Hypnotize (album)
Hypnotize is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band System of a Down. It was released on November 22, 2005, one year following the album's completion, and six months after the release of its companion album Mezmerize. Mezmerize and Hypnotize both debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart. As of 2023, Hypnotize is System of a Down's most recent album release.
Hypnotize | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 22, 2005 | |||
Recorded | June–November 2004 | |||
Studio | The Mansion and Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research (Los Angeles) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 39:40 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | ||||
System of a Down chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Hypnotize | ||||
|
Reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 78/100[5] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [6] |
Entertainment Weekly | B+[7] |
The Guardian | [8] |
Pitchfork | 7.9/10[9] |
Playlouder | [10] |
PopMatters | 6/10[2] |
Q | [11] |
Rolling Stone | [3] |
Stylus | C[12] |
USA Today | [4] |
Hypnotize received generally positive reviews. It opened at number one on the Billboard 200, with 320,000 copies sold in the first week. The album also debuted at number 1 on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 47,000 copies in its first week. The album was certified gold and platinum by the RIAA on December 13, 2005.[13] Since its release, Hypnotize has sold 8 million copies worldwide.
Entertainment Weekly (No. 851, p. 100) - "[T]hey're flaunting a heretofore underexplored sensitive side, offsetting their trademark stampeding riffology with flashes of delicate lyricism." - Grade: B+
Rolling Stone (No. 988, p. 117) - 3.5 out of 5 stars - "Hell immediately runneth over on Malakian's scoured-staccato guitars and Dolmayan's furious hammering."
Spin (p. 62) - Ranked #20 in Spin's "40 Best Albums of 2005".
Uncut (p. 109) - 3 stars out of 5 - "System succeed through their skill at wielding complex, progressive heaviness in a pop context."
Track listing
All lyrics written by Daron Malakian and Serj Tankian, except where noted. All music written by Malakian, except where noted.
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Attack" | 3:06 | ||
2. | "Dreaming" | Malakian, Shavo Odadjian | 3:59 | |
3. | "Kill Rock 'n Roll" | Malakian | 2:27 | |
4. | "Hypnotize" | 3:09 | ||
5. | "Stealing Society" | 2:58 | ||
6. | "Tentative" | 3:36 | ||
7. | "U-Fig" | Malakian, Odadjian | 2:55 | |
8. | "Holy Mountains" | 5:28 | ||
9. | "Vicinity of Obscenity" | Tankian | Tankian, Malakian | 2:51 |
10. | "She's Like Heroin" | Malakian | 2:44 | |
11. | "Lonely Day" | Malakian | 2:47 | |
12. | "Soldier Side" | Malakian | 3:40 | |
Total length: | 39:40 |
Notes
- The album was initially going to start with a Middle Eastern-style instrumental track entitled "Hezze", which Malakian stated was one of his favorite songs on the record prior to its release. It was dropped at the last minute because the group wanted to open the album with a heavy song, and because the band felt it was incongruous with the other songs on the album. However, during live performances of "Mr. Jack", Malakian would yell "Yalla hezze" (English translation: "Come on, shake!") after the first chorus. A funk/jazzy guitar instrumental, is then played after.
- "The Charade", originally titled "Charades", a song written and eventually released by Tankian in 2010, was being considered to appear on Mezmerize or Hypnotize, as footage of the band rehearsing it exists on YouTube.[14] The reasons it was not featured on neither Mezmerize nor Hypnotize remain unknown.
Personnel
System of a Down
- Serj Tankian – vocals, keyboards
- Daron Malakian – vocals, guitars, bass (uncredited),[15][16] keyboards (uncredited)[15]
- Shavo Odadjian – bass
- John Dolmayan – drums
Vocal duties
- "Attack": Serj Tankian (main), Daron Malakian (second voice)
- "Dreaming": Tankian and Malakian (both main)
- "Kill Rock 'n Roll": Tankian and Malakian (both main)
- "Hypnotize": Tankian and Malakian (both main)
- "Stealing Society": Tankian and Malakian (both main)
- "Tentative": Tankian (main), Malakian (second voice)
- "U-Fig": Tankian (main - verses & chorus) Malakian (main - chorus)
- "Holy Mountains": Tankian (main), Malakian (second voice)
- "Vicinity of Obscenity": Tankian
- "She's Like Heroin": Malakian (main), Tankian (second voice)
- "Lonely Day": Malakian (main), Tankian (second voice)
- "Soldier Side": Tankian and Malakian (both main)
Production
- Produced by Rick Rubin and Daron Malakian
- Mixed by Andy Wallace
- Engineered by David Schiffman
- Editing by Jason Lader and Dana Neilsen
- Assistant engineer: Phillip Broussard
- All artwork by Vartan Malakian
- Design: System of a Down and Brandy Flower
- String arrangement: Serj Tankian and Marc Mann
- Mix Pro Tools engineer: John O'Mahony
- Mix assistant engineers: Steve Sisco (Soundtrack) and Joe Peluso (Enterprise)
- Album production coordinator: Lindsay Chase / Braden Asher
- Recording location: The Mansion in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, and Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research, Los Angeles
- Mixed at Soundtrack Studios, New York City and Enterprise Studios, Los Angeles
- Mastered by Vlado Meller at Sony Music Studios, New York City
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[51] | Gold | 35,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[52] | Gold | 15,000* |
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[53] | Platinum | 31,990[53] |
Germany (BVMI)[54] | Platinum | 200,000‡ |
Ireland (IRMA)[55] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Italy (FIMI)[56] sales since 2009 |
Gold | 25,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[57] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Russia (NFPF)[58] | Gold | 10,000* |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[59] | Gold | 20,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[60] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[13] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
References
- Ingold,Chris (November 21, 2005). "System Of A Down – Hypnotize". musicOMH. Archived from the original on March 31, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
