Image: System Of A Down [Clemente Ruiz, Official Press Photo]
System Of A Down are one of those bands that hardly need an introduction anymore. Since forming in the mid-1990s, Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian, Shavo Odadjian, and John Dolmayan have created a sound that remains completely unique to this day. Alternative metal, nu metal, progressive rock, Armenian folk influences, punk, and political commentary all coexist within SOAD’s music, making the band exactly what it is today: iconic.
What makes their legacy even more impressive is that the group has released only five studio albums, yet virtually all of them are considered landmarks of alternative music. While fans have been waiting in vain for a new full-length record since the sister albums Mezmerize and Hypnotize were released in 2005, the Californians’ cult status remains untouched.
With the band set to hit stages across Germany again soon, it’s the perfect time to revisit their catalog and rank all five studio albums. One thing before we begin: there isn’t a bad album in this list. And most importantly: will you be at one of the shows?
5. Hypnotize (2005)
Taking the last spot—if you can even call it that—is Hypnotize. Not because the album is weak, but because the competition within System Of A Down’s own discography is simply absurdly strong.
Released just a few months after Mezmerize, the album was recorded during the same sessions as its predecessor. Many fans therefore view both records as one large body of work. Songs such as “Hypnotize,” “Holy Mountains,” and “Vicinity Of Obscenity” showcase the band’s experimental side particularly well.
“Holy Mountains” is especially noteworthy, as it addresses the Armenian genocide—a topic that has always been deeply important to the band due to their family roots. Overall, Hypnotize feels more reflective and less direct than Mezmerize, making it fascinating, though slightly less accessible.
4. Steal This Album! (2002)
Steal This Album! is probably the most underrated release in the band’s catalog. Its title is meant quite literally. After numerous demos from the Toxicity sessions leaked online, the band decided to finish the tracks and release them officially. The title itself references activist Abbie Hoffman’s book "Steal This Book".
Musically, the album sits somewhere between Toxicity and the more experimental territory explored on Mezmerize and Hypnotize. Tracks like “Innervision,” “A.D.D.,” and “Mr. Jack” highlight the incredible range of the band.
Although it often lives in the shadow of its more famous siblings, Steal This Album! contains some of the most creative songwriting ideas in System Of A Down’s entire career.
3. Mezmerize (2005)
With Mezmerize, System Of A Down entered what would become their final major studio album era.
The record also marked a significant shift within the band. Guitarist Daron Malakian took on far more vocal duties than before and became an even more prominent force in shaping the sound. While this initially sparked debate among fans, it also gave the music a fresh dynamic.
The album’s biggest hit is undoubtedly “B.Y.O.B.,” which earned the band a Grammy Award. But songs such as “Question!” and “Lost in Hollywood” remain fan favorites to this day. One of the album’s greatest strengths is the band’s ability to jump between chaos, melody, punk rock, and progressive arrangements within mere seconds. That unpredictability continues to make Mezmerize a captivating listen.
2. System of a Down (1998)
The band’s debut album was the moment the music world realized that something completely new—and delightfully insane—had arrived.
Nearly three decades later, System Of A Down still sounds unusual. Its blend of aggressive riffs, unconventional song structures, political messages, and Armenian influences was practically unmatched in the late 1990s. Tracks such as “Sugar,” “Spiders,” and “Suite-Pee” quickly established the band as one of the most exciting voices in the emerging alternative and nu metal boom.
The album was produced by Rick Rubin, who recognized the band’s potential early on and helped channel their chaotic creativity in the right direction. At the same time, the record retains a raw and unpolished edge that remains a huge part of its charm. Without this debut, many later developments in alternative metal likely would not have happened in quite the same way.
1. Toxicity (2001)
Was there ever really any doubt?
Toxicity is not only the best System Of A Down album—it’s one of the most important rock and metal records of the 2000s. Released on September 4, 2001, exactly one week before the events of September 11, the album’s political themes took on additional significance in the aftermath.
With songs like “Chop Suey!,” “Toxicity,” “Aerials,” “Prison Song,” and “Deer Dance,” the album is packed with classics. Despite its massive commercial success, it never feels polished, calculated, or watered down.
Toxicity achieved something very few metal albums ever manage: it brought extreme music into the mainstream without sacrificing its identity. The album debuted at No. 1 on the US charts and went on to sell millions of copies worldwide.
To this day, countless bands look to Toxicity as the gold standard for combining technical creativity, political relevance, musical madness, and unforgettable hooks.
Five studio albums. That’s all System Of A Down needed to secure their place in rock and metal history. From the chaotic brilliance of their debut to the enormous success of Toxicity and the ambitious experimentation of Mezmerize and Hypnotize, the band has built a discography that remains unmatched.
And perhaps that is exactly what fuels their mythology. While many bands spend decades trying to reinvent themselves, System Of A Down created a musical legacy in just five albums—one that still sounds remarkably fresh more than twenty years later.
