Mesmerize Does Anything But
System of a Down�s signature mash-up of heavy metal and strong political overtones continues with their latest effort, �Mesmerize.� Whether or not this is a good thing depends on whether or not you enjoyed this band�s previous efforts.
The sound of �Mesmerize� is very, very heavy, complimented by furiously delivered lyrics. The songs are seeped in politics; immediate offenders are �Sad Statue� is about a nation disillusioned by today�s government, and �B.Y.O.B.� is a brash anti-war song.
If you�re expecting to be enlightened on aforementioned political and American topics, don�t expect to have any epiphanies with �Mesmerize.� The vocals are so rough and delivered so harshly, the message is lost. Green Day did this much better with last year�s excellent �American Idiot,� where you actually could enjoy the anti-Bush ballads you were listening to.
Other aspects of �Mesmerize�s� sound are just as uneven. The instrumentals blend into each other and are hard to differentiate, even between different songs. The vocals are oft-annoying and abrasive, especially considering scrappy guitar-player Daron Malakian now takes up as much time on the vocal track as lead singer Serj Tankian does. In moments of clarity the two singers harmonize and provide a cathartic release, but these moments are few and far between.
The overall tone of this album feels very amateur, like a group of college buddies got together and decided to rant about important world issues. They don�t miss out on opportunities to use profanities and vulgar language, though sometimes that�s kind of the point (such as on �Violent Pornagraphy�). But why was this verse necessary, in the song �Cigaro?� �My cock is much bigger than yours / My cock can walk right through the door / With a feeling so pure / It's got you screaming back for more!�
System of a Down don�t take many opportunities to be musically creative, and instead stick to an angry metal-head formula throughout most of the songs. Many of you may enjoy this formula, as album sales may suggest.
The brightest moment on the album is �Question!�, which ditches the angry metal rock act for a few moments of Eastern-influenced instrumental bliss.
If you�re already a System of a Down fan, you�ll thoroughly enjoy �Mesmerize� and its upcoming counterpart, �Hypnotize,� which is due out later this year.
Download: �Question!,� and �Old School Hollywood.� |
