S.O.A.D.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN

This Los Angeles, California, USA-based alternative metal band comprises three members of Armenian heritage, Serj Tankian (b. 1968, USA; vocals), Daron Malakian (b. 1976, USA; guitar) and Shavo Odadjian (bass), and John Dolmayan (drums).Tankian, Malakian and Odadjian first played together in 1993 as Soil, renaming themselves System Of A Down, from a poem by Malakian, in 1995.

The band built up a following in the southern California area with an explosive live act. Rick Rubin spotted SOAD playing the Viper Room in Hollywood and signed them to his new record label, American Recordings.

The band's heady fusion of alternative metal and programmed beats was augmented by subtle Eastern European influences, earning them comparisons to contemporary metal bands such as Korn and the Deftones. The band's political agenda raised their aggro-metal to another level, however, with songs such as "P.L.U.C.K." ("Politically, Lying, Unholy, Cowardly Killers") and live favourite "War?' refusing to draw a veil over atrocities committed in their homeland. The band subsequently enjoyed high-profile touring slots with Slayer and on summer 1998"s Ozzfest, and confirmed their status as one of the leading rock acts of the new millennium with the release of Toxicity.

In 2002, they will release a new cd featuring formerly never heard recordings. All are fully finished and should be released in late November. The album is titled Steal this Album.