System of a Down's self-titled major-label debut finds the Los Angeles band consolidating its gothic alt-metal, sharpening its deadly riffs, strengthening its brutal rhythms, and adding muscle to its attack. The band differentiates itself from the legions of Southern Californian alt-metalheads by emphasizing its Armenian musical heritage, which gives the music an eerie, otherworldly quality. Part of the success of
System of a Down lies with producer
Rick Rubin, who helps give the band focus, but ultimately the record works because of the band itself, since they have contributed a set of strong songs that illustrates this is a band that relies on smarts as well as sound. [
System of a Down was re-released as a limited-edition "bonus pack" in the summer of 1999 to coincide with the group's appearance on the Ozzfest tour. The "bonus pack" contains a second CD featuring previously unreleased live versions of "Sugar," "Know," "War?," and "Suite-Pee," plus a multimedia section containing documentary footage and the video for "Sugar," all of which will be of interest to die-hard fans.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine