NEW YORK, NY. (Columbia Records) - Six months after
System of a Down's Mezmerize debuted at number one on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart, the uncompromising and outspoken quartet returns with Hypnotize, part two of a promised two-album set. American Recordings/Columbia will release two versions of Hypnotize, the band's fifth studio album, on November 22.
Adding to the excitement is System of a Down's just-announced American Music Award nomination for "Favorite Artist." This marks the second time the group has been nominated in the Alternative category. The American Music Awards will be held in Los Angeles the same day Hypnotize hits stores.
Both the CD and DualDisc versions feature 12 new songs as well as artwork by Vartan Malakian, father of SOAD's guitarist/singer Daron. The packaging for Hypnotize is specially designed to physically join Mezmerize and Hypnotize together, forming one unified product with continuous artwork. In addition, the DualDisc edition will contain exclusive behind-the-scenes footage showing the making of both records.
More importantly, the albums interlock musically. The final track on Hypnotize, "Soldier Side," completes "Soldier Side Intro," which appears as the opening track on Mezmerize.
The Los Angeles Times credits Mezmerize for "restoring some artistic credibility and political attitude to hard rock" and touts the two-album set as "what figures to be the rock double play of the year" in their Fall music preview.
Produced by Rick Rubin and Daron Malakian, Hypnotize maintains System of a Down's reputation as full-spectrum agitators who adeptly channel righteous rage into compelling, provocative and relevant rock. Daron, singer Serj Tankian, bassist Shavo Odadjian and drummer John Dolmayan recorded some 30 tracks for Mezmerize/Hypnotize at Rubin's Laurel Canyon studio between May and December of 2004. The songs are more complex, more progressive, more unorthodox and more experimental than ever, while retaining the idiosyncratic, ironic and schizophrenic qualities that make System of a Down so distinctive.
The album's title track, "Hypnotize," is set to impact rock radio October 11. Shavo - who came up with the performance-based concept - will be directing the video to be shot later this month.
Starting with the Los Angeles-based band's 1998 genre-defying self-titled debut to 2001's breakthrough Toxicity, System of a Down has become a critical and commercial success on a global scale. The group has sold more than 13 million records, earning 64 platinum, gold and silver awards around the world. Each release has achieved multi-platinum status, including the current Mezmerize which topped the album charts in a dozen countries and is the single biggest alternative hard rock debut of this year.
While System of a Down will wrap their headlining North American arena tour over the next few weeks, look for the group to head out on the road again in early 2006.
HYPNOTIZE
Track Listing
1. "Attack"
2. "Dreaming"
3. "Kill Rock 'n Roll"
4. "Hypnotize"
5. "Stealing Society"
6. "Tentative"
7. "U-Fig"
8. "Holy Mountains"
9. "Vicinity of Obscenity"
10. "She's Like Heroin"
11. "Lonely Day"
12. "Soldier Side"
