System Of A Down - Hypnotize
Released: 11/22/05
Back in May, Armenian boys System Of A Down released Mezmerize, System Of A Down's first studio album in almost four years. It was a commercial AND critical success, eventually going platinum with some help from the huge rock hit "B.Y.O.B.". Back in May, I had pretty much declared that System Of A Down had the #1 album of the year locked up. Well, it turns out that I was half-right. While Mezmerize still holds up as a good album, after listening to both of their 2005 albums over and over again, I can't possibly say that Mezmerize is better in any shape or form than their follow-up, Hypnotize.
Mezmerize and Hypnotize are two different beasts. Mezmerize was an experimental opus, with all kinds of variety and choices. If you wanted something slower, "Question!" and "Lost In Hollywood" were there to give you a hand. If you wanted crazy ****, then look no further than "Cigaro" and "Violent ****ography". On the other hand, Hypnotize moves in more of a consistent flow, keeping the same vibe going throughout the album, dark, moody, depressing, all the way to the very end, and while Mezmerize had a few standout tracks, Hypnotize has a series of them, quite a few showing off just how far System Of A Down has come in terms of finding their identity and their maturity.
The album starts off with a song that, at first glance, could have made Mezmerize easily. But, like with most of the songs on Hypnotize, "Attack" actually could fit moreso on their self-titled debut. Hard-hitting, bruising and actually quite melodic, it's a perfect choice for an opener. The next song, "Dreaming", shows off Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian's versatility as singers. Despite how Daron has been received by critics and fans alike, his vocal harmony with Serj Tankian is SUPERB, especially in "Dreaming". That leads up to a highlight on the album, "Kill Rock 'N Roll". KRNR overcomes some severe lyrical mishaps with vocals and instrumentals that make System Of A Down look even more unique than they already do.
The title track, the lead single that actually hit #1 on Alternative radio, comes next and was a great single choice, showing off what makes Hypnotize so great with its depressing lyrics and soft, hollow instrumental. Serj has rarely been better as a singer as well. Next up are two songs that I am not a huge fans of and don't really stand out but, for what they are, "Stealing Society" and "Tentative" work and keep up with the flow of the album. "Tentative", in particular, has grown on me, the lyrics and beat are nothing short of amazing. And after such a melodic tour de force, out of nowhere, the hardest song on the album, "U-Fig", blasts onto the scene. Some people don't like this song at all. I adore it. The vocal harmony between Serj and Daron REALLY starts to get good from here and, from this song alone, you can tell just how different Mezmerize and Hypnotize really are. Mez has PLENTY of songs like U-Fig but seem less polished and plodding. "U-Fig" is polished and only gives you a few seconds to breathe before going back into hysteria. It would usually be REALLY hard to follow up a track like "U-Fig", but it just so happens the next song is also very, very good...
The standout track on Hypnotize comes next. At first, it may not seem that way, with other songs hogging up the spotlight the first time through. However, with each listen to the album, you begin to realize that, even with so many good tracks, one stands out clearly over the rest, and that is "Holy Mountains". "Holy Mountains" contains some of Serj's best vocals and also contains the absolute musical apex of the album with crazy riffs and drumming from Shavo and John as well as some astounding lyrics as well. The change from slow, haunting opening to crazy instrumental back to haunting music BACK to crazy instrumental is pure brilliance, but if you thought the FIRST HALF of the song was good, wait until you hear the second half. It kicks into a whole other gear as Serj Tankian really shows off just how good of a singer he is. And the ending...ahh, pure bliss. Musicially, it really doesn't get much better than this.
After such a brilliant song, you have to get ready for just a BIT of a letdown. However, the most out there song System Of A Down has ever done comes next and you literally get no chance to breathe. While it's not my favorite song from the album, "Vicinity Of Obsenity" is crazy enough to work and not look silly in doing so. The lyrics are also not too shabby either. I'd argue it's definitely one of the FUNNIEST songs System has done for sure. The next song is such a departure from the former that it shocked me the first time I heard it. "She's Like Heroin" has been getting TONS of **** from all kinds of people, but at the very least, it stands out, good or bad. Daron's vocals could definitely be better, but the actual song is not too bad, which is better than I can say for the next song, "Lonely Day". If I were four years younger, I might like this song and the lyrics wouldn't bother me at all, but I just can't get by lyrics like "Such a lonely day should be banned, it's a day that I cannot stand" or "The most loneliest day of my life". I can't get by it, even if I tried. However, I do like the instrumental and it's almost guaranteed to be a big hit, despite my complaints. The last song pretty much makes up for the last couple of songs, however, as the actual "Soldier Side" song, not the intro, appears. "Soldier Side" is what "Lonely Day" *should* have been. Beautiful lyrically, beautiful musicially and just all around wonderfully done. In ten years, after System Of A Down's time at the top has come and passed, people will still remember "Soldier Side" and remember it fondly. I guarantee you that.
1) Attack(9/10)
2) Dreaming(8.5/10)
3) Kill Rock N' Roll(9/10)
4) Hypnotize(9.5/10)
5) Stealing Society(7.5/10)
6) Tentative(8.5/10)
7) U-Fig(9.5/10)
8) Holy Mountains(Is it possible to give a 10+?)
9) Vicinity Of Obsenity(9/10)
10) She's Like Heroin(7/10)
11) Lonely Day(6.5/10)
12) Soldier Side(10/10)
I honestly believe that, in the future, people will look back and judge Mezmerize and Hypnotize as seperate entities..and when they do, they will find out once and for all that Hypnotize is the better album. Not only does it feel more polished, it's far more mature than Mezmerize was. Basically, if I could only choose to listen to one or the other for the rest of my life, 10 times out of 10, i'd choose Hypnotize. System's best album since Toxicity...and it almost overtakes it too.
Final Rating: 9.5/10(I can't go the full monty because of "Lonely Day" and a few lower rated tracks, but this is THE best album of 2005, without question.)
