So I stumbled upon this guy reacting to the Toxicity album in full, and it made me realize that Toxicity is so fucking amazing at its highs that its lows (Jet Pilot and X, IMO), don't do anything to bring the album down. And TBH I hadn't listened to X in a long time and forgot the second half of the song being as cool as it is. It also a perfect example of how Serj's voice in that era really was like another instrument. Man just had such a unique sound to his voice.
Recently been compliling a big nostalgia playlist ahead of my 30th birthday, and I was revisiting some tracks from toxicity. Science is an underrated gem I feel, that weird bridge is the kind of thing that made this band stand out for me.
Same! Science is super underrated and that bridge really was a classic example of their unique ME influences in their music. The way that song just went from a hard rock song right into a middle eastern sounding medley def helped hook me in when I was 13/14.
So ever since I watched a few of those reaction videos, I keep getting recs for more people reacting to SOAD for the first time (usually self proclaimed rap fans).....and it cracks me up how similar every single person's reaction to BYOB is. Initial confusion and "omg what am I listening to", followed by head bobbing and grooving and smiling at how smooth and groovy that chorus is lol
Uh... holy shit!! Hear System of a Down's First New Music in 15 Years, 'Protect the Land' and 'Genocidal Humanoidz'
HOly shit just saw on their social media. I was actually just thinking the other day how they were dealing with the war in Armenia. I guess we know!
Protect the Land sounds pretty much like I would have expected a followup to the double albums would have honestly.
Possibly an unpopular opinion but they continued the trend of more Daron vocals and Serj's vocals falling more in the background (for the most part) and that sitll annoys me. He does have more prominent parts on the 2nd song but still Daron heavy/centric. I think the way they split the vocals on Toxicity was much better than the albums after.
Yeah I don't disagree about the vocal part. Overall though I'm really happy they're back and I enjoy both songs quite a bit.
holy fucking shit. saw they had new music on fb went straight to apple music. never would i have thought id see the day where they put out new music. i hope a full album is coming now at some point and its not just a 2 song single
I mean it makes sense on protect the land cuz it was initially meant for scars on Broadway but I do agree with your overarching point about the vocals
Not big on "Protect the Land," pretty radio rock-y for my tastes, but "Genocidal Humanoids" goes Surprised they're back together, isn't their drummer a big Trump guy?
Should've said got back together to do this, but I just read the RS article and it makes sense. Did not know this.
read the article. i get why they did it but it sucks they have no plans for new music. maybe after whats going on stops they will change their mind. if they can put aside their internal bullshit for this maybe they can do it again and make another album at some point Protect the Land is very radio/rock friendly but Genocidal Humanoids fucking slaps hard
I just don't understand what happened there. Serj wanted more say in the song writing, okay, they fought, okay....Are they both so hard headed about the song writing that they can't just let it happen? Hell, do it like other bands with multiple song writers do and record a bunch written by both members and then pick the best album together as a band! I don't get it.
I think both of them are very controlling and were drifting apart creatively once Daron wanted a bigger voice in the band. i really hope the songs do what they hope and raise money and awareness. I just wish they were better songs because I don’t see a ton of people coming back to these after the initial shock that there’s two new System songs wears off.
I just don't think they're that interested in it anymore. Some of their live shows in recent years have been really half-assed, like they didn't really want to be there. I can't see a new album happening.
The last double album was almost exclusively written by Daron, I'm pretty sure he co-produced it, his dad did the artwork, he started a side project where he plays all the instruments and released an album called Dictator. Is it honestly a shock that Serj might find him a scooch controlling?
Genocidal Humanoidz is definitely the better song. Neither are mind blowing but they are quite enjoyable anyway.