Despite splintering into countless sub-genres, heavy metal has witnessed few bands such as System Of A Down. You could tie yourself in knots trying to work out what sets this band apart. Maybe it's their Armenian roots or the fact that they’re the most politically motivated rock band since Rage Against The Machine.
Ultimately, it's perhaps best to go with the flow and enjoy Mezmerize for the dizzying experience that it is. As always with a SoaD record, the first impression is of a confusing mess: a scattershot of bizarre vocals, staccato guitar riffs and, shall we say intriguing, lyrics.
Beneath the madness, however, lurks a distinct and distinctive method. Bursts of melody emerge from the chaos, often in surprising form (there are tinges of r&b, nods towards Eastern European folk).
Clearly, the normal rules no longer apply. The same could be said of the band's lyrics. Unfettered by a need to play by the grammatical book, SoaD specialise in odd phrases (‘Cigaro’ opens with the memorable “my cock is much bigger than yours”).
It becomes quickly apparent that SoaD are fiercely driven by a sense of right and wrong. Drugs, pornography, the Iraq war and the general bullshit of life are considered legitimate targets and feel the righteous lash of Daron Malakian and Serj Tankian’s tongues.
The results are consistently brilliant. In fact perhaps we should revise our original conclusion. There aren’t any bands quite like System Of A Down and we should be thankful for their existence.