Hypnotize (album)

''Hypnotize'' is the fifth studio album by Armenian-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'', and just one year following the album's completion. ''Mezmerize'' and ''Hypnotize'' both debuted at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200 albums chart, making the band one of only four acts (the others being The Beatles, Tupac Shakur, and DMX) to achieve this with two albums in the same year.

As of 2022, ''Hypnotize'' is the latest studio album by System of a Down, who had entered a four-year hiatus in 2006, and the band did not release new music until 2020.

Reception

''Hypnotize'' received generally positive reviews. It opened at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200, with 320,000 copies sold in the first week. The album also debuted at number 1 on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 47,000 copies in its first week. The album was certified gold and platinum by the RIAA on December 13, 2005. Since its release, ''Hypnotize'' has sold 8 million copies worldwide.

''Entertainment Weekly'' (No. 851, p. 100) - " ey're flaunting a heretofore underexplored sensitive side, offsetting their trademark stampeding riffology with flashes of delicate lyricism." - Grade: B+

''Rolling Stone'' (No. 988, p. 117) - 3.5 out of 5 stars - "Hell immediately runneth over on Malakian's scoured-staccato guitars and Dolmayan's furious hammering."

''Spin'' (p. 62) - Ranked #20 in ''Spin''s "40 Best Albums of 2005".

''Uncut'' (p. 109) - 3 stars out of 5 - "System succeed through their skill at wielding complex, progressive heaviness in a pop context."

Track listing

All lyrics written by Daron Malakian and Serj Tankian, except where noted. All music written by Malakian, except where noted.

Notes
*The album was initially going to start with a Middle Eastern-style instrumental track entitled " Hezze", which Malakian stated was one of his favorite songs on the record prior to its release. It was dropped at the last minute because the group wanted to open the album with a heavy song, and because the band felt it was incongruous with the other songs on the album. However, during live performances of "Mr. Jack", Malakian would yell "Yalla hezze" (English translation: "Come on, shake!") after the first chorus. A funk/jazzy guitar instrumental, is then played after.

*" The Charade", originally titled "Charades", a song written and eventually released by Tankian in 2010, was being considered to appear on ''Mezmerize'' or ''Hypnotize'', as footage of the band rehearsing it exists on YouTube. The reasons it was not featured on neither ''Mezmerize'' nor ''Hypnotize'' remain unknown.

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),Alan Di Perna https://www.guitarworld.com/features/daron-malakian-21st-century-schizoid-man (September 29, 2008)Fabrizio Pedrotti https://fabriziopedrotti.com/2019/07/18/shavo-odadjian-system-of-a-down-nunca-va-a-morir/ (July 18, 2019) keyboards (uncredited)
* Shavo Odadjian – bass
* John Dolmayan – drums

Vocal duties
* "Attack": Serj Tankian (main), Daron Malakian (second voice)
* "Dreaming": Tankian and Malakian (both main)
* "Kill Rock 'n Roll": Tankian and Malakian (both main)
* "Hypnotize": Tankian and Malakian (both main)
* "Stealing Society": Tankian and Malakian (both main)
* "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 Neilsen
* Assistant engineer: Phillip Broussard
* All artwork by 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 coordinator: Lindsay Chase / 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

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

{{Authority control

2005 albums
Albums produced by Rick Rubin
American Recordings (record label) albums
Columbia Records albums
System of a Down albums
Albums produced by Daron Malakian
Albums recorded at The Mansion (recording studio)