System of a Down for the archive?

OK, this was asked back in May, and there was a mixed bag of opinions. However, with the release of the new album (Hypnotize), I think it's time to rethink whether or not the band should be in the archive.

Personally, I'm all for it. I've always considered System of a Down to be progressive metal. For those who know the band, I would suggest listening in particular to the tracks 'Mind', 'Science', 'ATWA', 'Darts', 'Mr. Jack', 'Soil' and 'Needles' for the progressive sound; and from the new album 'Dreaming', 'Kill Rock N' Roll' and especially 'U-Fig'.

System show all the elements for a progressive band, including (from the site's definition of prog):

• Intricate lyrics with multiple meanings ('Forest' is simultaneously about the story of creation, paedophilia and schizophrenia; 'Suggestions' is both about a battle and subtely symbolises the control of governments)
• Original album design (their last two albums were essentially the same - they contained similar themes (the Iraq war being one) and the two album covers physically joined together to form one package). Also their most successful album to date, 'Toxicity' concluded with a tribal hymn called 'Arto', performed with only traditional tribal instruments.
  
• Unusual vocal styles - 'Vicinity of Obscenity' contains soft, squeaky and distorted vocals; choral vocals are used over a sitar at the end of 'Aerials'; antiharmonies between the two vocalists are used in many tracks; and of course the tribal wails in 'Arto'.
• Electronic instrumentation - 'Old School Hollywood' heavily uses keyboards and synthesisers; many other System tracks incorporate keyboards.
• Metamorphic time signatures - This is what System do best and are known for. A few of the most prominent tracks with unusual or multiple time signatures are: 'U-Fig', 'Mind' and 'Vicinity of Obscenity'
• Links with art - Mezmerize/Hypnotize feature a very continuous aesthetic style, with the same theme running through the cover art of both albums and all related material at that time

The only points from the guide that System of a Down do not conform to are that they have not had any long compositions yet - although apparantly an instrumental piece - called 'Hezze' is due to be released soon and is tipped as being of considerable length; the other 'prog' thing they haven't done is to include non-original classical compositions on their albums. But hey, that'd be plagiarism.

So that's my case for System of a Down being added to the archives. Considering that all of the above points are in comparison to the archive's definition of what a progressive band is, I think they're a strong case to be in the archive.


Edited by Notch

No.

BTW: The second option should be renamed to "maybe ... if they at some point start making progressive music".

Hmm...

NO NO NO NO NO NO HELL NO!!!

Sorry, I don't know how they can be considered progressive in the slightest.  Their music pisses me off too.  The singer has one of the most annoying and bitchy voices of all time and their lyrics... well, look at songs like BYOB and I think that speaks for itself.  Lyrics aren't supposed to matter when it comes to music, but in their case, it actually detracts from the music (which already annoys me).




Edited by Bluesaga

Well, I like their "Mezmerize" album in some way, but I NEVER would say that they fit into the prog metal outfit, not even a bit

Noooooooooooooooooooo

No, Thank you. 

 NOOOO!!!!

Already asked and again NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not remotely Progressive Metal.

Iván

No.

I like them a great deal, but they don't do prog.

I don't much like political propaganda, or people dubbing their new favorite band of the next ten minutes "prog." The poll clearly indicates System of a Down shouldn't be here and by me telling you "I don't like System of a Down because of them shoving political propaganda down my throat," I'm doing exactly what every band-adder seems to be doing now, just in the opposite manner in order to hopefully keep progarchives sounding like what the majority of people here call "prog." I hate mislabeling bands, we all do it. Lets stop now.