10 Rock Bands That Quit At The Top

There's no real way to categorize what type of music System of a Down are. Though originally thrown into the nu metal category, their interpolations of everything from metal to rock to acoustic music to traditional Armenian music has made for one of the most interesting sounds to come from the rock scene. Then again, that kind of magic seemed to go off the rails just as it was starting to get going.

After reaching the mainstream on their second effort Toxicity, System kept on trucking throughout the '00s with Steal This Album and the ambitious "double" album Mezmerize and Hypnotize. Exhausted from the slew of material they went through, the guys decided to take a bit of a break to recharge their batteries. Then Daron Malakian struck out on his own with Scars on Broadway. Then Serj Tankian started his own solo career.

The more and more we waited for a proper System album, the more it become apparent that the guys just weren't on the same creative page anymore, deciding to keep the legacy where it is rather than go on. Though they have since reunited for shows every now and again, it tends to feel more like a celebration of the music they once made rather than an extension of where they are in the moment. With Malakian hinting that the chances of any more new music are slim, it was an amazing ride to be a part of while it lasted.