SYSTEM OF A DOWN, BEST OF. D. Malakian. SHEET MUSIC BOOK WITH CD & GUITAR TABLATURE
A Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Guitar Styles and Techniques of Daron Malakian
Series: Signature Licks Guitar
Softcover with CD - TAB
Author: Chad Johnson
Artist: System of a Down
Explore the trademark riffs and licks of the dissident modern metal band! This cool book/CD pack provides a detailed analysis of a dozen songs, complete with full demos on CD! 12 Songs include, 72 pages
In a music industry filled with corporate cardboard-cutout bands, System of a Down stands out like a giant extended middle finger. Not only have they managed to stick to their guns and refuse compromise in any form, they've also achieved enormous commercial success-completely on their terms. While the band openly addresses issues such as war, genocide, politics, and corporate America in their songs, they also manage to avoid taking themselves too seriously. Many bands, upon "making it," become puppets of the record industry, scared to death to make waves lest their newfound success will vanish. System of a Down, however, refuses to bow to the corporate machine. They have repeatedly rejected the "political band" label that's often thrown their way, maintaining that they will sing about what they want, when they want-a brave move for such a young band. Though they are commonly considered a part of the "California Metal Explosion" that arose in the mid-to-Iate nineties with the likes of Korn, Deftones, Fear Factory, and Coal Chamber, the association is a bit of a stretch. All of the aforementioned bands have a tendency toward a heavy sound, but that's about where the similarities end. Blending such diverse musical styles as heavy metal, hardcore punk, jazz, hip-hop, rap, and folk, to name but a few, System of a Down have carved out their very own sound that is as impossible to categorize as it is infectious. After only five years in the business, they've reached the enviable position of a band that calls its own shots. The group's beginnings can be traced back to 1993. Vocalist Serj Tankian and guitarist Daron Malakian met while in the studio recording with other bands. After discovering their common musical ground (and Armenian heritage), they decided to form the new band Soil. Shavo Odadjian was originally asked to become the band's manager before joining full time on bass. As is often the story with bands, the right drummer was the last to fall into place. John Dolmayan joined the band on skins shortly before producer Rick Rubin discovered them at the Viper Room club in Hollywood. Rubin (who has produced Red Hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash, and the Beastie Boys, among others) was so excited about the new sound that he landed them a recording contract with American Recordings (manufactured by Columbia Records) and produced their first album. The band adopted the name "System of a Down" from one of Malakian's poems. Even before they had signed a contract, the band had already amassed a considerable following throughout the country and overseas. Their demos had already become collectibles in America, Europe, and Australia. With the release of their self-titled debut album in 1998, System of a Down had officially arrived. With "Sugar" and "Spiders" enjoying steady airplay, the band took to the road for over two years of heavy touring. Opening for Slayer and taking part in the Ozzfest tour, they gained fans by the truckload. In late 2000, System re-entered the studio, again with Rick Rubin to guide the way. The resulting Toxicity, released in August of 2001 , would settle any dispute about the band's staying power. The first single, the acoustic-driven "Chop Suey!," was heavily rotated on MTV and radio, letting the rest of the world know what millions of fans already knew: System of a Down was here to stay. Again they took to the road. This time out, however, the band took over the headlining spot on the Ozzfest tour-a spot normally reserved for headbanging veterans. They made the most of the opportunity, letting the fans know that hard music can be about more than just partying 'til you drop. Meanwhile, "Toxicity" and "Aerials" shook the airwaves, effectively demonstrating the band's diversity. In 2002, System released Steal This Album, a collection of previously unreleased tracks, once again to critical and commercial success. With songs such as "Boom," "Chic 'n' Stew," and "F**k the System," the band's anti-establishment message rang as true as ever, and the ever-widening scope of what to expect from the band grew exponentially. As many of the other California bands once associated with them have disappeared, System of a Down now stands as strongly as ever. Their efforts to remain unique and true to their vision have paid off well. While many groups attain and even surpass their level of success, few can say that they've done it with more dignity than System. They have managed to force their ever-growing mass of fans to expect the unexpected-a win-win situation in the world of commercial music.
2001 - Aerials - from album Toxicity - Daron Malakian, Serj Tankian
2002 - Boom! - from album Steal this album - Daron Malakian, Serj Tankian
2001 - Bounce - from album Toxicity - Daron Malakian, Serj Tankian, Shavo Odadjian
2002 - Chic 'N' Stew - from album Steal this album - Daron Malakian, Serj Tankian
2001 - Chop Suey! - from album Toxicity - Daron Malakian, Serj Tankian
2002 - Innervision - from album Steal this album - Daron Malakian, Serj Tankian
2001 - Jet Pilot - from album Toxicity - Daron Malakian, Serj Tankian, Shavo Odadjian
2001 - Psycho - from album Toxicity - Daron Malakian, Serj Tankian
1998 - Spiders - from album System of a down - Daron Malakian, Serj Tankian, Shavo Odadjian, John Dolmayan
1998 - Sugar - from album System of a down - Daron Malakian, Serj Tankian, Shavo Odadjian, John Dolmayan
2001 - Toxicity - from album Toxicity - Daron Malakian, Serj Tankian, Shavo Odadjian
1998 - War? - from album System of a down - Daron Malakian, Serj Tankian, Shavo Odadjian, John Dolmayan