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{{Infobox_band |
band_name = System of a Down |
image = ] |
years_active = ] – present |
country = ], ] |
status = Active |
music_genre = ] / ] / ] |
record_label = ]/] |
current_members = ]<br />]<br />]<br />] |
}}

'''System of a Down''' (sometimes referred to as ''S.O.A.D.'' or ''System'') is a band from ] that formed in ]. The band consists of ] (vocals, keyboards), ] (drums), ] (guitar, vocals) and ] (bass), who are known more for the outspoken social and political views found in their songs than for their distinctive dress styles and ]. All four members are of ] ancestry.

==History, style and influences==
System of a Down uses a wide range of instruments, including baritone ]s, electric ]s, ]s, 12-string ]s, and many other ]n instruments. Their main influences are most noticeably from earlier ] bands. They also draw influence from the ], ], ], ], ] ], ], ], and ] genres.

In 1998, the band released their debut album, '']''. The band enjoyed moderate success, with their first single 'Sugar' becoming a radio favorite. The singles 'Spiders' and 'War?' followed. System of a Down toured extensively. In ], the band contributed their cover of the ] song ] to the Sabbath tribute album Naitvity in Black 2 and they also stepped into the studio to record their next album. The band's big break came when their critically acclaimed sophomore album '']'' debuted at #1 on the ] and Canadian charts, eventually achieving ] certification. The album has since sold 5 million copies worldwide. The album was #1 in America on the week of the ] and the political environment caused by the attacks added to the controversy surrounding their hit single ']' caused it to be taken off radio. Neverless the video gained constant play on ] as did the second single ']'. Even with the controversy surrounding 'Chop Suey!', for which they earned a ] nomination, System of a Down still received constant airplay in the ] throughout late 2001 and ] with their hits, 'Toxicity' and 'Aerials'.
In late 2001, some unreleased tracks recorded during the making of ''Toxicity'' made their way onto the Internet: "Bubbles", then called "Chupa cabra", and "Defied you", a preliminary version of "Nüguns" with different lyrics. The band released a statement that fans were listening to unfinished material and soon after the band went into the studio to re-record these songs. The result was their third album '']'', released in November 2002. The band took a minimalist approach to the album art, with the CD resembling a ] that was marked with a ]. 50,000 special copies of the album with different covers were also released, each designed by a different member of the group. The album is a reference to ]'s counter-culture book titled ]. The singles ']' and ']' were released as radio-only promos and received constant airplay on alternative radio. A video for ']' was filmed with director ] as a protest against the ].

From ] to ], the band produced a double album, '']/]'', with each being released separately. The first part, ''Mezmerize'', was released in May, 2005, to favorable reviews by critics. It debuted at #1 in the ], ], ] and all around the world, making it their second #1 album. First week sales rocketed to over 800,000 copies worldwide. The explosive first single ']' which questions the integrity of war, worked its way up the ] Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts. The next single, ], was released next with bassist Shavo Odadjian co-directing the video. Following the release of ''Mezmerize'', the band toured extensively throughout the ] and ] with ] supporting.

Following the release of the 'Hypnotize' single, the second part of the '']/]'' double album, ''Hypnotize'' was released in November, 2005. Like ''Mezmerize'' it debuted at #1 in the US, making them the first band since the Beatles to ever have two #1 studio albums in the same year. The album has had a strong critical response.

Recently, MTV.com reported that the band came up with the idea for Mezmerize/Hypnotize to be a double album came from ]'s ] films. They also said "Lonely Day" and "Lost in Hollywood" may be eventual singles off of the album as the band plans to release one more single from "Hypnotize" before going back and releasing a single from "Mezmerize" to bring the set together. ']' has been nominated for ] for the 48th Annual ].

A song about the popular video game ] was released by ], mislabelled, and spread over ] networks. The song was mistakenly believed by many to have been recorded by System of a Down.

==Nu metal or not?==
There is some contention over the band's ], regarding whether or not they are ], which can carry negative connotations, or ].

System of a Down have been labeled as ']' by some fans and media since their incarnation. This can be attributed to the release of their first album, which occurred during the ] boom of the mid-to-late 90s. Adding to this, the band toured with ] - a festival that typically features many up-and-coming nu metal bands. Their music features ]s, in the intro as well as solos, a common trait of traditional metal bands.

