File Under: Rock/Metal rating: A+ tracks 1. Prison Song 2. Needles 3. Deer Dance 4. Jet Pilot 5. X 6. Chop Suey! 7. Bounce 8. Forest 9. ATWA 10. Science 11. Shimmy 12. Toxicity 13. Psycho 14. Aerials related links System of a Down

Unique is not an attribute to be tossed about lightly when describing today’s crop of drop-tuned nu-metal hacks but as always, when you shake things out you will always find a silver lining. System of a Down has nothing in common with the artists that dominate today’s MTV palate of bands other than sharing space on your radio dial. It’s been over two years since their self-titled debut hit the shelves and the new disc, Toxicity should assuage any fears of a sophomore jinx. Replete with the heavy, machinegun like riffing found on the first album, System Of A Down move from rhythmic shouting to beautiful harmonies without missing a beat, as found on the track ATWA. The middle-eastern harmonies on their first single, Chop Suey! and throughout, are one of the disc’s highlights, as is the drumming of John Dolmayan. Listen to the intro of the title track for an example of the latter. I get very wary when reviews claim a band’s songwriting has matured. It usually means cool riffs are replaced by boring chord progressions and ballads but System Of A Down never stray from their original vision without making this seem like a formulaic continuation of their first album. Definite album of the year material.

John Rovnan is a Contributing Writer. Contact him at contributors@rockzone.com.