System of a Down
6 vinyl records found
System of a Down is an Armenian-American heavy metal band from Glendale, California, that built a devoted vinyl collector base through five studio albums and distinctive arrangements blending metal with Eastern instrumentation and political messaging. Their 2001-2005 run produced three consecutive number-one debuts on the Billboard 200, making their physical releases essential entries in any serious collection.
About System of a Down
The band formed in 1994 after Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian reconnected at a recording studio where they had previously worked together in a group called Soil. After Soil dissolved, Tankian, Malakian, and Shavo Odadjian recruited drummer Andy Khachaturian and began recording demo tapes between 1995 and 1997. Khachaturian departed mid-1997 due to a hand injury and was replaced by John Dolmayan, solidifying the core lineup that has remained unchanged since. The band signed to American/Columbia Records through producer Rick Rubin and released their self-titled debut in June 1998, which spawned radio singles "Sugar" and "Spiders" and launched extensive touring across major festivals and package tours.
Toxicity arrived in September 2001 as their breakthrough, debuting at number one and achieving multi-platinum status. The album's lead single "Chop Suey!" gained prominence partly due to September 11 timing, though the track maintained heavy MTV rotation despite lyrical concerns. Follow-up singles "Toxicity" and "Aerials" cemented the band's commercial presence. They continued the momentum with Steal This Album! in November 2002, which drew from unreleased Toxicity session material that had circulated online as fan bootlegs. The mid-2000s brought Mezmerize and Hypnotize in 2005, both debuting at number one and expanding their Grammy recognition to four nominations, with "B.Y.O.B." winning Best Hard Rock Performance in 2006. The band entered hiatus in 2006 and reunited in 2010, though no full-length studio albums have followed beyond 2020 singles. All four members share Armenian heritage and have maintained the band's focus on socially conscious lyrics addressing war, incarceration, and drug policy.
The Groove Hunter currently tracks 8 editions across System of a Down's catalog, including copies of Hypnotize, Mezmerize, Toxicity, and Steal This Album!, as well as compilations pairing Toxicity and Mezmerize together for collectors seeking their peak commercial period on vinyl.
