Editing System of a Down (section)

=== Music ===
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of [[AllMusic]] stated "Like many late-'90s [[Heavy metal music|metal]] bands System of a Down struck a balance between '80s underground [[thrash metal]] and metallic early-'90s [[alternative rock]]ers like [[Jane's Addiction]]".<ref name="Erlewine"/> System of a Down's music is influenced by elements of numerous styles, including [[alternative rock]],<ref name="newstead">{{cite news |last1=Newstead |first1=Al |title=A beginner's guide to System Of A Down |url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/doublej/music-reads/features/system-of-a-down-beginners-guide-j-files-songs-biography-guide/102854586 |access-date=2 June 2024 |work=Double J |date=14 September 2023}}</ref> [[art rock]], [[classic rock]],<ref name="revolver7things" /> [[gothic rock]],<ref name="spinmilner">{{cite news |last1=Milner |first1=Greg |title=My Life in Music: Serj Tankian |work=SPIN Magazine |date=23 June 2003}}</ref> [[hip hop]],<ref name="ls22">{{cite news |last1=Everley |first1=Dave |title="Public Enemy was a bad-ass thing": these are the 11 albums that changed SOAD bassist Shavo Odadjian's life |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/system-of-a-downs-shavo-odadjian-10-albums-that-changed-my-life |access-date=2 June 2024 |work=LouderSound |date=24 May 2022}}</ref> [[jazz]],<ref name="revolver7things" /> various genres of [[Heavy metal music|metal]] including [[thrash metal]] and even [[Norwegian black metal]],<ref name="newstead" /><ref name="revolver7things" /> and [[Middle Eastern music]].<ref name="interview_nalbandian">{{cite web| last= Nalbandian| first= Bob| title= Interview with System of a Down| work= Shockwaves Online| url= http://www.hardradio.com/hr3.html?http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hardradio.com%2Fshockwaves%2Fsystem1.php3| access-date= July 21, 2007| archive-date= July 19, 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110719185417/http://www.hardradio.com/hr3.html?http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hardradio.com%2Fshockwaves%2Fsystem1.php3| url-status= live}}</ref> System of a Down's music has variously been termed [[alternative metal]],<ref name="Erlewine">{{cite web | first = Stephen Thomas | last = Erlewine | title = Biography of System of a Down | website = Allmusic | url = https://allmusic.com/artist/system-of-a-down-p302874/biography | access-date = July 11, 2015 | archive-date = January 14, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110114000226/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/system-of-a-down-p302874/biography | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title= Choose System of a Down's Set List This Summer |date= April 8, 2011 |magazine= [[Revolver (magazine)|Revolver]] |url= http://www.revolvermag.com/news/choose-system-of-a-downs-set-list-this-summer.html |access-date= February 14, 2016 |archive-date= June 13, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170613111356/http://www.revolvermag.com/news/choose-system-of-a-downs-set-list-this-summer.html |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |first= Jason |last= Lipshutz |title= System Of A Down, Deftones Team For Summer Tour |date= April 8, 2011 |magazine= [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/photos/live/491431/system-of-a-down-deftones-team-for-summer-tour |access-date= February 14, 2016 |archive-date= February 3, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160203023142/http://www.billboard.com/articles/photos/live/491431/system-of-a-down-deftones-team-for-summer-tour |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first= Tim |last= Grierson |title= Top 10 Rock Albums of the '00s |publisher= [[About.com]] |url= http://rock.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/BestRockAlbums2000s.htm |access-date= February 14, 2016 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160217043131/http://rock.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/BestRockAlbums2000s.htm |archive-date= February 17, 2016 |df= mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first= Amy |last= Sciaretto |title= Loud Rock |journal= [[CMJ New Music Report]] |date= July 28, 2003 |issue= 824 |page= 23 |issn= 0006-2510 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=yTx2g_J6SHoC&q=%22system+of+a+down%22&pg=PA23 |access-date= November 7, 2020 |archive-date= March 23, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230323113306/https://books.google.com/books?id=yTx2g_J6SHoC&q=%22system+of+a+down%22&pg=PA23 |url-status= live }}</ref> [[nu metal]],<ref>{{cite book|first=Tommy|last=Udo|title=Brave Nu World|year=2002|publisher=Sanctuary Publishing|isbn=1-86074-415-X|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bravenuworld00tomm/page/183 183–185, 242]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/bravenuworld00tomm/page/183}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|editor-first=Eric|editor-last=Weisbard|title=This is Pop: in Search of the Elusive at Experience Music Project|url=https://archive.org/details/thisispopinsearc00weis|url-access=registration|year=2004|publisher=[[Harvard University Press]]|isbn=0-674-01344-1|page=[https://archive.org/details/thisispopinsearc00weis/page/220 220]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://stylusmagazine.com/articles/staff_top_10/top-ten-nu-metal-bands.htm |title=Top Ten Nu-Metal Bands |work=[[Stylus Magazine]] |date=September 10, 2004 |last=Unterberger |first=Andrew |access-date=September 25, 2014 |archive-date=June 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614171513/http://stylusmagazine.com/articles/staff_top_10/top-ten-nu-metal-bands.