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==Music, writing, and recording== {{Quote box |quote ="Going into it, I knew Serj wanted to sing more, so I guess that was a kind of a progression and an evolution for the band. I wanted to do all that, yet not lose the heaviness of the band and I guess the hard, punk, metal aspect. You could lose that sometimes when you get a little too eclectic. So we were just trying to balance that fine line and not lose the fans." |source = [[Daron Malakian]], speaking about ''Toxicity''{{'s}} sound.<ref name=Wiederhorn /> |width = 20em |align = left}} Primarily considered an [[alternative metal]]<ref name=TenThingsRollingStone>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/system-of-a-downs-toxicity-10-things-you-didnt-know-w437478 |title=System of a Down's 'Toxicity': 10 Things You Didn't Know |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |last=Reed |first=Ryan |date=September 4, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910082901/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/system-of-a-downs-toxicity-10-things-you-didnt-know-w437478 |archive-date=September 10, 2017 }}</ref><ref name=MetalDescent>{{cite web |url=http://metaldescent.com/the-25-best-alternative-metal-albums/ |title=The 25 Best Alternative Metal Albums |publisher=Metal Descent |author=Mike Lawrence |date=February 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204131904/http://metaldescent.com/the-25-best-alternative-metal-albums/|archive-date=February 4, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.theneedledrop.com/articles/2019/1/system-of-a-down-toxicity | title=System of a Down - Toxicity | date=January 4, 2019 | access-date=April 23, 2022 | archive-date=September 24, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924151033/http://www.theneedledrop.com/articles/2019/1/system-of-a-down-toxicity | url-status=live }}</ref> and [[nu metal]]<ref name="AllMusic" /><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/system-of-a-down-toxicity/ | title=System of a Down: Toxicity | website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] | access-date=December 21, 2018 | archive-date=November 11, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111101332/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/system-of-a-down-toxicity/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.spin.com/2015/04/spin-30-system-of-a-down-returns-to-nu-metals-greatest-album-toxicity/ | title=SPIN 30: System of a Down Revisit Nu-Metal's Greatest Album, 'Toxicity' | date=April 14, 2015 | access-date=April 23, 2022 | archive-date=April 23, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423131243/https://www.spin.com/2015/04/spin-30-system-of-a-down-returns-to-nu-metals-greatest-album-toxicity/ | url-status=live }}</ref> album, ''Toxicity'' has also been described as [[thrash metal]],<ref name="Uncut" /> [[art rock|art metal]],<ref name="AVClubLeonardPierce" /> [[hard rock]],<ref name="MetalSucks">{{cite web|url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2009/06/17/14-system-of-a-down-toxicity/|title=#14: SYSTEM OF A DOWN β TOXICITY|date=June 17, 2009|publisher=[[MetalSucks]]|author=Rob Pasbani|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221092518/http://www.metalsucks.net/2009/06/17/14-system-of-a-down-toxicity/|archive-date=February 21, 2016}}</ref> [[progressive metal]],<ref name="RollingStoneProgMetal" /> and [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]].<ref name="AllMusic" /> ''Toxicity'' features elements of multiple genres of music: [[folk music|folk]],<ref name="Entertainment Weekly" /> [[progressive rock]],<ref name="Entertainment Weekly" /> [[jazz]],<ref name="Entertainment Weekly" /><ref name=Wiederhorn>{{cite magazine |url=http://loudwire.com/system-of-a-down-toxicity-anniversary/ |title=14 Years Ago: System of a Down Unleash 'Toxicity' |magazine=[[Loudwire]] |author=Jon Wiederhorn|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204132530/http://loudwire.com/system-of-a-down-toxicity-anniversary/|archive-date=February 4, 2017}}</ref> [[Hip hop music|hip hop]],<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.altpress.com/features/bands-who-influenced-nu-metal/ | title=20 artists who defined the sound of nΓΌ metal from past to present | website=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]] | date=July 21, 2021 | access-date=April 23, 2022 | archive-date=April 14, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414232934/https://www.altpress.com/features/bands-who-influenced-nu-metal/ | url-status=live }}</ref> [[Middle Eastern music]],<ref name=Wiederhorn /> and [[Greek music]].<ref name=Wiederhorn /> Guitarist [[Daron Malakian]] said that he "wanted to add a bit more harmony for" himself "in the songs and that required tastefully mixing in some softer guitars between the really heavy parts".<ref name=Wiederhorn /> Malakian also cited [[the Beatles]] as an influence on ''Toxicity''.<ref name=TenThingsRollingStone /> Sounds of instruments other than drums, vocals, electric guitar and bass guitar, such as [[sitar]], [[banjo]],<ref name=QuestionAndAnswer>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/serj-tankian-of-system-of-a-down-20010927 |title=Q&A: Serj Tankian of System of a Down |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=February 2, 2018 |date=September 27, 2001 |last=Eliscu |first=Jenny |archive-date=February 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203130023/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/serj-tankian-of-system-of-a-down-20010927 |url-status=live }}</ref> keyboards and piano,<ref name="Booklet" /> are also featured on ''Toxicity''. The majority of the album's music was written in the tuning of [[Drop C tuning|drop C]].