Today when a band gets labelled with the term nu-metal it’s almost a credibility death sentence. Back in 2001? Not so much. This was the era when Korn and Limp Bizkit were a mainstream thing, constantly played on MTV, and every young male in their teens was obsessed. Amidst this backdrop System of a Down hit the scene, first with their 1998 self-titled debut, and then with their sophomore album Toxicity which made them global superstars alongside their nu-metal brethren.
Fortunately for SOAD that’s where the comparisons end. The thing about the passage of time is that it provides a level of clarity you don’t have at the time. And whereas a band like Limp Bizkit has become somewhat of a punch line (Fred Durst’s backwards red cap didn’t do him any favors), System of a Down has only gotten better with age. Their unique blend of influences (heavy metal, Middle Eastern folk, and classical music to just name a few) gave them a staying power that their contemporaries just don’t have, especially as it relates to their vocal harmonies that seem to float above all the instrumental carnage. When combined with their unwavering devotion to address a myriad of serious social issues, whether that be the prison industrial complex or humanity’s impact on the environment, Toxicity still feels as relevant today as it did over twenty years ago.
Standout Songs: “Chop Suey!”, “Aerials”, “Toxicity”, “Prison Song”, “X”, “Bounce”, “ATWA”
