System of a Down

Formed in 1994 by children of the Armenian diaspora in Southern California, System of a Down turned metal into a theater of exposed nerves. Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian, Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan bring together dry riffs, Armenian-rooted melodies, absurd humor and political protest in songs that change direction without warning. Toxicity, from 2001, took that vertigo to the top of the American charts.

Why listen to System of a Down?

To hear political rage, absurdity and Armenian melody share the same riff.