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Toxicity
by
Toxicity Image
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 454 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the alternative metal band's follow-up to their hit 1998 self-titled debut. Rick Rubin produced the 14-track effort.

Top Track

Chop Suey!
Wake up (wake up) Grab a brush and put a little make-up Hide the scars to fade away the shake-up (hide the scars to fade away the...) Why'd you leave... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 1 out of 9
  1. E! Online
    91
    Where the debut sometimes resembled a psycho-ward jam session, System serve up some surprising melodies on "Chop Suey!" "Forest" and the haunting "Aerials."
  2. Alternative Press
    90
    The fast parts are faster, the hard parts are harder, and the melodic sections are more memorable. [Oct 2001, p.102]
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  3. L.A. Weekly
    90
    Cast in layers upon layers of aural intricacy, Toxicity charters new frontiers, yet it’s still grinding rock at its most deafening.
  4. Revolver
    70
    45 minutes of jagged, uneven music that includes sparks of urgent genius, and perhaps five or six seconds that border on legitimate transcendence. [Nov/Dec 2001, p.117]
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  5. Rolling Stone
    70
    System of a Down's sophomore album thrives on this sort of urgency, the adrenal rush that insists there's no time for ambiguity.
  6. Entertainment Weekly
    67
    They have a sense of dynamics, tempering their heaviness with unexpected touches of acoustic folksiness and prog-rock flourishes.
  7. Uncut
    30
    Toxicity is virtually unlistenable: thrash metal splintered into a million pieces by unnecessary time changes, topped off with excruciatingly theatrical vocals. [Dec 2001, p.118]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 9 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 161 out of 171
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 171
  3. Negative: 3 out of 171
  1. PaulH.
    Feb 27, 2002
    10
    Awsome. Truely awsome. If "Bounce" doesn't get everyone at your local rock club onto the dancefloor and the DJ pogo-ing along aswell Awsome. Truely awsome. If "Bounce" doesn't get everyone at your local rock club onto the dancefloor and the DJ pogo-ing along aswell then I'll eat my copy of the album. With "Chop Suey!" and "Toxicity" they've surpassed the magnificence of Sugar. If the professional reviewers are so out of touch with what people actually want to listen to then I'm going to apply for a job! First class.… Expand
  2. jAbMaN
    Jan 13, 2011
    10
    Every song on the album sounds great to my ears and nobody else sounds close to their greatness of alternative metal and great vocals by theEvery song on the album sounds great to my ears and nobody else sounds close to their greatness of alternative metal and great vocals by the two singers.… Expand
  4. liord
    Aug 29, 2003
    10
    this album is really great!!! i loved the cd very much! i hope system will bring us more albums like this one
  5. MattS
    Apr 3, 2006
    10
    There best album! Its fast paced! Amazing! Stylish! And funny too! Any metal fan would agree it's amazing!! I wouldn't class it as There best album! Its fast paced! Amazing! Stylish! And funny too! Any metal fan would agree it's amazing!! I wouldn't class it as "nu-metal" though. Fuck that uncut guy he has no sese! Anyway, great album! Soil, P.L.U.C.K, peephole and suite-pee = amazig,… Expand
  6. AOTfan123
    Feb 4, 2015
    10
    An awesome album coming from a guy who isn't into Alternative Metal. This album has 14 awesome and catchy songs which can get stuck in yourAn awesome album coming from a guy who isn't into Alternative Metal. This album has 14 awesome and catchy songs which can get stuck in your head for awhile, this album has some of the bands best songs such as Chop Suey!, Toxicity, and Prison Song. Thanks to this band I am now officially in love with System of a Down so if you like Alternative Metal then I recommend this album big time.… Expand
  7. Colin17
    May 11, 2022
    9
    The album attacks numerous plights of American society. The band, filled with immigrants and children of immigrants, speak of America in a wayThe album attacks numerous plights of American society. The band, filled with immigrants and children of immigrants, speak of America in a way that citizens with deeper roots are afraid to say. They speak for the marginalized, giving them a voice they otherwise wouldn’t have.… Expand
  8. VakilyZ
    Jul 27, 2004
    0
    This album blows!! Anyone who takes this band seriously should be shot and flayed!! Rage Against the Machine will always be better than this crap!!

See all 171 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Most Discussed Album of 2001
5
#5 Most Shared Album of 2001

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