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The Evening Standard (London)
June 6, 2005
Not radical, but prog-rock happy
by ANDRE PAINE
System of a Down
Brixton Academy
WITH millions of albums sold, the politically charged System Of A
Down are one of the biggest heavy-rock bands from the US. They are
also one of the most challenging: mid-song, they jerked from thrash
metal to Eastern-tinged cacophony and much else in between.
The LA four-piece draw on their Armenian heritage to create
discordant rhythms redolent of dodgy Greek restaurants. It should
have been awful, but the resulting progmetal was often anthemic.
Three sold-out London dates attested to their popularity, among
everyone from small boys to grizzled rock couples.
Excitable teenage fans were soon bare-chested, sweaty and drunk only
on the pulverising rhythms.
But for a band who claim to be on the CIA's files, there was little
evidence of their revolutionary fervour. Their Bush-baiting lyrics
were eclipsed by the comical boasting about penis size on Cigaro. And
bearded frontman Serj Tankian may resemble a prophet, but his
performance mainly involved shaking his giant hair and vague
invitations such as "Are you with us?".
The response was a pretty emphatic "yes", despite earlier booing due
to their late arrival.
At first, System Of A Down were simply efficient, but then guitarist
Daron Malakian brought some menace to the proceedings with his
scratchy vocals on Mr Jack.
Towards the end, his solo performance on the mournful Lost In
Hollywood - from new album Mezmerize - prompted fans to raise their
lighters, the sea of flames reflecting in the mirrored backdrop. So
not especially radical, then, but a formidable rock show.
June 6, 2005
Not radical, but prog-rock happy
by ANDRE PAINE
System of a Down
Brixton Academy
WITH millions of albums sold, the politically charged System Of A
Down are one of the biggest heavy-rock bands from the US. They are
also one of the most challenging: mid-song, they jerked from thrash
metal to Eastern-tinged cacophony and much else in between.
The LA four-piece draw on their Armenian heritage to create
discordant rhythms redolent of dodgy Greek restaurants. It should
have been awful, but the resulting progmetal was often anthemic.
Three sold-out London dates attested to their popularity, among
everyone from small boys to grizzled rock couples.
Excitable teenage fans were soon bare-chested, sweaty and drunk only
on the pulverising rhythms.
But for a band who claim to be on the CIA's files, there was little
evidence of their revolutionary fervour. Their Bush-baiting lyrics
were eclipsed by the comical boasting about penis size on Cigaro. And
bearded frontman Serj Tankian may resemble a prophet, but his
performance mainly involved shaking his giant hair and vague
invitations such as "Are you with us?".
The response was a pretty emphatic "yes", despite earlier booing due
to their late arrival.
At first, System Of A Down were simply efficient, but then guitarist
Daron Malakian brought some menace to the proceedings with his
scratchy vocals on Mr Jack.
Towards the end, his solo performance on the mournful Lost In
Hollywood - from new album Mezmerize - prompted fans to raise their
lighters, the sea of flames reflecting in the mirrored backdrop. So
not especially radical, then, but a formidable rock show.