Those who do not believe the ] label can be ascribed to the band argue that there is no ] or ] used in any of their songs. Such ] influences are typical - if not defining - traits of ].

Furthermore, the band does not consider themselves to be ]. Guitarist ] has said in a ] interview that he is glad that System of a Down had not slipped into the ] genre. During a 2005 concert, he announced, ''"They used to call us nü-metal, now they call us ]. I think they'll call us anything that's popular."''

Also in a 2005 interview with the ], Daron said, ''"Lately, we've been doing interviews, and people have been like, 'You guys are really leading the way for the new prog movement,' and I'm like, 'What?' Because a couple of years ago, these guys were comparing us to Limp Bizkit and Korn, and now that we're still here and those bands aren't, they're talking about prog. It's just kind of aggravating that people always have to have something to compare us to, or bunch us up with. I'm not saying we're the most original band in the world, but I don't really feel that we fall into a heavy-metal category or a pure rock category. There's a lot of stuff mixed up into one."''

In conclusion, the closest definition one could apply to their sound, is that of ].

==Members==
* ] - ], ], ] & ]
* ] - ] & ]
* ] - ] & ]
* ] - ]

===Previous members===
* ] - ]

==Discography==
===]===
*'']'' (June 30, 1998) ], ], #124 US (Certified ])
*'']'' (September 4, 2001) American, Columbia, #1 US (Certified 4x ]), #1 Canada, #13 UK
*'']'' (November 26, 2002) American, Columbia, #15 US (Certified ]), #56 UK
*'']'' (May 17, 2005) American, Columbia, #1 US (Certified ]), #2 UK, #1 Australia, #1 Canada
*'']'' (November 22, 2005) American, Columbia, #1 US (Certified ]), #1 Canada, #11 UK, #3 Australia

==Singles==

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;"
! width="28" rowspan="2"| Year
! width="214" rowspan="2"| Title
! colspan="4"| Chart Positions
! width="214" rowspan="2"| Album
|-

! width="86"| <small>]</small>
! width="86"| <small>]</small>
! width="86"| <small>]</small>
! width="86"| <small>]</small>
|-
| 1998
| "]"
! -
! #31
! #28
! -
| ''System of a Down''
|-
| 1999
| "]"
! -
! #38
! #25
! -
| ''System of a Down''
|-
| 2000
| "War?"
! -
! -
! -
! -
| ''System of a Down''
|-
| 2000
| "Metro"
! -
! -
! -
! -
| ''Dracula 2000 ''
|-
| 2001
| "]"
! #76
! #7
! #12
! #17
| ''Toxicity''
|-
| 2002
| "]"
! #70
! #3
! #10
! #25
| ''Toxicity''
|-
| 2002
| "]"
! #55
! #1
! #1
! #34
| ''Toxicity''
|-
| 2003
| "]"
! -
! #12
! #14
! -
| ''Steal This Album!''
|-
| 2003
| "]"
! -
! -#17
! -
! -
| ''Steal This Album!''
|-
| 2003
| "]"
! -
! -
! -
! -
| ''Steal This Album!''
|-
| 2005
| "]"
! #27
! #4
! #4
! -
| ''Mezmerize''
|-
| 2005
| "]"
! -
! #9
! #7
! #41
| ''Mezmerize''
|-
| 2005
| "]"
! #57
! #2
! #6
! #48
| ''Hypnotize''
|}

===Singles Found In Video Game Soundtracks===
*Shimmy (Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4)
*Science (ATV Offroad Fury 2)

==]==
* "Sugar" from '']'' (1998) Directed by Nathan Cox
* "Spiders" from '']'' (1999) Directed by Charlie Deaux
* "War?" from '']'' (2000)
* "Chop Suey!" from '']'' (2001) Directed by ]
* "Aerials" from '']'' (2002) Directed by ]
* "Toxicity" from '']'' (2002) Directed by ] and Marcos Siega
* "Boom!" from '']'' (2003) Directed by ]
* "B.Y.O.B." from '']'' (2005) Directed by ]
* "Question!" from '']'' (2005) Directed by ] and ]
* "Hypnotize" from '']'' (2005) Directed by ] and ]

==External links==

===Official websites===
*
*

===Fan websites===
*
*

===Other related links===
*
*{{dmoz|Arts/Music/Bands_and_Artists/S/Sy/System_of_a_Down/|System of a Down}}
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Revision as of 19:45, 10 January 2006