System of a Down gets Hypnotised

A year ago, the hard-rocking System of a Down released the album Mesmerised. It was a solid, mind blowing piece of rage set against ethereal melodies and easily proved the success of the band’s Toxicity was no fluke. The only problem with the album was that unlike other rock epics it was over too soon with no apparent ending. If I remember right, it was done in only 30 minutes and left the listener wondering what happened. Did the group run out of ideas? Was it a case of pass your papers, finished or unfinished?

I found out later that Mesmerised came up short because System of a Down intended it to be the first part of a two-album opus. Instead of releasing a two-disc album as other acts would have done, it opted to cut the first part short and just release part two later. Later in this case meant some months after. So all those who listened to Mesmerised were left anticipating what these guys had in store for them in the next one.

It proved to be well worth the wait. Entitled Hypnotised, the part two smoothly brings the preparation laid out by Mesmerised to an exciting conclusion. It is the completion of an impressive work that challenges pre-conceived ideas about hard rock music. Of course, it is noisy and encourages head banging but it is also a dynamic piece of pained and maniacal poetry. Heavy as in Attack. Intense in Dreaming. Eerie in She’s Like Heroin. Humorous in Vicinity of Obscenity. And symphonically sweeping as in Holy Mountains.

Whoever thought hard rockers merely lose their marbles along with their hearing as they get older should take a look at what System of a Down has accomplished with Mesmerised and Hypnotised. They mature musically. The well-thought out arrangements in these albums show hours of study and search for just the right notes. They learn the intricacies of technology. Producing coherent music out of what a lot of people consider noise is no easy task. I hope these guys keep up the learning process. The thought of that already makes me impatient for what System of a Down will come up with in its next album.

Take note that Mesmerised and Hypnotised are interlocked together musically. The most obvious detail about this close relationship is the dramatic Soldier Side which opens Mesmerised and closes Hypnotised. We will find out more about how these recordings form a whole when the two-disc edition becomes available later this year. I know this means additional expense but they will probably throw in some add-ons to make it worth our while.

System of a Down is made up of Serj Tankian on vocals, Daron Malakian on guitar, Shavo Odadjian on bass and John Dolmayan on drums. As I am sure you are already wondering where they got those names, allow me to inform you that Tankian, Malakian and Odadjian, formerly known as the band Soil, are of Armenian descent. I guess this is the reason why there is so much of the mysticism of Eastern Europe in their music. That I believe is what makes it so unique.

Coldplay’s Asian Tour CD

Here is another update about rock sounds from 2005. Hot British band Coldplay recently did a number of stints in Asia. Sorry, they did not make it to the Philippines but from what I heard they were in Singapore and Hong Kong. But those of us who missed those shows can still get our hands on the Southeast Asia Tour Edition of the monumental album X & Y, which is now available locally.

The very much acclaimed and I must say truly incredible X & Y was one of last year’s biggest-selling releases. There is a big chance Coldplay fans hereabouts already have a copy or have already worn out copies of the album. Still I believe they will not be able to resist the temptation to buy another one being offered by this Asian Tour CD.

This version has the entire X & Y album with the great cuts Fix You, Swallowed in the Sea and the single Speed of Sound. Then it comes with a free DVD, which contains four music videos of the band. That is not all. There are also six new songs, Things I Don’t Understand, Proof, The World Turned Upside Down, Pour Me, Sleeping Sun and Gravity.

Are these songs outtakes from the X & Y sessions or a foretaste of the new direction Coldplay intends to take? Listen to find out.