System of a down
Mezmerize

THE REVIEW

I must say right away that I do not at all agree with most of the reviews on this site that have dismissed this album, even though (serious) comments are obviously welcome, as are critiques.
That said, it is also fair to say that I am neither a detractor of musical evolutions (without which there would never have even been talk of a "new wave of British heavy metal," just to stay in the heavy field...) nor an old-school fan; but simply a big fan of rock and metal music in general and above all a great fan of System of a Down.
Therefore, given their already obvious evolutions from the first to the second album, it was not reasonable to expect an album with a fast and almost thrash style like Toxicity nor the schizophrenic atmospheres of the debut. Even though all the qualities that characterize the band have not been abandoned and by now we all know the beauty of productions made in System, the first chapter of an announced double CD, Mezmerize, is a bomb, which I would rather call a "time bomb," since it will take much longer to please you, but still devastating in its whirlpool of genres, progressive hints, even almost ska and punk, as NEVER heard before on one of our CDs.
Because even though the previous works were properly Metal or Nu Metal (always with the due influences), the new work is by now the band's most daring release, where millions and millions of hints are practically mixed in different musical fields.

Speaking of songs, I prominently mention Bring Your Own Bombs (B.Y.O.B. for the less attentive fans), with its sublime breaks almost in r'n'b style and a power in the rhythms and lyrics perhaps never seen before. Because beyond the incredible voice of the leader Serj, this time the one who gives the most contribution is the brilliant guitarist, namely Daron, who with his powerful and ringing voice hitherto unexpressed (or not fully expressed in previous CDs) adds more weight to the compositions which become even more full of nuances.
The sublime "Cigaro" is indeed noted, where the System pour all their almost punk anger into a super violent and very well conceived song, "Revenga" and "Violent Pornography," which with their almost Primus Style bouncy structures and hypnotic riffs represent true masterpieces; while the most successful track is certainly the anthem "Folk Radio/Video," where the band's schizophrenia combines with successful Middle Eastern rhythms like never heard before.
Each song represents a standalone creative peak, with its own personality and unique style, and also thanks to these qualities the CD will remain in your player for a long time (I listened to it eight times in a row as soon as I bought it) without ever tiring you.
And after two masterpieces like the self-titled and Toxicity, one really couldn't expect anything better.

If you don't like it, you'll be missing out on yet another gem from a band that has already indelibly revolutionized the world of metal.
Seminal.