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SYSTEM OF A DOWN
(UNITED STATES)
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STEAL THIS ALBUM
(2002)
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LABEL:
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GENRE:
HEAVY METAL
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TAGS:
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""Steal This Album" is neither better nor worse than System Of A Down's other productions. Unlistenable for the uninitiated, indispensable for fans, original and fun for the curious."
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3/5
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Reviewing a System Of A Down album is far from a formality. The atypical schizophrenic metal of this band, who dusted off the genre a few years ago, can be likened as much to an outlet vent as to genuine artistic research. So when a collection of tracks from the sessions of their previous release, "Toxicity", arrive in the form of a new album entitled "Steal This Album", the exercise proves all the more complicated.
Like System Of A Down's music, the analysis of these 16 new tracks can only be ambivalent. Certainly, fans of the band will be delighted to rediscover the improbable universe he has created with many very short tracks - under 3 minutes - with lyrics as committed as they are delirious, multiplying walls of sound, breaks, experiments and melodic passages often laden with orientalizing guitars ('Bubbles'). Rage and madness ('Chic 'N' stue', which denounces consumerism through a pizza, 'I-E-A-I-A-I-O', characterized by its flow and its little musical cameo from the series 'K2000') rub shoulders with calm and classicism (the excellent 'Innervision', 'Highway Song' or the ballads 'Ego Brain', first sketch of the hit 'Lonely Day' from the future album, followed by 'Roulette', totally acoustic). In short, a real treat for those who appreciate non-conformism.
For those who don't particularly appreciate delirium and consider music to be something serious, it's a less pleasant experience. System Of A Down has an annoying habit of going off in all directions, offering us moments of anthology like the chicken-like vocals of 'Fuck The System' or the totally unstructured 'Pictures'. Those who like to have a well-defined framework will only remember the regular screams and belches of the two vocalists in this decibel explosion, and the absence of stylistic limits that is the very essence of the band.
On its release, "Steal This Album" was considered by its authors as a transition between "Toxicity" and their future albums. This could not be further from the truth, since "Mesmerize" and "Hypnotize" share many of the same features, such as Dave Malakian's omnipresent vocals, and the melodic sweetness juxtaposed with the sonic aggression and antics of their singers. In keeping with the natural evolution of this extraordinary band, "Steal This Album" is neither better nor worse than System Of A Down's other productions. Unlistenable for the uninitiated, indispensable for fans, original and fun for the curious. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Chic 'n' Stu 02. Innervision 03. Bubbles 04. Boom! 05. Nüguns 06. A.D.D. (American Dream Denial) 07. Mr. Jack 08. I-E-A-I-A-I-O 09. 36 10. Pictures 11. Highway Song 12. F**k the System 13. Ego Brain 14. Thetawaves 15. Roulette 16. Streamline
LINEUP:
Daron Malakian: Chant / Guitares John Dolmayan: Batterie Serj Tankian: Chant Shavo Odadjian: Basse
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READERS
4/5 (2 view(s))
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STAFF:
3/5 (1 view(s))
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