System Of A Down - Hypnotize [Black Vinyl LP]

System of a Down's ferocious creativity reaches its peak on Hypnotize, the second half of their ambitious double album project that showcases the band at their most musically adventurous and politically charged. This explosive collection demonstrates how Serj Tankian's theatrical vocals, Daron Malakian's innovative guitar work, and the thunderous rhythm section of Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan create a sonic assault that defies categorization. The album serves as both a companion piece to Mezmerize and a standalone statement of the band's ability to blend extreme metal with Armenian folk influences, progressive rock complexity, and uncompromising social commentary.

The band's genre-defying approach shines through tracks like the haunting opener "Attack," which builds from whispered vocals to explosive choruses, the politically charged anthem "B.Y.O.B.," and the emotionally devastating closer "Soldier Side." Tankian's vocal gymnastics alternate between operatic grandeur and primal screams, while Malakian's guitar work incorporates everything from crushing riffs to delicate acoustic passages. The album's dynamic shifts keep listeners constantly engaged, moving seamlessly between moments of crushing heaviness and unexpected melodic beauty, all unified by the band's distinctive Armenian-American perspective on war, politics, and human nature.

This black vinyl pressing captures the album's extreme dynamic range and intricate production details with exceptional clarity, allowing every layer of the band's complex arrangements to emerge distinctly. The pressing handles both the crushing low-end of the rhythm section and the soaring highs of Tankian's vocals with equal precision. The original artwork and packaging maintain the band's visually striking aesthetic, complementing the music's intensity with equally powerful imagery.

• Format: Black Vinyl LP
• Standout tracks: "Attack," "B.Y.O.B.," "Soldier Side"
• Pressing details: Standard pressing, original artwork
• Genre/style: Alternative Metal, Nu Metal, Progressive Metal, Armenian Folk Metal
• UPC: 190758656014

This essential piece of System of a Down's catalog captures the band's uncompromising vision in its full, unfiltered intensity.

* The Spotify track list may not exactly represent the tracks and audio of this LP edition.

Track List:

Side A:

1. Attack
2. Dreaming
3. Kill Rock 'N Roll
4. Hypnotize
5. Stealing Society
6. Tentative

Side B:

1. U-Fig
2. Holy Mountains
3. Vicinity Of Obscenity
4. She's Like Heroin
5. Lonely Day
6. Soldier Side