10 Best Hard Rock Albums Of The 2000s

There has always been a correlation between System of a Down and nu metal, but as time goes by, that comparison seems to hold less water. In essence, System is one of the modern age's greatest examples of an alt-metal band, with Toxicity standing as their most concise musical vision.

Throughout this record, songwriter Daron Malakian delivers some of the most ferocious riffs of his career from the atonal chaos of "Chop Suey!" to the almost tribal sounding descent of "Aerials." While the riffs are definitely one of the band's trademarks, the combination of Malakian's voice with vocalist Serj Tankian across multiple tracks is an exquisite blend of vocal timbres that cannot be equaled. However, this band's focus is on much more than just their vocal chops.

The punch-in-the-face urgency of the title track and the anarchic atmosphere of opener "Prison Song" are pure shots of adrenaline as the rhythms burrow their way into your skull. The lyrics are also fantastic as they showcase political condemnations on the powers that be like on the aforementioned "Aerials" or on "Chop Suey!'s" perspective on war and religion. These tracks are seething with rage, but the groove that System provides behind it is almost impossible to resist.