- Begrand, Adrien (November 21, 2005). "System of a Down: Hypnotize". PopMatters. Archived from the original on June 30, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- Fricke, David (November 17, 2005). "System of a Down: Hypnotize : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 10, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- Gundersen, Edna (November 21, 2005). "System of a Down zooms way up with 'Hypnotize'". USA Today. Archived from the original on October 17, 2014. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- "Hypnotize Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
- Loftus, Johnny. "Hypnotize - System of a Down". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 17, 2014. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- Sinclair, Tom (November 25, 2005). "Hypnotize Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
- Lynskey, Dorian (November 18, 2019). "System of a Down, Hypnotize". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 15, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
- Byrom, Cory D. (November 21, 2005). "System of a Down: Mesmerize / Hypnotize". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- Allen, Jeremy (November 18, 2019). "Hypnotize - System Of A Down". Playlouder. Archived from the original on November 28, 2005. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
- System Of A Down remains the one metal band non-metalheads can enjoy. [Dec 2005, p.156]
- Shipley, Al (December 14, 2005). "System Of A Down - Hypnotize - Review". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2007.
- "American album certifications – System of a Down – Hypnotize". Recording Industry Association of America.
- "System of a Down recording Charades in studio (2005)". Archived from the original on December 22, 2021 – via YouTube.
- Alan Di Perna https://www.guitarworld.com/features/daron-malakian-21st-century-schizoid-man Archived August 30, 2019, at the Wayback Machine (September 29, 2008)
- Fabrizio Pedrotti https://fabriziopedrotti.com/2019/07/18/shavo-odadjian-system-of-a-down-nunca-va-a-morir/ Archived August 30, 2019, at the Wayback Machine (July 18, 2019)
- "Australiancharts.com – System of a Down – Hypnotize". Hung Medien.
- "Austriancharts.at – System of a Down – Hypnotize" (in German). Hung Medien.
- "Ultratop.be – System of a Down – Hypnotize" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
- "Ultratop.be – System of a Down – Hypnotize" (in French). Hung Medien.
- "System of a Down Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard.
- "Danishcharts.dk – System of a Down – Hypnotize". Hung Medien.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – System of a Down – Hypnotize" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
- "System of a Down: Hypnotize" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
- "Lescharts.com – System of a Down – Hypnotize". Hung Medien.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – System of a Down – Hypnotize" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts.
- "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2005. 47. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ.
- "Irish-charts.com – Discography System of a Down". Hung Medien.
- "Italiancharts.com – System of a Down – Hypnotize". Hung Medien.
- "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Titolo" field, search "Hypnotize".
- "Charts.nz – System of a Down – Hypnotize". Hung Medien.
- "Norwegiancharts.com – System of a Down – Hypnotize". Hung Medien.
- "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry.
- "Portuguesecharts.com – System of a Down – Hypnotize". Hung Medien.
- "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
- "Spanishcharts.com – System of a Down – Hypnotize". Hung Medien.
- "Swedishcharts.com – System of a Down – Hypnotize". Hung Medien.
- "Swisscharts.com – System of a Down – Hypnotize". Hung Medien.
- "System of a Down | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart.
- "System of a Down Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 2005". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- "Jahreshitparade Alben 2005" (in German). austriancharts.at. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- "Tops de l'Année - Top Albums 2005" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- "Classifica annuale 2005 (dal 03.01.2005 al 01.01.2006) – Album & Compilation" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on March 18, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- "Top Selling Albums of 2005". The Official NZ Music Charts. Archived from the original on December 16, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- "The Top 200 Artist Albums of 2005" (PDF). Chartwatch: 2005 Chart Booklet. Zobbel.de. pp. 39–40. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 4, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
- "Top 50 Global Best Selling Albums for 2005" (PDF). IFPI. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 17, 2008.
- "Jahreshitparade Alben 2006" (in German). austriancharts.at. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- "Tops de l'Année - Top Albums 2006" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- "Billboard 200 Albums - Year-End 2006". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 1, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
- "Austrian album certifications – System of a Down – Hypnotize" (in German). IFPI Austria.
- "System Of A Down" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
- "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (System Of A Down; 'Hypnotize')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
- "The Irish Charts - 2005 Certification Awards - Platinum". Irish Recorded Music Association.
- "Italian album certifications – System Of A Down – Hypnotize" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved August 2, 2021. Select "2021" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Hypnotize" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
- "New Zealand album certifications – System of a Down – Hypnotize". Recorded Music NZ.
- "Russian album certifications – System of a Down – Hypnotize" (in Russian). National Federation of Phonogram Producers (NFPF).
- "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (System Of A Down; 'Hypnotize')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
- "British album certifications – System of a Down – Hypnotize". British Phonographic Industry.