System of a Down (album)


System of a Down is the debut studio album by the American heavy metal band System of a Down, released on June 30, 1998, by American Recordings and Columbia Records. The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in February 2000. After the success of the band's following album, Toxicity, System of a Down was certified platinum and has since gone double platinum.
In 2022, Eli Enis of Revolver included the song "Suite-Pee" in his list of the "10 Heaviest Nu-Metal Songs of All Time". In 2025, Rae Lemeshow-Barooshian of Loudwire included the album in her list of "the top 50 nu-metal albums of all time", ranking it third.

Music and lyrics

The album is generally considered nu metal and alternative metal. The song "Suite-Pee" is a criticism of pedophilia within the Catholic Church and religious extremism. "Sugar" is about the world's population's over use and reliance on drugs and other substances, as well as the predatory state of media like the news, while "P.L.U.C.K" is about the Armenian genocide.

Artwork

The cover artwork is from a 1928 anti-fascist poster designed by visual artist John Heartfield for the Communist Party of Germany. The text on the original poster translates as: "A hand has 5 fingers! With these 5 grab the enemy!" This slogan inspired part of the text contained on the back of the album: "The hand has five fingers, capable and powerful, with the ability to destroy as well as create". Later, it is written in bold letters: "Open your eyes, open your mouths, close your hands and make a fist". The artwork also bears a close resemblance to the cover of George Harrison's album Living in the Material World.

Reception

System of a Down received acclaim from music critics. Q called it "an excellent starting point for this most curious band".
The album is featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Loudwire included the album in its list of The Best Metal Debut Albums, at number 22.

Track listing

Limited edition bonus CD

Notes
  • An early version of "X" from Toxicity was originally recorded for this album. The songs "Honey" and "Temper" from Demo Tape 2 were also recorded for this album but ultimately did not make the cut. The re-recorded versions of these songs have yet to surface anywhere.

Personnel

Personnel taken from System of a Down CD booklet.
System of a Down
Production

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart Peak
position
Scottish Albums 75
UK Rock & Metal Albums 16
US Billboard 200113
US Top Rock Albums 17
US Top Alternative Albums 9
US Top Hard Rock Albums 7
US Tastemaker Albums 19