<ref>{{Harvnb|System of a Down|2001|p=4}}</ref> System of a Down recorded over thirty songs during the recording of ''Toxicity'' but narrowed the number of songs on the album to fourteen.<ref name=vanHorn /> Several of these recorded songs that didn't make it onto ''Toxicity'' were re-recorded for System of a Down's next studio album ''[[Steal This Album!]]'', an album released in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1458554/system-of-a-down-reveal-motivations-for-steal-this-album/ |title=System of a Down Reveal Motivations For Steal This Album |publisher=[[MTV]] |last=Wiederhorn |first=Jon |date=November 6, 2002 |access-date=February 1, 2018 |archive-date=February 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202190142/http://www.mtv.com/news/1458554/system-of-a-down-reveal-motivations-for-steal-this-album/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''Toxicity'' was recorded at [[Cello Studios]] in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]], California, mixed at [[The Enterprise Studios|Enterprise Studios]] in [[Burbank, California]], and mastered at Oasis Mastering in [[Studio City]], California.<ref name="Booklet" /> According to bassist [[Shavo Odadjian]], the song "[[Chop Suey!]]" is "about drug addiction, but [System of a Down took] something really serious and made it a little quacky".<ref name=MTV>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1446606/system-of-a-downs-schizophrenia-aggravated-on-toxicity/ |title=System Of A Down's Schizophrenia Aggravated On Toxicity |publisher=[[MTV]] |author=Jon Wiederhorn |date=August 13, 2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224093527/http://www.mtv.com/news/1446606/system-of-a-downs-schizophrenia-aggravated-on-toxicity/ |archive-date=December 24, 2015 }}</ref> Vocalist [[Serj Tankian]] compared the song to [[Guns N' Roses]]' "[[Mr. Brownstone]]".<ref name="SysAlbum1">[[#KerrangSysAlbRev|Lawson (ed.) 2001, p. 11]]</ref> "Prison Song" is about [[mass incarceration]].<ref name="MTV" /> Serj Tankian said: "It's about the unfairness of mandatory minimum sentences and how there are about 2,000,000 Americans in jail, and a lot of them are in there for marijuana possession and things of that sort. [...] Instead of rehabilitating men who have drug problems, they're throwing them in prison. That's not really solving anything."<ref name=BenefitDate>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1434746/system-of-a-down-talks-next-lp-sets-benefit-date/ |title=System Of A Down Talks Next LP, Sets Benefit Date |publisher=[[MTV]] |author=Teri vanHorn |date=October 11, 2000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301074600/http://www.mtv.com/news/1434746/system-of-a-down-talks-next-lp-sets-benefit-date/ |archive-date=March 1, 2016 }}</ref> Tankian said that "Prison Song" also addresses "how drug money is used to rig elections in other countries by the [[CIA]]".<ref name=BenefitDate /> "Needles" is about "pulling a [[tapeworm]] out of your ass."<ref name="SysAlbumNeedles">[[#KerrangSysAlbRev|Lawson (ed.) 2001, p. 10]]. Serj [Tankian]: " 'Needles' is about pulling a tapeworm out of your ass. Which you can actually do yourself if there is an edge sticking out. Believe me, we've researched it."</ref><!-- This is not a joke; this is literally what the source says. --> "Bounce" is about [[group sex]].<ref name=MTV /> "Psycho" is about [[groupie]]s.<ref name="AllMusic" /><ref name=BenefitDate /> "ATWA" (an acronym for "Air, Trees, Water, Animals") is about [[Charles Manson]]'s beliefs on the environment. Malakian has said that "[Manson is] in jail for the wrong reasons. I think he had an unfair trial".<ref name=vanHorn>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1444825/system-of-a-down-measure-growth-with-toxicity/ |title=System Of A Down Measure Growth With ''Toxicity'' |publisher=[[MTV]] |author=Teri vanHorn |date=June 27, 2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224093528/http://www.mtv.com/news/1444825/system-of-a-down-measure-growth-with-toxicity/ |archive-date=December 24, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="SysAlbum1"/> "Deer Dance" is about [[2000 Democratic National Convention protest activity|the protests surrounding the 2000 Democratic National Convention]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/all-systems-go/Content?oid=23329 |title=All Systems Go |newspaper=[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]] |first=Adam |last=Bregman |date=September 29, 2005 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914035543/http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/all-systems-go/Content?oid=23329 |archive-date=September 14, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/uniontrib/20050804/news_lz1w04system.html |title=We speak of real life |newspaper=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]] |author=George Varga |date=August 4, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731112222/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/uniontrib/20050804/news_lz1w04system.html |archive-date=July 31, 2016 }}</ref>
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