Length: 36:15
Released: May 17th 2005
1.) Soldier Side (Intro)
2.) B.Y.O.B (Bring Your Own Bombs)*
3.) Revenga
4.) Cigaro
5.) Radio/Video
6.) This Cocaine Makes Me Feel Like I’m On This Song
7.) Violent Pornography*
8.) Question?*
9.) Sad Statue
10.) Old School Hollywood
11.) Lost In Hollywood*
Recorded In Rick Rubin’s Haunted Mansion, Mezmurize was the first of SOAD’s two part album MezmurizeHypnatize, the follow up to 2000’s Acclaimed Toxicity. (Steal This Album! Being a B-Side Album.) The album saw a shift in dominance within the band from Singer/keyboardist Serj Tankian to guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian. The Majority of the album sees Malakain writing most of the music and lyrics, while taking on a larger percentage of vocal duties. Mezmurize continues the political lyrics and profane nonsense that gained the band popularity in the early 2000’s. “Cigaro” is a twisted take on competitiveness, while “Violent Pornography” slams the media. Single BYOB bashes Bush and features thought police like soldiers in its music video. The only Serj dominated song, “Question?”, contemplates death and boasts a music video inspired by a dream bassist Shavo had. Many fans will put down Mezmurize for its experimental daring and outright strangeness. (See “This Cocaine…”) The Album is however more memorable and consistent then its second half: Hypnatize.
7.7/10
* Notes Perpetual Eargasm
