System of a Down (album)

Template:Use mdy dates Template:About {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: Template:Start date | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Toxicity2001studioSystem of a Downsystem_of_a_down.jpgSystem of a DownTemplate:Start dateTemplate:Hlist* Nu metal<ref name=nu-metal>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Louder Sound">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• alternative metal<ref name=AllMusic/>40:36* American
• Columbia* Rick Rubin
• System of a Downx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}}

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.<ref name=loudwire>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="RIAA"/>

Composition and lyrics

The album is generally considered nu metal<ref name=nu-metal/><ref name="Louder Sound"/> and alternative metal.<ref name=AllMusic/> The song "Suite-Pee" is a criticism of pedophilia within the Catholic Church and religious extremism.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Sugar" is about the world's population's over use and reliance on drugs and other substances, as well as the predatory state of media like the news,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> while "P.L.U.C.K" is about the Armenian genocide.

Artwork

John Heartfield's poster

John Heartfield's poster inspired the album cover for the album.

The cover artwork is from a 1928 anti-fascist poster designed by visual artist John Heartfield for the Communist Party of Germany.<ref name = loudwire/> The text on the original poster translates as: "A hand has 5 fingers! With these 5 grab the enemy!"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This slogan inspired part of the text contained on the back of the album: "The hand has five fingers, capable and powerful, with the ability to destroy as well as create". Later, it is written in bold letters: "Open your eyes, open your mouths, close your hands and make a fist" (used later by Serj Tankian in the song "Uneducated Democracy"). The artwork also bears a close resemblance to the cover of George Harrison's album Living in the Material World.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Reception

System of a Down received acclaim from music critics.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Q called it "an excellent starting point for this most curious band".<ref name=Q/>

The album is featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Loudwire included the album in its list of The Best Metal Debut Albums, at number 22.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Track listing

Original release

All lyrics written by Serj Tankian, except where noted. All music written by Daron Malakian, except where noted. Template:Track listing

Limited edition bonus CD

Notes

• An early version of "X" from Toxicity was originally recorded for this album.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The songs "Honey" and "Temper" from Demo Tape 2 were also recorded for this album but ultimately did not make the cut. The re-recorded versions of these songs have yet to surface anywhere.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personnel

System of a Down

• Serj Tankian – lead vocals, keyboards, samples
• Daron Malakian – guitars, backing vocals
• Shavo Odadjian – bass
• John Dolmayan – drums

Production

• Produced by Rick Rubin with System of a Down
• Mixed by D. Sardy
• Engineered by Sylvia Massy
• Engineer/assistant engineer: Greg Fidelman
• Additional recording/finishing touches: D. Sardy
• Assistant engineers: Sam Storey, Nick Raskulinecz
• Assistant mixdown engineers: James Saez, Greg Gordon, Andy Haller
• Second assistant mixdown engineer: Bryan Davis
• Extra piano by Rick Rubin
• Photography: Anthony Artiaga
• Cover art: John Heartfield
• Art direction: Frank Harkins & System of a Down
• Recorded at Sound City, Van Nuys, California
• Vocals and additional recordings at Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research, Hollywood, California
• Mixed at Record Plant Studios, Hollywood, California & Hollywood Sound, California
• Mastered by Vlado Meller at Sony Studios, New York City

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1998)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	48
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	68
UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	103
US Billboard 200<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	124
US Top Heatseekers (Billboard)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1

Template:Album chart

Chart (2002–2025)	Peak position
Scottish Albums (OCC)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	75
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	16
US Billboard 200<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	113
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	17
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	9
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	7
US Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	19

Year-end charts

Chart (2002)	Position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	180
Canadian Alternative Albums (Billboard)<ref name = "CANALTYE02">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	58
Canadian Metal Albums (Billboard)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	28

External links

• Template:YouTube
• Template:YouTube
• Template:YouTube