In the age of the new millenium, there were many metal bands whose metal was extremely downcast and anarchistic, but very few of them really distinguished themselves. System of a Down was one band than set themselves apart from the crowd--they clearly had a political leftist fury, but they had a sense of humor too.

"Sugar," System of a Down's first single, was just plain weird. It alternates between a swing drum beat and a heavy guitar burst, and Serj is singing about oppression, but in quirky monologues about kicking his girl in the "Ooh! Baby! She's okay!" I have to admit that I really passed this single off as a cheesy 90s comedy song, but gradually I loved listening to them.

System of a Down has a Middle Eastern-style to them as well, with very characteristic chord progressions. The guitarists were incredible for making heavy metal sound far different than it ever sounded.

Whether Serj is yelping weird lyrics in "Ddevil" or screaming in "Suite-Pee," he really showed that metal had so many dimensions. In "P.L.U.C.K." Serj Tankian shows off his maddening anger at genocide, screaming "Die! Why?!? Walk Down! Walk Down!".

And the drummer really knows how to set the band in different beat rhythms, sometimes playing in a seven beat rhythm, then switching back to four beats. He sure knows how to slide in those speedy drum rolls and offbeat rhythms.

This debut shows that System of a Down clearly makes a half-anarchist, half-hilarious lineup of songs so entertaining. Clearly System of a Down is going to be remembered for being one the craziest, but most eclectic metal bands around.