Remember I-E-A-I-A-I-O? Yeah, I still dont know what that means, either, but it was one fun song. And that hasnt been System of a Downs only hit. Chop Suey, Toxicity, and Aerials also make SOADs Hall of Fame. After three albums of greatness and a year-and-a-halfs break, theyve produced their most politically opinionated album yet: -Hypnotize.
With its oblique analogies and arbitrary melodies, Hypnotizes predecessor, Mesmerize, set out to guide fans to SOADs truth: everything isnt what it seems in this deceptive world. For example, B.Y.O.B. implied that political figureheads are treating war like a party and bringing their own bombs, while Radio/ Video criticized those who use the media for their own petty needs.
And who knew lyrics like Everybody, everybody, everybody living now/ Everybody, everybody, everybody fucks and My cock is much bigger than yours make important political points? But with Serj Tankian on vocals, Shavo Odadjian on bass, Daron Malakian on guitar, and John Dolmayan on drums, SOAD came together using their implicit lyrics and musical environs to produce some amazing music, and they aim to do the same on their new disc.
Hypnotize features System of a Down taking their cunning adversaries to waras opposed to its predecessor Mezmerize, which only called them out for their wrongdoings. Attack uses ramped, blaring guitars to advance on the enemy, while vocal harmonies and an alternately laid-back and hectic atmosphere helps to establish the trance-like state of Dreaming.
I felt like the biggest asshole SOAD begins in the candidly short Kill Rock N Roll, which makes light of people eating grass claiming that accidents happen in the dark. Fluff provides the groundwork for Hypnotize, as guitars pluck away at pianissimo and progress to an unsteady but comfortable ride. The distorted and warped Tentative suggests that death is near and that not even God can save SOAD from their forthcoming peril. One of Hypnotizes longer tracks, Holy Mountains, uses a monotonous yet haunting chant as its backdrop and condemning lyrics to possibly depict our presidents Christian ideals as hypocritical.
Stealing Society doesnt really bring anything new to the plate, besides randomly mentioning two skies fading and dying (relating to wars pollution, supposedly). How that relates to the title, Ill never know. Its easier to just accept that there is some poetic quality in the song.
Once again, SOAD fail to provide a musical contrast between songs, considering the only interesting facet U Fig has is an entertaining chorus line. SOAD wake up out of their long (lackluster) trance in Vicinity of Obscenity, with its completely haphazard melodies, going from a power-flowery vibe to a barreling mess in seconds. Shes Like Heroin continues this needed melodic amendment, forcing ghastly chords through a catastrophic wreck.
Lonely Day dramatically depresses the once pleasurable mood, yet still illustrates a hopeful assurance by claiming even the worst days as a needed experience. Hypnotize ends where its companion, Mezmerize, beganSoldier Side, a song that speaks of even God wearing black because people [on the soldier side] all grow up to die.
Though Hypnotize does well lyrically portraying many influential ideas, it lacks quality SOAD musical resolution, although Mezmerize ventured through many complex melodic changes. Stagnation and monotony are ubiquitous in at least half of the songs on Hypnotize and that, no matter how symbolic the lyrics, they cannot compensate for the monotonous melody.