A Quick Tip by RabidChihuahua

Uuuuuggghh.  I hate System of a Down as a whole, but this is where the band's silly dadaism and squirreliness really spiralled out of control.  Like SOAD's other albums, this album is loaded with tonal whiplash in that some songs deal with textbook liberal politics ("Prison Song") and some others deal with overdone silliness ("Bounce"). 

The musicianship on this album is really poor, especially in the guitar department.  Daron's guitar riffs are total nu-metal flatulence with the occasional Arabic noodle here and there.  Not a ripping guitar solo to be found.  Shavo's bass is barely noticeable, the drumming is passable at best (forgot the drummer's name), and Serj's vocals are laughably bad in that they try to be aggressive and fail miserably, and even try to be "emotional," and sound even worse.

If you want some politically-minded music that's GOOD, check these albums out:

Public Enemy:  It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Napalm Death:  Scum

Skip this goofy, dadaist nu-metal crap and check out these following albums that are actually metal:

Dark Angel:  Darkness Descends
Kreator:  Pleasure to Kill
Morbid Saint:  Spectrum of Death
Coroner:  RIP
Sodom:  Agent Orange
Sadus:  Chemical Exposure

I'm glad my fandom for "Toxicity" and SOAD only lasted a few months when I was a teenager.  And finally, I think the guitarist once said something at a music awards show along the lines of "Party time!!  And we're no bullshit political punk band!!"

He's right, they're a bullshit political nu-metal band.