Average Rating: 
Rating:  - A work of Art
These guys know what they're doing. This is not an amateur attempt at music, believe me. The pure talent and energy can literally be felt when you listen to the album all the way through. If you liked what you heard on the radio and are thinking about buying this CD, think twice. Although it is a masterpiece of modern music, SOAD's typical sound is nothing like Aerials or Chop Suey. Try downloading Needles or Shimmy or Psycho before jumping into any impulsive buys that might end up with you being freaked out by the sometimes disturbing, psychotic screams that make "Toxicity" so unique within it's genre. The songs I most strongly recommend are:
--Needles (wait for when the song slows down for a sec and it goes "I'm...sitting in my room, with a needle in my hand, waiting for the tomb of some old dying man.....just waiting for the tomb of some old dying MAN!..." One my favorite moments on the whole album. Oh, I also love the line "And you slither up to me in your pimpin majesty." I have no idea why, though.)
--Deer Dance (My absolute favorite moment however comes during this song. "a deer dance, invitation to peace. War staring you in the face. (dressed in black).....a little boy smiles, it'll all be well, a little boy smiles it'll all be well!" Beautifully done.)
--Bounce (These guys got some humor too. Sure, the repetiveness of this song gets old after awhile, but it's a great way to wake up in the morning.)
--ATWA (Starts out slow, but doesn't stay that way for long. Best part: "You don't care 'bout how I feel, I don't feel it...ANYMORE! I don't see..ANYMORE! I don't hear...ANYMORE! I don't speak...ANYMORE! I don't feel...")
--Shimmy (I love the very end of this song: "Don't be late for school again BOY don't be late for a again GIRL don't be late for school BOY DON"T BE LATE FOR SCHOOL AGAIN GIRL!")
--Toxicity (Ok, so SOAD takes the award for band most knowledgeable about how to end a song. And this song does it the very best of all. I mean, the whole song is excellent, one of the best if not THE best on the CD, but the end is phenomenal...wow...) It's my personal opinion that what makes a great album are memorable moments within each song that stay with you long after you take it out of the CD player. Toxicity delivers just that. Hope that was helpful!
Rating: - The best album of 2001
One day early last summer I was driving home from work and I heard this incredible song. It was fast and furious one minute, then slow and ballad-like the next but was entirely compelling the whole time. I rarely love songs the first time hearing them, but Chop Suey! was one of the few exceptions to this rule.Toxicity has a lot more to offer than its first single, Chop Suey! and its radio-favored title track, although both are great songs. The album ranges from the overtly political (despite what the band says) in "Prison Song" to the purely entertaining "Bounce." Some tracks, such as "Aerials" and "Forest" are strangely melodic. Others, like "Prison Song" and "X" are heavier on the shouting than the singing, but still without being obnoxious. Most are a combination of the two ends of the spectrum, as seen in "Chop Suey!" "Psycho," and "Deer Dance." My personal favorites are "Aerials" for not just the radio-friendly melody but for the obvious intensity with which lead singer Serj Tankian sings the lyrics. "Psycho" is another favorite of mine, if for no other reason than the interesting subject matter-coke addicted groupies. Finally, the short and sweet fast-paced "Shimmy" makes the list for pure entertainment value, while still managing to be at least borderline political. Hard rock is finally out and available to the masses, and no rock lover's CD collection would be complete without this album.
Rating: - Surprisingly Awesome...
This has to be one of the best albums I've ever heard. Now, I'll have to come out honest, when I first heard System of a Down, I didn't like their song, "Chop Suey!", because I'm not usually into that kind of faced-paced, fast talking type of music...It usually gives me a headache. Though I do like rock, not normally that fast. But once "Toxicity" (the song,) came out, I really liked it...it grew on me, but I ended up liking it. I heard it enough on the radio until one day I decided, "O.K., just buy the CD," so I went ahead and did it...knowing that when I do this, most CDs I haven't heard yet sound really bad..heh...only one or two songs are usually good. But, this one is good all the way through. It's awesome. They mix heavy riffs with sort of a middle-eastern sound...and it's really unique. They're just a really awesome, unique band. My favorite songs would have to be "ATWA," "Aerials," "Science," and of course, "Toxicity." 'Science' though, is awesome. Oh, enough of my blabbing...just by the album! :D
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