System Of A Down - Hypnotize (LP)
- LP
- 1 piece(s)
- 2005
- 12 tracks
- 39 min
- nu metal
HypnotizeCheapest atimusic.uk
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3.9
Average of 25 reviews
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Extremely squished, causing a lot of rough sound. Difficult to enjoy due to this.
System of a Down have undoubtedly basked in their fair share of glory and recognition. Their self-titled debut album introduced them as a band brimming with fresh, lively music, not even hinting at the paths they would later explore. Serj Tankian's powerful vocals, Daron Malakian's thunderous guitar, John Dolmayan's impeccable drumming, and Shavo Odadjian's atmospheric bass combined to create a sound distinctly recognizable as System of a Down. Their follow-up, Toxicity, was a massive success, debuting at #1, with the singles quickly becoming classic tracks. Their next album, Steal this Album!, had a similar impact, with each song packed with an energy and heaviness unmatched by any other mainstream band at the time. Then came Mezmerize. Suddenly, they weren't the same band. It felt as if Daron Malakian had a revelation and decided to increase his personal input by 200%, slightly overshadowing the other members. His vocals took center stage more than Serj's, his guitars drowned out Shavo's previously distinct bass, leaving only John Dolmayan to shine in his past glory. It's no surprise that those two formed the side project "Scars on Broadway." And then, of course, came Hypnotize. Unfortunately, the same disappointments felt in Mezmerize were also present here. There's no denying that this record is System of a Down. But what's missing, quite obviously, is that incredible heaviness they had on the earlier albums. Plus, Malakian's vocals can quickly become irritating, as can some of the more ridiculous lyrics in tracks like "Kill Rock'N'Roll". The guitars sound as if the gain and treble are maxed out, eliminating the potential for Malakian to create that atmospheric blast fans of the band were so used to. Don't get me wrong, there are tracks that stand out, like the incredible ending track "Soldier Side" and the single "Hypnotize". Plus, "Lonely Day" has a fantastic guitar solo, livening up a somewhat odd System of a Down track. The weak and slightly forced Malakian vocals really show why Tankian was, for the first three albums, the main vocalist. Besides, this album is better than most rock/alternative acts usually produce. It has catchy riffs, very meaningful lyrics, and a vocal presence from Tankian that is virtually unrivaled in today's music scene. But, it just lacks that clarity, that strength, and that edge that makes a usual System of a Down record. Whether it's due to the noisy riffs in tracks like "Attack" or the silliness of tracks like "She's Like Heroine", this album doesn't quite win me over like Toxicity, System of a Down, or Steal this Album did. Perhaps that hiatus will give them a chance to gain a neutral perspective and return to basics, to what they do best—inspirational, heavy, thoughtful metal with a golden heart. Until then, 7/10 will have to do.
best album ever, no doubt about it! flawless start to finish
I didn't really notice if there's any pops on the last tracks of my copy, but all in all, I'm happy with how this pressing turned out. It's not easy to get a clean SOAD record, and this one definitely isn't messy.
The surface noise on my pressing isn't too bad, but the final tracks on each side (Tentative / Soldier Side) are really messed up. They've got almost no dynamic range and are full of static, making them hardly listenable. It's not even a "warm" kind of distortion—just plain unlistenable. I kept it though since the rest of the tracks sound pretty good.
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| Date | Lowest price | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Jan 2026 | £18.99 | €25.66 |
| 28 Feb 2026 | £22.49 | €26.82 |
| 7 Mar 2026 | £22.49 | €26.82 |