Six months have passed, but the wait is nearly over as System of a Down prepare to launch the second half of the Mezmerize/Hypnotize double album project. The new half-an-album's title track is also the first single, and unlike instant classic B.Y.O.B. it's a more slow-burning affair, more a teaser for the album than a self-contained crowd-rousing beast.
It seems like one of the most lyrically straightforward songs SOAD have done, though it does interestingly define the split between Serj Tankian's political activist and Daron Malakian's stoner dude personas. It's a duet between the two that starts by challenging those that are Hynotized or Mezmerized (sic, of course - it's so hard for us British writers to get past all those Z's) by the power of televisual propaganda (Serj territory) before leaving us with the refrain "I'm just sitting in my car and waiting for my girl" (Daron here omitting to mention the giant bong on his passenger seat).
The Armenia-rock harmonies and melodies dominate again, and despite rumours that Hypnotize is more vintage SOAD than its predecessor, the single is very Mezmerize in feel. To some (including this writer) that is definitely a good thing. However listen at your peril - the wait for November 21st suddenly seems just a little too long to bear...
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