Hypnotize (album)

Hypnotize is the fifth and most recent studio album by the 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. Mezmerize and Hypnotize both debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.

Reception
Hypnotize received generally positive reviews. It opened at number one on the Billboard 200, with 320,000 copies sold in its first week. The album also debuted at number one on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 47,000 copies in its first week. The album was certified gold and platinum by the RIAA on December 13, 2005. Since its release, Hypnotize has sold 8 million copies worldwide.

Entertainment Weekly (No. 851, p. 100) - "[T]hey're flaunting a heretofore underexplored sensitive side, offsetting their trademark stampeding riffology with flashes of delicate lyricism." - Grade: B+

Rolling Stone (No. 988, p. 117) - 3.5 out of 5 stars - "Hell immediately runneth over in Malakian's scoured-staccato guitars and Dolmayan's furious hammering."

Spin (p. 62) - Ranked #20 in Spin's "40 Best Albums of 2005".

Uncut (p. 109) - 3 stars out of 5 - "System succeed through their skill at wielding complex, progressive heaviness in a pop context."

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

 * Entire album in enhanced stereo
 * The Recording of Mezmerize / Hypnotize
 * "B.Y.O.B." and "Question!" videos

Personnel
System of a Down
 * Serj Tankian – vocals, keyboards
 * Daron Malakian – vocals, guitars, bass (uncredited), keyboards (uncredited)
 * Shavo Odadjian – bass
 * John Dolmayan – drums

Vocal duties
 * "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
 * All artwork by 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