Hypnotize is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band System of a Down. It was released on November 22, 2005, six months after the release of its companion album Mezmerize. Both Mezmerize and Hypnotize debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, making System of a Down one of four artists at the time, along with the Beatles, 2Pac and DMX to have two albums top the chart in the same year.
The album was positively received by critics, praised primarily for its songwriting.
Background The album is a companion album with System of a Down's previous album, Mezmerize. After that album's release, the band went on an extensive tour, touring with the Mars Volta and Bad Acid Trip.
Both albums were recorded together, and their cover art, drawn by guitarist Daron Malakian's father, Vartan Malakian, was designed to connect the two separate album covers.
Release The album was released on November 22, 2005, and was an immediate hit, topping the Billboard 200, selling 320,000 copies in its first week in the United States, and charting in the Top 40 in over 20 countries. The album was certified Gold and Platinum by the RIAA on December 13, 2005, and has also received various other sales certifications. Since its release, Hypnotize has sold 8 million copies worldwide.
Reception
Hypnotize received generally positive reviews. Writing for Entertainment Weekly, Tom Sinclair would write, "When it comes to freakazoid operatic metal, no one beats System of a Down." he continued by saying, "[T]hey're flaunting a heretofore underexplored sensitive side, offsetting their trademark stampeding riffology with flashes of delicate lyricism," ultimately rating the album a B+.
In a slightly less positive review, Rolling Stone rated the album a 3.5 out of 5, writing, "System of a Down nearly made the no-contest hard-rock album of 2005. Instead, they have released a double album, Mezmerize/Hypnotize, in six-month chunks -- two separate records that each fall shy of pulverizing perfection and appear to be conceptually bound by little more than speed, fuzz and nonstop bile."
Spin ranked the album No. 20 in their list of the best albums of 2005.
Track listing All lyrics written by Daron Malakian and Serj Tankian, except where noted. All music written by Malakian, except where noted.
DualDisc edition – DVD side Entire album in enhanced stereo The Recording of Mezmerize / Hypnotize "B.Y.O.B." and "Question!" videos
Personnel
System of a Down Serj Tankian – vocals, keyboards Daron Malakian – vocals, guitars, bass (uncredited), keyboards (uncredited) Shavo Odadjian – bass John Dolmayan – drums, percussion
Vocals "Attack": Serj Tankian (main), Daron Malakian (second voice) "Dreaming": Tankian (main - verses) Malakian (main - bridge) "Kill Rock 'n Roll": Tankian and Malakian (both main) "Hypnotize": Tankian and Malakian (both main) "Stealing Society": Tankian (main - verses) Malakian (main - bridge) "Tentative": Tankian (main), Malakian (second voice) "U-Fig": Tankian (main - verses & chorus) Malakian (main - chorus) "Holy Mountains": Tankian (main), Malakian (second voice) "Vicinity of Obscenity": Tankian "She's Like Heroin": Malakian (main), Tankian (second voice) "Lonely Day": Malakian (main), Tankian (second voice) "Soldier Side": Tankian and Malakian (both main)
Production Produced by Rick Rubin and Daron Malakian Mixed by Andy Wallace Engineered by David Schiffman Editing by Jason Lader and Dana Nielsen Assistant engineer: Phillip Broussard Artwork: Vartan Malakian Design: System of a Down and Brandy Flower String arrangement: Serj Tankian and Marc Mann Mix Pro Tools engineer: John O'Mahony Mix assistant engineers: Steve Sisco (Soundtrack) and Joe Peluso (Enterprise) Album production coordination: Lindsay Chase and Braden Asher Recording location: The Mansion in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles and Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research, Los Angeles Mixed at Soundtrack Studios, New York City and Enterprise Studios, Los Angeles Mastered by Vlado Meller at Sony Music Studios, New York City
Charts
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for HypnotizeChart (2005)PeakpositionJapanese Albums (Oricon)17
Year-end charts +2005 year-end chart performance for HypnotizeChart (2005)PositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)89Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)58French Albums (SNEP)124Italian Albums (FIMI)100New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)38UK Albums (OCC)172Worldwide Albums (IFPI)42 +2006 year-end chart performance for HypnotizeChart (2006)PositionAustrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)64French Albums (SNEP)156 US Billboard 20041
Certifications
References