Friday, September 23, 2005

Album Review: System of a Down Mezmerize, 2005, American/Columbia

To sum up the album, it could be best described as short and sweet. But this one assumes is the point with the promised release of the ‘second half,’ Hypnotize to be released November 22nd. The albums are supposed to interlock somehow.

The new release of the ten year veterans of art shock rock is quite interesting. It different from earlier albums in that it is less heavy and more melodious, but it still contains the bands aggression against the hypocrisy of America with songs like Sad Statue and B.Y.O.B. which to put plainly is an anti-Iraq war song, while Old School Hollywood and Lost In Hollywood speak of the corruption and decadence of yeah, you guessed it, Hollywood.

I believe the point of the album was basically telling America to take a mirror and look at itself. It has some nice signature System of A Down crunching guitar licks and some more singing from Malakian, the guitarist, as well as the usual growl of Serj Tankian. Looking forward to Hypnotize to complete my System of A Down listening experience. I give Memorize 3.5 stars.