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first= James |last= Grebey |title= Watch System of a Down's Full First-Ever Concert in Armenia |journal= [[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |date= April 23, 2015 |access-date= December 11, 2015 |url= http://www.spin.com/2015/04/system-of-a-down-armenia-armenian-genocide-concert-watch-stream/ |archive-date= March 20, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170320112522/http://www.spin.com/2015/04/system-of-a-down-armenia-armenian-genocide-concert-watch-stream/ |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first= Sarah |last= Bella |title= Serj Tankian Nixes Talk of New System of a Down Album |journal= [[Music Feeds]] |date= August 1, 2013 |url= http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/serj-tankian-nixes-talk-of-new-system-of-a-down-album/ |access-date= December 11, 2015 |archive-date= June 22, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170622122928/http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/serj-tankian-nixes-talk-of-new-system-of-a-down-album/ |url-status= live }}</ref> [[hard rock]],<ref>{{cite magazine |url= http://www.spin.com/2013/07/system-of-a-down-new-album-drama/ |title= System of a Down Hint at New Album After Denying Internal Drama |first= Marc |last= Hogan |magazine= Spin |date= July 31, 2013 |access-date= February 14, 2016 |archive-date= March 3, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303191609/http://www.spin.com/2013/07/system-of-a-down-new-album-drama/ |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/76980/system-of-a-down-to-headline-ozzfest |title= System Of A Down To Headline Ozzfest |magazine= Billboard |date= January 29, 2002 |access-date= February 14, 2016 |archive-date= March 6, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160306054109/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/76980/system-of-a-down-to-headline-ozzfest |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Lullaby Versions Of SYSTEM OF A DOWN Due This Week |url= http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/lullaby-versions-of-system-of-a-down-due-this-week/ |work= [[Blabbermouth.net]] |date= October 21, 2013 |access-date= February 14, 2016 |archive-date= March 3, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303203943/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/lullaby-versions-of-system-of-a-down-due-this-week/ |url-status= live }}</ref> [[progressive metal]],<ref name="rollstone">{{cite magazine|last=Serpick |first=Evan |title=System of a Down&nbsp;— Prog-metal Radicals |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=December 15, 2005 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/8957307/system_of_a_down |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071029235443/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/8957307/system_of_a_down |archive-date=October 29, 2007 |url-status=dead |access-date =August 22, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first= Jay |last= Cridlin |title= System of a Down's Serj Tankian coming to the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg |date= June 24, 2010 |newspaper= [[Tampa Bay Times]] |url= http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/soundcheck/content/system-downs-serj-tankian-coming-mahaffey-theater-st-petersburg |access-date= February 14, 2016 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160217004937/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/soundcheck/content/system-downs-serj-tankian-coming-mahaffey-theater-st-petersburg |archive-date= February 17, 2016 |df= mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first= Chris |last= Harris |title= System Of A Down Top ''Billboard'' With ''Mezmerize'' |date= May 25, 2005 |publisher= [[MTV News]] |url= http://www.mtv.com/news/1502898/system-of-a-down-top-billboard-with-mezmerize/ |access-date= February 14, 2016 |archive-date= March 2, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160302111130/http://www.mtv.com/news/1502898/system-of-a-down-top-billboard-with-mezmerize/ |url-status= dead }}</ref> [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]],<ref name="Erlewine"/><ref>{{cite web|first=Jessiva|last=Gelt|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-ca-cm-serj-tankian-snap-20161101-story.html|title=System of a Down's Serj Tankian goes classical with symphonic concerts in Northridge|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=November 6, 2016|access-date=August 29, 2019|url-access=limited|archive-date=August 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829053101/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-ca-cm-serj-tankian-snap-20161101-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>  [[thrash metal]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10761508|title=System of a Down set for NZ show|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=November 2, 2012|date=October 25, 2011|archive-date=December 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202130436/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10761508|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title= System of a Down |date= December 2015 |magazine= Guitar Techniques |url= https://archive.org/stream/Guitar_Techniques_December_2015/Guitar_Techniques_December_2015_djvu.txt |access-date= February 14, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first= Brendan |last= Boughen |title= Serart |date= August 31, 2003 |publisher= The Phantom Tollbooth |url= http://www.tollbooth.org/2003/reviews/serj.html |access-date= February 14, 2016 |archive-date= March 28, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160328154028/http://www.tollbooth.org/2003/reviews/serj.html |url-status= live }}</ref> [[art rock]],<ref name="Archive Biography" /><ref>{{cite web | last=Christgau | first=Robert | title=Reviews of System of a Down | url=http://robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=system+of+a+down | access-date=April 2, 2009 | archive-date=June 29, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629173114/http://robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=system+of+a+down | url-status=live }}</ref> and [[avant-garde metal]].