Hypnotize

by System of a Down

Overview

It wasn't a lie when System of a Down said the packaging for Mezmerize and Hypnotize would slot together. Released in November 2005, roughly six months after its counterpart, Hypnotize does indeed feature a tri-fold design. But the extra cardboard slotting's a little extraneous, as are some of the sonic parts on both albums. Truth is the motor for System's spazzy, modernist thrash. It drives the boiling rage in Hypnotize's "Attack," "Stealing Society," and "U-Fig"; on "Holy Mountain," it inspires SOAD to transform the sad facts of genocide into the album's most vicious, powerful, and arresting moment. Of course, truth also drives SOAD to make passionate, if slightly screwy, decisions: Serj Tankian's ADD sputter of "eat 'em eat 'em eat 'em eat 'em" and "banana banana banana terracotta" on Hypnotize; Mezmerize's detour into celebrity baseball game outtakes on "Old School Hollywood." These moments are head-scratchers, no doubt, but they're integral to the experience -- System of a Down confound and irritate even as they rock. And it's precisely because of that weird aggression/aggravation dynamic that Mezmerize/Hypnotize is as strong a concept/double album as metal can offer in 2005. ~ Johnny Loftus

Product Details

Release Date:	11/21/2005
Label:	Columbia
UPC:	0828767261126

Album Credits

Performance Credits

System of a Down   Primary Artist
John Dolmayan   Drums
Daron Malakian   Guitar,Vocals
Serj Tankian   Keyboards,Vocals
Shavo Odadjian   Bass

Technical Credits

Rick Rubin   Audio Production,Producer
Shavo Odadjian   Composer
Andy Wallace   Mixing
Jason Lader   Editing
Daron Malakian   Composer,Producer
David Schiffman   Engineer
Vartan Malakian   Artwork
Serj Tankian   Composer,String Arrangements
Steve Sisco   Mixing Assistant
Phillip Broussaard   Assistant Engineer
Vlado Meller   Mastering
Joe Peluso   Mixing Assistant
John O'Mahony   Pro-Tools
Mark Mann   String Arrangements
Lindsay Chase   Production Coordination
Brandy Flower   Design
Dana Nielsen   Editing
Braden Asher   Production Coordination
System of a Down   Design