Editing System of a Down (section)

=== ''Mezmerize'', ''Hypnotize'', band hiatus and side projects (2004–2008) ===
[[File:Serj Tankian.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Serj Tankian]] has gained a reputation for his large vocal range along with his unusual delivery.|left]]
In 2004, the group recorded the follow-up to ''Steal This Album!'' a double album, which they released in separate installments six months apart. The releases notably included album cover artwork by Malakian's father, Vartan Malakian, and were designed to connect the two separate album covers. The first album, ''[[Mezmerize]],'' was released on May 17, 2005, to favorable reviews by critics. It debuted at No. 1 in the United States, Canada, Australia and all around the world, making it System of a Down's second No. 1 album.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mezmerize – System of a Down |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mezmerize-mw0000209577#:~:text=AllMusic%20Review%20by%20Johnny%20Loftus,what's%20essentially%20a%20double%20album. |website=Allmusic |access-date=July 10, 2020 |archive-date=July 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200710132717/https://www.allmusic.com/album/mezmerize-mw0000209577#:~:text=AllMusic%20Review%20by%20Johnny%20Loftus,what's%20essentially%20a%20double%20album. |url-status=live}}</ref> First-week sales exceeded 800,000 copies worldwide. The lead single "[[B.Y.O.B. (song)|B.Y.O.B.]]", which questions the integrity of military recruiting in America, worked its way up the Billboard Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts, and would go on to win the [[48th Annual Grammy Awards#Rock|2006 Grammy Award]] for Best Hard Rock Performance.<ref>{{cite web |title=System Of A Down Honored With Grammy For 'Best Hard Performance' |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/system-of-a-down-honored-with-grammy-for-best-hard-rock-performance/ |website=Blabbermouth |date=February 8, 2006 |access-date=10 July 2020 |archive-date=July 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714112239/https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/system-of-a-down-honored-with-grammy-for-best-hard-rock-performance/ |url-status=live }}</ref> "[[Question!]]" was released as the next single, with Shavo Odadjian co-directing the music video. Following the album's release, the band toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada with [[The Mars Volta]] and [[Bad Acid Trip]] supporting.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=System Of A Down, Mars Volta Plan Summer Tour |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/63107/system-of-a-down-mars-volta-plan-summer-tour |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 10, 2020 |archive-date=July 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714112238/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/63107/system-of-a-down-mars-volta-plan-summer-tour |url-status=live }}</ref>

The second part of the double album, ''[[Hypnotize (album)|Hypnotize]],'' was released on November 22, 2005. Like ''Mezmerize'', it debuted at No. 1 in the US. With this release, System of a Down joined The Beatles and rappers 2Pac and DMX as the fourth artist ever to have two studio albums debut at No. 1 in the same year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1516656/system-of-a-down-make-it-a-double-with-chart-topping-hypnotize/|title=System Of A Down Make It A Double With Chart-Topping Hypnotize|work=MTV News|access-date=March 5, 2018|language=en|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115055912/http://www.mtv.com/news/1516656/system-of-a-down-make-it-a-double-with-chart-topping-hypnotize/|url-status=dead}}</ref> "[[Hypnotize (System of a Down song)|Hypnotize]]" was released as the lead single and was followed by "[[Lonely Day]]" and "[[Vicinity of Obscenity]]", all three of which were also released as [[EPs]], including several B-sides from 1999 to 2000, such as a collaboration with the [[Wu-Tang Clan]], titled "Shame". "[[Kill Rock 'N Roll]]" was released as the final promotional single.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hypnotize – System of a Down |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/hypnotize-mw0000348196 |website=Allmusic |access-date=July 10, 2020 |archive-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209002000/https://www.allmusic.com/album/hypnotize-mw0000348196 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Whereas on System of a Down's previous albums, most of the lyrics were written and sung by Tankian and the music was co-written by Tankian and Malakian (and sometimes Odadjian), much of the music and lyrics on ''Mezmerize''/''Hypnotize'' were written by Malakian, who also took on a much more dominant role as vocalist on both albums, often leaving Tankian providing keyboards and backing vocals.

