System of a Down

System of a Down is an Armenian-American heavy metal band formed in 1994 in Glendale, California. The band's members — Serj Tankian (vocals, keyboards), Daron Malakian (guitar, vocals), Shavo Odadjian (bass, backing vocals), and John Dolmayan (drums) — all have Armenian heritage, and their music often addresses political and social issues, including criticism of war, censorship, and human rights. Their debut album System of a Down was released in 1998, and they gained international recognition with their album Toxicity (2001), which featured hits like "Chop Suey!" and "Aerials." The album Mezmerize (2005) and its follow-up Hypnotize (2005) were also commercially successful. The band won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2006 for the single "B.Y.O.B." After stepping back from touring in 2006, they reunited in 2010. Although they have not released a new studio album, they released two new songs in 2020: "Protect the Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz." The band members are also active in various musical projects and social initiatives.