This article is about the album. For the song, see Hypnotize (System of a Down song). For other uses, see Hypnotize (disambiguation).
Hypnotize
studio
ArtistSystem of a Down
CoverSystem Of A Down-Hypnotize.jpg
ReleasedNovember 22, 2005
StudioThe Mansion and Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research (Los Angeles)
Genre
Length39:40
Label
Producer
Prev year2005

Hypnotize is the fifth and final studio album by American heavy metal band System of a Down. It was released on November 22, 2005, six months after the release of its companion album Mezmerize. Both Mezmerize and Hypnotize debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, making System of a Down one of four artists at the time, along with the Beatles, 2Pac and DMX to have two albums top the chart in the same year.[2]

The album was positively received by critics, praised primarily for its songwriting.

Background

The album is a companion album with System of a Down's previous album, Mezmerize. After that album's release, the band went on an extensive tour, touring with the Mars Volta and Bad Acid Trip.[3]

Both albums were recorded together, and their cover art, drawn by guitarist Daron Malakian's father, Vartan Malakian, was designed to connect the two separate album covers.[4]

Release

The album was released on November 22, 2005, and was an immediate hit, topping the Billboard 200, selling 320,000 copies in its first week in the United States, and charting in the top 40 in over 20 countries. The album was certified gold and platinum by the RIAA on December 13, 2005, and has also received various other sales certifications.[5] Since its release, Hypnotize has sold 8 million copies worldwide.[6]

Reception

Hypnotize received generally positive reviews. Writing for Entertainment Weekly, Tom Sinclair would write, "When it comes to freakazoid operatic metal, no one beats System of a Down." he continued by saying, "[T]hey're flaunting a heretofore underexplored sensitive side, offsetting their trademark stampeding riffology with flashes of delicate lyricism," ultimately rating the album a B+.

In a slightly less positive review, Rolling Stone rated the album a 3.5 out of 5, writing, "System of a Down nearly made the no-contest hard-rock album of 2005. Instead, they have released a double album, Mezmerize/Hypnotize, in six-month chunks -- two separate records that each fall shy of pulverizing perfection and appear to be conceptually bound by little more than speed, fuzz and nonstop bile."

Spin ranked the album No. 20 in their list of the best albums of 2005.

Track listing

All lyrics written by Daron Malakian and Serj Tankian, except where noted. All music written by Malakian, except where noted.

DualDisc edition – DVD side

Personnel

System of a Down

Vocals

  • "Attack": Serj Tankian (main), Daron Malakian (second voice)
  • "Dreaming": Tankian (main - verses) Malakian (main - bridge)
  • "Kill Rock 'n Roll": Tankian and Malakian (both main)
  • "Hypnotize": Tankian and Malakian (both main)
  • "Stealing Society": Tankian (main - verses) Malakian (main - bridge)
  • "Tentative": Tankian (main), Malakian (second voice)
  • "U-Fig": Tankian (main - verses & chorus) Malakian (main - chorus)
  • "Holy Mountains": Tankian (main), Malakian (second voice)
  • "Vicinity of Obscenity": Tankian
  • "She's Like Heroin": Malakian (main), Tankian (second voice)
  • "Lonely Day": Malakian (main), Tankian (second voice)
  • "Soldier Side": Tankian and Malakian (both main)

Production

  • Produced by Rick Rubin and Daron Malakian
  • Mixed by Andy Wallace
  • Engineered by David Schiffman
  • Editing by Jason Lader and Dana Nielsen
  • Assistant engineer: Phillip Broussard
  • Artwork: Vartan Malakian
  • Design: System of a Down and Brandy Flower
  • String arrangement: Serj Tankian and Marc Mann
  • Mix Pro Tools engineer: John O'Mahony
  • Mix assistant engineers: Steve Sisco (Soundtrack) and Joe Peluso (Enterprise)
  • Album production coordination: Lindsay Chase and Braden Asher
  • Recording location: The Mansion in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles and Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research, Los Angeles
  • Mixed at Soundtrack Studios, New York City and Enterprise Studios, Los Angeles
  • Mastered by Vlado Meller at Sony Music Studios, New York City

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for Hypnotize
Chart (2005)Peak
position
Italian Albums (Musica e dischi)[9]11

Year-end charts

2005 year-end chart performance for Hypnotize
Chart (2005)Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[10]89
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[11]58
French Albums (SNEP)[12]124
Italian Albums (FIMI)[13]100
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[14]38
UK Albums (OCC)[15]172
Worldwide Albums (IFPI)[16]42
2006 year-end chart performance for Hypnotize
Chart (2006)Position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[17]64
French Albums (SNEP)[18]156
US Billboard 200[19]41

References

  1. ^ "Legends of the Fall". Spin. 21 (9): 24. September 2005. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  2. ^ "System Of A Down Make It A Double With Chart-Topping Hypnotize". MTV News. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  3. ^ "System Of A Down, Mars Volta Plan Summer Tour". Billboard. Archived July 14, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  4. ^ "Mezmerize – System of a Down". Allmusic. Archived July 10, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  5. ^ RIAA
  6. ^ "What You Didn't Know About System OF A Down's 'Mezmerize' and 'Hypnotize'". Beneath the Surface. November 22, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  7. ^ di Perna, Alan (September 29, 2008). "Daron Malakian: 21st Century Schizoid Man". Guitar World. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  8. ^ Pedrotti, Fabrizio (July 18, 2019). "Shavo Odadjian: "System of a Down nunca va a morir"". Fabrizio Pedrotti. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  9. ^ "M&D: Classifiche" (in Italian). Musica e dischi. Retrieved June 18, 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Titolo" field, search "Hypnotize".
  10. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2005". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  11. ^ "Jahreshitparade Alben 2005" (in German). Austrian Charts. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  12. ^ "Tops de l'Année – Top Albums 2005" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  13. ^ "Classifica annuale 2005 (dal 03.01.2005 al 01.01.2006) – Album & Compilation" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  14. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 2005". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  15. ^ "The Top 200 Artist Albums of 2005". Chartwatch: 2005 Chart Booklet. Zobbel.de. pp. 39–40. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  16. ^ "Top 50 Global Best Selling Albums for 2005". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on November 17, 2008. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  17. ^ "Jahreshitparade Alben 2006" (in German). Austrian Charts. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  18. ^ "Tops de l'Année – Top Albums 2006" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  19. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2006". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 6, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2025.