Daron Malakian is doing Scars On Broadway now, which i still need to get round to hearing.
I think SOAD's stance is that they're on a 'hiatus', have to wait and see i suppose.

Yes, you do, the SOB debut is about ten times better than Serj's new album, although I'd say they sound more like each other than any SOAD album.

And as far as the status of the band, I have gleaned and discerned that the hiatus isn't indefinite. After Serj's limited involvement in Mezmerize/Hypnotize, he wanted to pursue a creative outlet for his musical ambitions, while System was gravitating towards Daron's uncollared songwriting. It is clear that this isn't a matter of "creative differences" or personal problems; Daron has attested his respect and admiration for Serj, and I don't think that's going to change. Serj has another album due to be released in 2009, and I am hoping beyond hope that exercises his creative inhibitions and he is content to re-form SOAD thereafter.

I own "Hypnotize" and "Mezmerize."

Not terrible, not great.

I'm gonna have to disagree again, if anything it sounds less like System. I thought this album was much more melodic and veered more into rock than metal. I also couldn't help but notice that, while it certainly is better than Serj's solo, there's something missing. At least now we know who was responsible for the catchy choruses in System...

Listening to SOB there is definitely more of a melodic feel, Chemicals in particular is very catchy.
I think it's a nice album, perfectly listenable, but it's not setting me on fire or anything. Bit too samey overall, just doesn't have that same feeling of experimentation like the last SOAD albums did. I dooo like Stoner-Hate though. Not that i've heard the Serj album yet but judging by the singles off of it this still beats it.

SOAD are a talented band that unfortunately got pigeonholed with the nu metal crowd, which even though I'm not a SOAD fan, really annoys me. So it's easy to get laughed at for liking SOAD, cuz it's just like liking Limp Bizkit amirite? Unfortunately that's what a lot of people think.

It's pretty obvious that Daron was the musical force behind System. That's why I thought it sounded a lot more like System, even if it is more rock-oriented. I hope you noticed that he actually used traditional rock arrangements on this album rather than the schismatic elements that System pioneered.

My personal favorite tracks: Stoner-Hate, Enemy, 3005. I actually abhor the single at the end though...

I'm pretty sure the critics were almost as biased. Rolling Stone called them "an absurdist blast of political rage" and other critics much, much worse. And the "nu-metal" label is just an insult, a pure fucking insult. It is absolutely retarded to compare them to Korn, Limp Bizkit, Slipknot, etc. when they sound more like thrash metal than anything else. I wish they wouldn't have done Ozzfest all those years so they wouldn't get compared to all the mindless bilge that idiots mistake for metal. I don't mind that people dislike them, but it's stupid to hate them because they were embraced by the wrong crowd. Nevermind the fact that System has some of the best songwriting, talented lyricists and musicians, and one of the best modern drummers ever.

I agree.

System of a Down was the first band that got me into music.
I fell in love with them for a while, lol.
They're pretty great. ;)

(Yes, old thread. But I gotta start SOMEWHERE.)

They sucked.

However, I will say one thing good about them. They actually managed to get better with their albums. Regardless if this thread would have you believe otherwise Hypnotize and Mezmerize were easily their two best, self titled being damn near impossible to find any notable moments on, Toxicity barely a step up, and Steal This started to show the ability to write pop songs. They were bad when they tried to be a metal band but once they cought on to the fact that they were really a pop act and aimed for it their sound got a lot tighter and the songs started to sound like actual songs.