Yes, _Mezmerize_ is a curious beast indeed. Already destined for platinum glory, one would expect (given the commercial success of _Toxicity_'s softer moments) that this record would be littered with radio-friendly tidbits that the masses could lap up in the same way they did Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters" over a decade ago. You would however be dead wrong, because, as much as System of a Down mix it up with just about every music genre you can imagine, there's actually very little in the way of outwardly mainstream fodder to be found here. Instead, for the most part _Mezmerize_ harks back to the first record for speed and aggressive punk abandon, throwing everything from Armenian folk ("Radio / Video"), R 'n' B ("B.Y.O.B.") and even some good old fashioned Eighties electronica ("Old School Hollywood") in along the way, and leaving the album's single ballad for last. Even here however, the band come across as sincere and honest, rather than MTV-baiting.

It's at this point that you realise just how rare a commodity System of a Down is in our day and age. _Mezmerize_ may not quite hit the peaks of its predecessor, but it's nevertheless a testimony to System of a Down's integrity as songwriters. Faced with repeating a formula for guaranteed success or coming up with new and innovative ideas, the band have followed in the stubborn footsteps of the likes of Faith No More, and are all the better for it. Which only leaves the rest of us to hope that the remainder of the music world is taking notes.