Via Spotify
Toxicity bounced, shimmied, and (deer) danced into the world on September 4, 2001. System of a Down delivered an unapologetic reflection of society and culture, packaged in a sound that perfectly conveys their frustration, conviction, and concern for humanity. Toxicity was an immediate hit, selling 220,000 copies in its first week, earning it the No. 1 spot on U.S. Billboard 200. Now, 25 years later, the album boasts over 6.3 billion streams on Spotify alone.
How is a 25 year-old album still raking in such exponential growth, you may ask? The answers lie at the beginning, back in 2001. Toxicity presented a stark new sound to nu metal, blending thrash, Armenian folk, progressive rock, and hip-hop with several sub-genres of metal – even pulling from The Beatles for instrumentals. This combination of so many different sounds could have easily been a mess, but System of a Down masterfully emulsified aspects from each inspiration, creating a sound uniquely their own. Toxicity is rough and abrasive, with rapid drums and spiking guitars that make your heart race. Yet, the next track –sometimes, even just the next second– enchants you with emotional harmonies and tragic lyrics that give pause; that yanks you backward and compels you to take a moment and sit with System, sit with the feelings, as they guide you through them all.
More on that, Toxicity’s social and political commentary was urgent and impactful in 2001, and remains relevant today. Metal at its roots is a genre founded in angsty, intense sociopolitical commentary as a way to navigate a disordered, suffocating reality. System of a Down has followed that foundation from their conception, with Toxicity evolving the concept with their unique sound and perspective. Here, they draw attention to corrupt government systems and their impact on people, namely through addiction, chaos, and dehumanization. The album is incredibly focused, self-aware, and raw, creating a vulnerability that transcends time.
“Chop Suey” is the most streamed track from Toxicity, and their number 1 song on Spotify, currently reigning with over 2 billion streams. The song explores substance abuse, derealization, and judgement after death. It’s the perfect example of System of a Down’s sound, with its intense, rapid instrumentation paired with urgent vocals, and sudden tonal shifts to slower, more reflective phrases. The song feels like a nervous breakdown, and the crashing existential crisis that always follows suit. On top of all that, System’s notoriously glorious harmonies are featured throughout “Chop Suey,” particularly in my favorite section: Trust in my self-righteous suicide, I cry when angels deserve to die. Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian’s voices compliment each other so perfectly, blending together to make that emotion-driven section all the more impactful. “Chop Suey” is the most streamed track for a reason!
Looking to the present, System of a Down celebrated Toxicity’s anniversary through a special exhibition, merch, exclusive reissues and editions, and an epic show announcement for next year. The 25th anniversary exhibition was October 13-18 in Los Angeles. It featured their original instruments, handwritten notebooks, clothing, and other artifacts from the album’s conception and release. Then, of course, there was a wide merch selection, from shirts, to patches, to sunflower seeds (in reference the title track, “Toxicity”).
Via Reddit
On the last day of the exhibition, System of a Down announced their four-show performance at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. They are performing on June 5, 6th, 10th, and 12th. Very cool, right? To make it even more enticing, they are performing with Pierce the Veil for the first two shows, and Gojira for the last two.
There is so much that can be said about Toxicity and System of a Down– the album and the artist that influenced metal and listeners for years to come. But, I leave with one final statement: Happy 25th anniversary to Toxicity, indeed.
