Lincoln Journal Star (Nebraska)
May 27, 2005 Friday
City Edition

System of a Down’s new album doesn’t Mezmerize’

Rock
System of a Down
“Mezmerize ”
4 stars

“Mezmerize,” the latest album from Armenian alt-rockers System of a
Down, is solid but not spectacular.

Last fall, guitarist Daron Malakian told Rolling Stone magazine that
fans should expect a drastically different sound this time around.
The Los Angeles-based foursome gets harmonic on “Mezmerize,” more so
than on the band’s 1998 self-titled debut or 2001’s “Toxicity,” and
Malakian sings a lot more on this one, but the elements that made the
previous albums so successful are still there: screeching vocals,
heavily distorted guitars and abrupt changes in dynamics.

In the radio single “B.Y.O.B.,” or “Bring Your Own Bombs,” lead
singer Serj Tankian throws in a line that sounds like it belongs in a
pop or hip-hop song (“Everybody’s going to the party, have a real
good time”), and the 11 tracks also include references to gonorrhea,
sodomy and Tony Danza, but the bizarre lyrics should come as no
surprise from a band that recorded a song about a pogo stick
(“Bounce” from “Toxicity”) and an ode to pizza toppings (“Chic ‘N’
Stu” from 2002’s B-side collection “Steal This Album!”). The
ridiculousness of some of the lyrics helps to balance the seriousness
of other parts of the album, which, at times, is highly political.

“Mezmerize” opens with the eerie intro “Soldier Side,” which
transitions into six fast-paced songs before slowing down (a little)
with the acoustic ballad “Question!” The music is relentless, which
may come as a disappointment to those looking forward to hearing the
softer side of S.O.A.D., but perhaps the toned-down stuff is yet to
come when the band releases the other half of the two-disc set,
“Hypnotize,” this fall.

As for this album, Tankian sounds amazing, demonstrating his range of
shrieking and wailing but refraining from his usual animal noises. He
even seems to channel David Byrne of Talking Heads near the end of
“This Cocaine Makes Me Feel Like I’m on This Song.” Malakian and
bassist Shavo Doadjian are also in fine form, hammering away at their
instruments at breakneck speed.

But “Mezmerize” lacks variety. The first five songs are all
standouts, but the last half of the album blurs together, and the
crunched-up guitars get old after a while. And, at less than 40
minutes, it’s mighty short for an album four years in the making.

This is a “must-have” for alternative rock buffs, but everyone else
should file this one under “maybe.”

– Sean Hagewood

Lincoln Journal Star