entertain

Looking for a new band that plays some good music? Well, first, ask yourself if you’d like to actually understand the lyrics to the songs — lyrics that challenge you intellectually, without relying on shameful sexploiation or ignorance. Next, ask yourself if you’re ready to simultaneously come to a perspective-altering epiphany while headbanging and jumping on your bed. If you fit the criteria, then you’re ready to rock along with one of my favorite bands.

Opening the eyes of the masses with their shocking lyrics and haunting melodies, System of a Down (SOAD) is arguably one of the few mainstream bands intent on actually using their influence to make a difference in the world. With all four members being descendants of survivors from the Armenian genocide, SOAD has a personal tie with human rights activism, one of the main focuses of most of their songs.

The groups consists of lead vocalist, Serj Tankian (who I call Mr. Super-Beard), guitarist, Daron Malakian (who I don’t believe is capable of closing his eyes), bassist, Shavo Odadjian (who exudes only moderate weirdness), and drummer, John Dolmayan (who’s the background weirdo). Tankian, the undisputed leader of the band, has also founded and heads a non-profit organization, Axis of Justice, centered around combining peoples love for music with spreading awareness about global issues and fighting for social justice. Some of the topics that the organization supports include: the corruption of the American government, rampant global poverty, the need for religious freedom, the injustice of censorship, and drugs deleterious effect on society.

These causes are mirrored in the nearly all of the bands music, which adopts a unique style blending various types of rock and metal, including: alternative, punk, folk, psychedelic, classic, symphonic, thrash, funk, and progressive. Music reviewers, finding it nearly impossible to categorize SOAD’s genre, have come to consider the band alternative metal.

Despite the attention given to labeling the band, System of a Down makes no claim to uniqueness, nor do they deny any similarities to other bands. In fact, the band has cited Middle Eastern music, the Beatles, and Kiss as heavy influences to their musical style. Additionally, on top of the many unusual musical instruments that they utilize (including electric mandolins, baritone electric guitars, acoustic guitars, ouds (I know, WTF), sitars, twelve string guitars, keyboards, and synthesizers), SOAD boasts a very singular, distinctive type of vocal style, attributed to Serj Tankian.

Some of SOAD’s more popular songs include: Chop Suey, Toxicity, Aerials, B.Y.O.B., Hypnotize, Lonely Day, and Prison Song.

Currently, the band is on hiatus, and leader Serj Tankian has temporarily branched out with his solo debut album, Elect the Dead, which has two hit singles of its own, Sky is Over and Empty Walls.

So, I advise you to listen to a couple of their songs, and when you’re done, hopefully you’ll be right there with me crossing my fingers and hoping that album #6 is only right around the corner. Hey, and if SOAD just isn’t your thing, theres always 50 Cent (aptly named as thats about what his music is worth). But then again, you’d have to be crazy not to like SOAD…or maybe that was you’d have to be crazy to listen to them. Oh well.