Following “Mezmerize” in May, this week sees the release of “Hypnotize” finally completing System of a Down’s new album “Mezmerize/Hypnotize“. In spite of the two CDs being released over half a year apart, it is obvious that “Mezmerize” and”Hypnotize” are not two individual records but CD1 and CD2 of a double album. This is underlined by the fact that the two packages can be merged by folding out the extra sleeve inside the “Hypnotize” pack and slipping it into the opening (where the booklet is) of the “Mezmerize” pack.

Conclusively, the sound on “Hypnotize” is intentionally no departure from “Mezmerize“, indeed all the tracks on both albums were recorded and mixed simultaneously, meaning the songs on the later release had been ready when the first half of the album went on sale. The cumulative length of both albums doesn’t exceed 80 minutes, and why the band didn’t release everything in one shot is anyone’s guess. Going by their social-minded lyrics and their efforts towards fair trade, one would assume that it has nothing to do with marketing and bigger revenues.

Compared with the real last studio release, “Toxicity” in 2001, the new double record does enter new dimensions and sets almost some new standards. The tracks are still unmistakeably System of a Down, meaning successions of speed metal riffs alternating with melodious outbursts of energetic vocals, but the 23 new songs sound far more polished then their previous work. Disillusioned fans of the “Toxicity” era can complain that producer Rick Rubin took some of the edge off the sound, others might be glad that System of a Down’s tunes have become more accessible. What’s really important, though, is that despite this slight shift towards pop the band has not lost its artistic integrity in the process.

Long time fans of System of a Down need not be worried about band member’s heads plastering the covers of teen magazines anytime soon, the heavier parts of their music is still enough to scare away most people with superficial listening habits. Which is those people’s loss, really, as the band’s feel for polar emotions, the range that’s spanned within a single song, is quite astounding. And following up an almost unlistenable speed riff with a chorus full of pathos, anger and agony makes both parts stronger and more interesting, by the sheer power of the contrast.

The band’s lyrics don’t shy away from political commentary, media critique and social satire. A song like “Cigaro” starts off like a shallow tale about genitalia and faeces

My cock is much bigger than yours / My cock can walk right through the door […] My shit stinks much better than yours / My shit stinks right down to the floor

until it suddenly changes into a powerful allegory about corrupted government policies

We’re the regulators that deregulate / We’re the animators that de-animate / We’re the propagators of all genocide / Burning through the world’s resources / Then we turn and hide

“Holy Mountains“, one of the album’s highlights, is the band’s attempt to deal with one of their birth country’s most painful chapters: the Armenian genocide. So when lead singer Serj Tankian screams out “Freedom, freedom, we’re free, free” after singing about how “Someone’s blank stare deemed it warfare / Liar, Killer, Demon / Back to the river Aras”, you can’t help but feel at least a little bit shaken and chilled.

“Mezmerize/Hypnotize” also has considerable aesthetical value to offer. The record’s artwork, painted by lead guitarist Daron Malakian’s brother Vartan, is obscurily haunting and matches the band’s view of a an anachronistic and timeless society with depictions of messed up clocks and numbers. Furthermore, the double album is circular in that “Hypnotize” ends with the track “Soldier Side“, the full reendition of “Soldier Side - Intro” that opens “Mezmerize“.

Overall, “Mezmerize/Hypnotize” is strong enough to stand up high in a list of this year’s best rock records, and the total of 23 tracks should offer enough variety for any friend of modern rock music.

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