Flash (September 1998)




To be honest ,it's been a long time since I was so exctied about a debut album ,that I wouldn't regret calling it the best new crossover thing of the year.We could say that SOAD are just finishing what "dad" Korn started a few years ago.The opening "Suite-Pee" shows how many musical influences u can find in this band.With a riff à la Van Halen era '78 ,harcore rhythim and a voice reminiscent of Johnny Rotten ready to become a death metal scream ,you can't be wrong.Excellent.Then you got "Know" ,with a blinding rthythimsection ,cool voice and post metal riff.I could go on like that ,talkin about how every great every single tune is ,but I'll focus instead on the fact that the band has been able to hear the best sounds of the '90s. and from there recreate their own sound.They mix ,without the risk of getting boring ,metal ,punk ,hardcore ,industrial ,death and even jazz...becoming the most difficult quizz u'll ever get the chance to play.That's what makes System more accessible than ,say ,bands like Crisis.The rhythim section is probably one of the freshest and probably the best I heard in a long time ,while the vocals ,very original and varied ,keep on changing throughout the whole album.The only comparison i could make is with the genious of Mike Patton ,one of the best performers of the '90s.Listen to songs like "Suggestions" or "Spiders" ,apparently softer songs that keep the tension of the album alive.The latter even reminds something from the grunge era.System of a Down and Korn: when the son becomes better than the dad (at least in this occasion!).
(S.C.)