System of a Down's song "[[Lonely Day]]" was nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance in the [[49th Grammy Awards]] in 2007 but lost to "[[Woman (Wolfmother song)|Woman]]" by [[Wolfmother]].

A biography of the band entitled ''System of a Down: Right Here in Hollywood'', written by [[Ben Myers]], was published in May 2006, later being published in the U.S. in 2007 through [[The Disinformation Company]]. Additionally in 2006, concert footage and interviews with the band concerning the importance of helping create awareness and recognition of the [[Armenian genocide]] were featured in the film ''[[Screamers (2006 film)|Screamers]],'' directed by [[Carla Garapedian]]. An interview with Tankian's grandfather, a survivor of the genocide, was also included in the film as well as Tankian's and Dolmayan's meeting with then-Speaker of the House [[Dennis Hastert]] during which the two musicians campaigned for the United States government's official recognition of the genocide. Footage of Tankian and Dolmayan marching with protesters outside the Turkish embassy in Washington, D.C., was also used in ''Screamers''.

In May 2006, the band announced they were going on hiatus. Malakian confirmed the break would probably last a few years, which Odadjian specified as a minimum of three years in an interview with ''Guitar'' magazine. He told MTV, "We're not breaking up. If that was the case, we wouldn't be doing this Ozzfest. We're going to take a very long break after Ozzfest and do our own things. We've done System for over ten years, and I think it's healthy to take some rest."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=Chris |date=May 3, 2006 |title=System of a Down Aren't Breaking Up—They're Going on Hiatus |work=MTV News |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1530066/20060503/system_of_a_down.jhtml |access-date=February 2, 2009 |archive-date=March 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302163514/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1530066/20060503/system_of_a_down.jhtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> System of a Down's final performance before their separation took place on August 13, 2006, in [[West Palm Beach]], Florida. "Tonight will be the last show we play for a long time together," Malakian told the crowd during Sunday's last performance. "We'll be back. We just don't know when."<ref name="soadfans_last_show">{{cite web |title= West Palm Beach, FL&nbsp;— August 13, 2006 Review |work=soadfans.com |date=July 13, 2006 |url=http://www.soadfans.com/Article427.htm |access-date=July 25, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070515070110/http://www.soadfans.com/Article427.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=May 15, 2007}}</ref>

The band members continued with their own projects; Malakian formed a band called [[Scars on Broadway]], which was joined by Dolmayan. After one [[Scars on Broadway (album)|self-titled album]], the project became dormant and Dolmayan left the band. It released the long-awaited sophomore album in 2018, titled ''[[Dictator (Daron Malakian and Scars on Broadway album)|Dictator]]'', under the name "Daron Malakian and Scars on Broadway". Dolmayan, alongside working with Scars on Broadway, formed his own band, Indicator.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Indicator – Something Underneath live (John Domayan's new project) – YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ilDTZG-yt0&list=PLxkWmILmSITzbR8HY3RLSaqzTOs60zaxA&ab_channel=Nakao |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/5ilDTZG-yt0| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|access-date=December 17, 2020|website=www.youtube.com| date=December 8, 2009 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> Dolmayan has also opened Torpedo Comics, an online comic bookstore. Odadjian pursued his project with [[RZA]] of [[Wu-Tang Clan]], a hip-hop group named [[AcHoZeN]], worked on his urSESSION website/record label and performed as a member of funk legend [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]]'s backing band. Meanwhile, Tankian opted for a solo career and released his debut solo album ''[[Elect the Dead]]'' in the autumn of 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Serj Tankian – Elect The Dead (2xLP – Limited Silver Marbled Vinyl)|url=https://www.fatbeats.com/products/serj-tankian-elect-the-dead-2xlp-limited-us-exclusive-silver-black-marbled-vinyl|access-date=December 19, 2020|website=Fat Beats|language=en|archive-date=November 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107235010/https://www.fatbeats.com/products/serj-tankian-elect-the-dead-2xlp-limited-us-exclusive-silver-black-marbled-vinyl|url-status=dead}}</ref> He has continued releasing solo albums, recording them almost entirely by himself even after System of a Down had begun to reunite for tours.