System of a Down

System of a Down (sometimes referred to as S.O.A.D.) is a popular heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. There is some contention as to whether their music is best described as alternative metal or nu metal. The band consists of Serj Tankian (vocals, keyboards), John Dolmayan (drums), Daron Malakian (guitar, vocals) and Shavo Odadjian (bass), who are known more for the outspoken social and political views found in their songs than for their distinctive dress styles and goatees. All four members are of Armenian ancestry.

Nu metal or not?

A common debate amongst fans of the band and heavy metal fans in general, is the topic of the band's genre: Are they nu metal (a term which to some people brings negative connotations) or is their music better described as simply heavy metal?

Related Topics:
Genre - Nu metal - Heavy metal

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System of a Down have been labeled as nu metal by fans and media since their incarnation. This can be attributed to the release of their first album, which occurred during the nu metal boom of the mid-to-late 90's. Adding to this, the band toured with Ozzfest, a festival that typically features many up-and-coming nu metal bands. In addition to this, their music contains what some see as nu metal traits; they rarely feature guitar solos, use simple guitar riffs and often use a song structure typical of nu metal bands (verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus).

Related Topics:
Ozzfest - Guitar solo

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In fact, the band's work contains distinct elements of folk music and accessible pop music. Vocally, the songs are in many ways reminiscent of opera.

Related Topics:
Folk music - Pop music - Opera

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Those who do not believe the nu metal genre applies to System of a Down argue that they have not included rapping or used turntables in any of their songs, these hip-hop influences are typical ( A good example of one of the bands that follow that tradition are Linkin Park), if not defining traits of nu metal. Also, it does not appear that the band consider themselves to make nu metal music, guitarist Daron Malakian was quoted in the magazine Guitar World as saying that he was glad that System of a Down had not slipped into the nu metal genre.

Related Topics:
Rapping - Turntables - Hip-hop - Daron Malakian - Guitar World

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On one of the band's spring 2005 tour concerts, Daron Malakian announced to the crowd, "They used to call us nü-metal, now they call us prog-rock. I think they'll call us anything that's popular." Then, after a pause and the subtlest of grins he said, "But actually, we're just a bunch of mo-rons."

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Also in a 2005 interview with the Houston Press, Daron quoted, "Lately, we've been doing interviews, and people have been like, 'You guys are really leading the way for the new prog movement,' and I'm like, 'What?' Because a couple of years ago, these guys were comparing us to Limp Bizkit and Korn, and now that we're still here and those bands aren't, they're talking about prog. It's just kind of aggravating that people always have to have something to compare us to, or bunch us up with. I'm not saying we're the most original band in the world, but I don't really feel that we fall into a heavy-metal category or a pure rock category. There's a lot of stuff mixed up into one."

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