<ref name="mtv1">{{cite web|last=Harris|first=Chris|title=System Of A Down Mezmerize NYC With Crushing 90-Minute Gig|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1501594/system-down-mezmerize-nyc-crowd.jhtml|work=[[MTV]]|publisher=[[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom International]]|access-date=May 10, 2012|date=May 10, 2005|archive-date=November 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108174450/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1501594/system-down-mezmerize-nyc-crowd.jhtml|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Archive Biography">{{cite web|title=Archive Biography|url=http://rock.about.com/od/systemofadown/p/soad.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707075217/http://rock.about.com/od/systemofadown/p/soad.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 7, 2011}}</ref>
Malakian has stated that "We don't belong to any one scene"<ref name="Morse">{{cite news |first=Steve |last=Morse |title=''Pounding out a blistering attack: System of a Down lashes out at Hollywood, war, and hypocrisy'' |url=https://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2005/08/26/pounding_out_a_blistering_attack/ |work=The Boston Globe |date=August 26, 2005 |access-date=April 5, 2009 |archive-date=July 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705052346/http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2005/08/26/pounding_out_a_blistering_attack/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and that "I don't like the nu-metal [[dropped A tuning|drop-A]] [[7-string guitar]] sound; it is not my thing, at least not yet."<ref name="Perry">{{cite book |last1=Perry |first1=Megan |title=Wired: musicians' home studios : tools & techniques of the musical mavericks |year=2004 |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |isbn=0-87930-794-3 |page=[https://archive.org/details/wiredmusiciansho0000perr/page/79 79] |chapter=Daron's Guitar Tunings |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/wiredmusiciansho0000perr/page/79 |chapter-url-access=registration}}</ref> In interview with Mike Lancaster, he also said, "People always seem to feel the need to put us into a category, but we just don't fit into any category."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.glendalehigh.com/malakian.html |title=The Daron Malakian Interview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415015217/http://www.glendalehigh.com/malakian.html |archive-date=15 April 2009 |orig-date=28 March 2003 |access-date=12 October 2021 |work=Glendale High School Newspaper |first=Mike |last=Lancaster}}</ref> According to Tankian, "As far as arrangement and everything, [our music] is pretty much [[Popular music|pop]]. To me, System of a Down isn't a progressive band. [...] But it's not a typical pop project, obviously. We definitely pay attention to the music to make sure that it's not something someone's heard before."<ref name="DeRogatis">{{Cite news|first=Jim|last=DeRogatis|title=''They're an Armenian band''|url=http://www.jimdero.com/News2001/Sept14SOAD.htm|work=The Chicago Tribune|date=September 14, 2001|access-date=April 4, 2009|archive-date=April 10, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410065131/http://www.jimdero.com/News2001/Sept14SOAD.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Malakian once described their music "as if [[Slayer]] and [[the Beatles]] had a baby."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Revolver |title=System of a Down's Daron Malakian: Why I Love Slayer's 'Show No Mercy' |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/system-downs-daron-malakian-why-i-love-slayers-show-no-mercy |website=Revolver |date=December 3, 2021 |access-date=6 January 2023 |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106032702/https://www.revolvermag.com/music/system-downs-daron-malakian-why-i-love-slayers-show-no-mercy |url-status=live }}</ref>

The band has used a wide range of instruments, such as [[electric mandolin]]s, [[baritone guitar|baritone electric guitars]], [[acoustic guitar]]s, [[oud]]s, [[sitar]]s, and [[twelve string guitar]]s.<ref name="8notes">{{cite web| title = System of a Down biography| work = 8notes.com| url = http://www.8notes.com/biographies/system_of_a_down.asp#History.2C_style_and_influences| access-date = June 26, 2006| archive-date = January 25, 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120125233557/http://www.8notes.com/biographies/system_of_a_down.asp#History.2C_style_and_influences| url-status = live}}</ref> According to Malakian, he would often write songs in [[E♭ tuning]], which would later be changed to [[drop C tuning]] in order to be performed by the band.<ref name="Perry" /> Malakian states that "For me, the drop-C tuning is right down the center. It has enough of the clarity and the crisp sound—most of our riffy stuff is done on the top two strings, anyway—but it's also thicker and ballsier."<ref name="Perry" />