System of a Down (album)

System of a Down is the debut studio album by 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 on February 2, 2000.

System of a Down
Studio album by
System of a Down
ReleasedJune 30, 1998
RecordedNovember 1997 – February 1998
Studio
Genre
Length40:36
Label
Producer
System of a Down chronology
System of a Down
(1998)		 Toxicity
(2001)
Singles from System of a Down
  1. "Sugar"
    Released: May 24, 1998
  2. "Spiders"
    Released: February 10, 1999

After the success of System of a Down's following album, Toxicity (2001), the album was certified platinum.[3]

Artwork

The cover artwork is from a 1928 anti-fascist poster designed by visual artist John Heartfield for the Communist Party of Germany.[3] The text on the original poster is: "A hand has 5 fingers! With these 5 grab the enemy!"[4] This slogan inspired part of the text contained on the back of the System of a Down 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").

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Drowned in Sound10/10[5]
Pitchfork7.5/10[6]
Q[7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[8]
Sputnikmusic5/5[9]

System of a Down received acclaim from music critics.[10] Q called it "an excellent starting point for this most curious band".[7]

The album is featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[11] Loudwire included the album in its list of The Best Metal Debut Albums, at number 22.[12]

Track listing

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

No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Suite-Pee"  2:31
2."Know" Shavo Odadjian, Malakian, Tankian2:56
3."Sugar" Odadjian, Malakian2:33
4."Suggestions"  2:44
5."Spiders"  3:35
6."DDevil" Odadjian, Malakian1:43
7."Soil"  3:25
8."War?"  2:40
9."Mind" Odadjian, Malakian, Tankian6:16
10."Peephole"  4:06
11."CUBErt"Tankian, Malakian 1:50
12."Darts"  2:42
13."P.L.U.C.K." (Politically Lying, Unholy, Cowardly Killers)  3:33
Total length:40:36
Japanese Edition
No.TitleLength
14."Marmalade"3:02
15."Störagéd"1:19
Total length:44:57
Limited Edition bonus CD
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Sugar" (Live)Odadjian, Malakian2:27
2."War?" (Live) 2:48
3."Suite-Pee" (Live) 2:58
4."Know" (Live)Odadjian, Malakian, Tankian3:04
Total length:13:17

The songs "Honey" and "Temper" from Demo Tape 2 were recorded for this album as well but ultimately did not make the cut. The re-recorded versions of these songs have yet to surface anywhere.[13][14]

Personnel

System of a Down

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
  • A&R Direction: Dino Paredes, Sam Wick
  • Management: Velvet Hammer Management, David Benveniste
  • Recorded at Sound City, Van Nuys, CA
  • Vocals and Additional Recordings at Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research, Hollywood, CA
  • Mixed at Record Plant Studios, Hollywood, CA & Hollywood Sound, CA
  • Mastered by Vlado Meller at Sony Studios, New York, NY

Charts and certifications

References
  1. Burgess, Aaron (September 9, 2014). "10 Nu-Metal Albums You Need to Own". Revolvermag. NewBay Media. Retrieved July 21, 2015. Technically spotless, wildly eclectic, and out-outspokenly, er, Armenian, System of a Down’s 1998 self-titled debut turned more nu-metal on its ear; and with this darker and more streamlined follow-up, the band proved that it was more than just a novelty–though spastic lead single “Chop Suey” is still one of the most awesomely bizarre songs to ever get repeated play on the radio. (dead link)
  2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "System of a Down – System of a Down". AllMusic. Retrieved November 21, 2010.
  3. "17 Years Ago: System of a Down Release Self-Titled Debut Album". Loudwire.com. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  4. "John Heartfield Poster - Five Fingers Has The Hand". Johnheartfield.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-15. Retrieved 2016-05-09.
  5. Nettleton, Chris (April 21, 2003). "Album Review: System Of A Down – System of A Down". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  6. Ruggeri, Kevin. "System of a Down: System of a Down". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on October 3, 2000. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  7. "System of a Down: System of a Down". Q. No. 182. October 2001. p. 152.
  8. Harris, Keith (2004). "System of a Down". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 800. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  9. Hanson, John (August 19, 2006). "System of a Down – System of a Down". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  10. "System of a Down: Armenian Metal Proprietors". Musiclegendtrend.com. 2013-03-12. Retrieved 2016-05-10.
  11. Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (23 March 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
  12. Hartmann, Graham. "No. 22: System of a Down, 'System of a Down' – Best Debut Metal Albums". Loudwire. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  13. "r/systemofadown - Honey and Temper Re-Recorded versions on Limewire?". Reddit. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  14. https://www.ascap.com/repertory#ace/works/publisher/423440/DDEVIL%20MUSIC
  15. "Brazilian album certifications – System of a Down – System of a Down" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil.
  16. "Canadian album certifications – System of a Down – System of a Down". Music Canada.
  17. "Italian album certifications – System of a Down – System of a Down" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved July 22, 2019. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "System of a Down" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
  18. "British album certifications – System of a Down – System of a Down". British Phonographic Industry.
  19. "American album certifications – System of a Down – System of a Down". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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