA on December 13, 2005.<ref name="RIAA"/> Since its release, Hypnotize has sold 8 million copies worldwide.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Entertainment Weekly (No. 851, p. 100) - "[T]hey're flaunting a heretofore underexplored sensitive side, offsetting their trademark stampeding riffology with flashes of delicate lyricism." - Grade: B+

• Rolling Stone (No. 988, p. 117) - 3.5 out of 5 stars - "Hell immediately runneth over in Malakian's scoured-staccato guitars and Dolmayan's furious hammering."

• Spin (p. 62) - Ranked #20 in SpinTemplate:'s "40 Best Albums of 2005".

• Uncut (p. 109) - 3 stars out of 5 - "System succeed through their skill at wielding complex, progressive heaviness in a pop context."

Track listing

All lyrics written by Daron Malakian and Serj Tankian, except where noted. All music written by Malakian, except where noted.

DualDisc edition – DVD side

• Entire album in enhanced stereo
• The Recording of Mezmerize / Hypnotize
• "B.Y.O.B." and "Question!" videos

Personnel

System of a Down

• Serj Tankian – vocals, keyboards
• Daron Malakian – vocals, guitars, bass (uncredited),<ref name="guitarworld.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Shavo Odadjian – bass
• John Dolmayan – drums

Vocals

• "Attack": Serj Tankian (main), Daron Malakian (second voice)
• "Dreaming": Tankian (main - verses) Malakian (main - bridge)
• "Kill Rock 'n Roll": Tankian and Malakian (both main)
• "Hypnotize": Tankian and Malakian (both main)
• "Stealing Society": Tankian (main - verses) Malakian (main - bridge)
• "Tentative": Tankian (main), Malakian (second voice)
• "U-Fig": Tankian (main - verses & chorus) Malakian (main - chorus)
• "Holy Mountains": Tankian (main), Malakian (second voice)
• "Vicinity of Obscenity": Tankian
• "She's Like Heroin": Malakian (main), Tankian (second voice)
• "Lonely Day": Malakian (main), Tankian (second voice)
• "Soldier Side": Tankian and Malakian (both main)

Production

• Produced by Rick Rubin and Daron Malakian
• Mixed by Andy Wallace
• Engineered by David Schiffman
• Editing by Jason Lader and Dana Nielsen
• Assistant engineer: Phillip Broussard
• Design: System of a Down and Brandy Flower
• String arrangement: Serj Tankian and Marc Mann
• Mix Pro Tools engineer: John O'Mahony
• Mix assistant engineers: Steve Sisco (Soundtrack) and Joe Peluso (Enterprise)
• Album production coordination: Lindsay Chase and Braden Asher
• Recording location: The Mansion in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles and Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research, Los Angeles
• Mixed at Soundtrack Studios, New York City and Enterprise Studios, Los Angeles
• Mastered by Vlado Meller at Sony Music Studios, New York City

Charts

Weekly charts

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Weekly chart performance for Hypnotize

Chart (2005)	Peak position
Italian Albums (Musica e dischi)<ref>Template:Cite magazine Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Titolo" field, search "Hypnotize".</ref>	11

Year-end charts

2005 year-end chart performance for Hypnotize

Chart (2005)	Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	89
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	58
French Albums (SNEP)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	124
Italian Albums (FIMI)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	100
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	38
UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	172
Worldwide Albums (IFPI)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	42

2006 year-end chart performance for Hypnotize

Chart (2006)	Position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	64
French Albums (SNEP)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	156
US Billboard 200<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	41