Album · 25 years old this year
Toxicity
Toxicity is the second album from System of a Down, released on 4 September 2001 through American Recordings. Following their 1998 debut, it brings in more melody, harmony and singing, and stretches beyond its alternative metal and nu metal frame with touches of folk, progressive rock, jazz, and Armenian and Greek music. Sitar, banjo, keyboards and piano all turn up. The band recorded over 30 songs at Cello Studios in Hollywood and kept 14.
The lyrics range widely, taking in mass incarceration, the CIA, the environment, police brutality, drug addiction and groupies. The album went to number one on the Billboard 200 and in Canada, and every single reached the Billboard Hot 100. "Aerials" topped both the Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock charts. Critics were warm, with perfect scores from AllMusic, Kerrang! and Blabbermouth.net, and Loudwire placed it second on its 2025 list of the best nu-metal albums.
Toxicity: tracklist, credits and charts
14 tracks · 44:06Tracklist
- 1Prison SongDaron Malakian and Serj Tankian3:21
- 2NeedlesDaron Malakian and Serj Tankian3:14
- 3Deer DanceDaron Malakian and Serj Tankian2:55
- 4Jet PilotMalakian, Odadjian, Tankian2:06
- 5XDaron Malakian and Serj Tankian1:59
- 6Chop Suey!Daron Malakian and Serj Tankian3:30
- 7BounceMalakian, Odadjian, Tankian1:54
- 8ForestDaron Malakian and Serj Tankian4:00
- 9ATWADaron Malakian and Serj Tankian2:56
- 10ScienceDaron Malakian and Serj Tankian2:43
- 11ShimmySerj Tankian1:51
- 12ToxicityMalakian, Odadjian, Tankian3:39
- 13PsychoDaron Malakian and Serj Tankian3:46
- 14Aerials / ArtoMalakian, Tankian, [traditional]6:11
- Produced by
- Daron Malakian, Rick Rubin, Serj Tankian
- Recorded at
- Cello Studios (Hollywood)
- Recorded
- March–July 2001
- Mixed by
- Andy Wallace
- Mixed at
- The Enterprise
- Engineered by
- Greg Collins, Darren Mora, David Schiffman
- Labels
- American Recordings, American, Columbia
- Length
- 44:06
Line-up
- John Dolmayan · drums (drum set)
- Daron Malakian · guitar, vocals
- Shavo Odadjian · bass guitar, vocals
- Serj Tankian · keyboard, vocals
- Kirk Hammett · guitar · guest
Singles
- “Chop Suey!” · 13 August 2001
- “Toxicity” · 22 January 2002
- “Aerials” · 11 June 2002
Peak chart positions
| Chart | Peak |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 · 2001 | 1 |
| UK Albums Chart · 2001 | 13 |
| Canadian Albums (Billboard) · 2001 | 1 |
| US Catalog Albums · 2005 | 1 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums · 2001 | 3 |
| US Vinyl Albums · 2018 | 4 |
| Australian Albums (ARIA) · 2001 | 6 |
| Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ) · 2020–2026 | 7 |
| New Zealand Albums · 2001 | 7 |
| Belgian Albums (Flanders) · 2001 | 8 |
All 33 charts
| Finnish Albums · 2001 | 8 |
| Greek Albums · 2001 | 8 |
| US Hard Rock · 2018 | 8 |
| US Tastemaker · 2018 | 8 |
| German Rock & Metal Albums (Offizielle Top 100) · 2020–2026 | 12 |
| Scottish Albums · 2001 | 15 |
| Austrian Albums · 2001 | 16 |
| US Alternative · 2018 | 16 |
| Dutch Albums · 2001 | 17 |
| Ireland 2 · 2001 | 17 |
| Polish Albums · 2001 | 17 |
| Portuguese Albums · 2020–2026 | 22 |
| French Albums · 2001 | 23 |
| German Albums · 2001 | 23 |
| Italian Albums · 2001 | 23 |
| Belgian Albums (Wallonia) · 2001 | 25 |
| Croatian International Albums (HDU) · 2020–2026 | 31 |
| Danish Albums · 2001 | 31 |
| Swiss Albums · 2001 | 31 |
| US Top Rock Albums · 2018 | 38 |
| Swedish Albums · 2001 | 47 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon) · 2001 | 49 |
| Lithuanian Albums (AGATA) · 2020–2026 | 53 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification |
|---|---|
| Argentina · 2001 | Gold |
| Australia · 2009 | 3× Platinum |
| Austria · 2006 | Gold |
| Belgium · 2003 | Gold |
| Brazil · 2003 | Gold |
| Canada · 2002 | 2× Platinum |
| Denmark · 2024 | 3× Platinum |
| Germany · 2003 | Gold |
| Italy · 2025 | 2× Platinum |
| Mexico · 2002 | Gold |
| Netherlands · 2002 | Gold |
| New Zealand · 2025 | 3× Platinum |
| Poland · 2022 | Platinum |
| Portugal · 2025 | Gold |
| Switzerland · 2003 | Gold |
| United Kingdom · 2019 | 2× Platinum |
| United States · 2026 | 7× Platinum |
| Europe · 2004 | Platinum |
From MusicBrainz, Wikipedia and Wikidata. Only what the sources record is shown.
97.1
Popularity (0–100, vs the whole vault)
24k
ListenBrainz listeners
268k
Wikipedia views, last 12 months
192k
Deezer fans (all editions)
Released the same week
Also released on 4 September
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Releases and pressings
How we know the release date wikipedia + wikidata; also seen: 2001-08-27 (musicbrainz)
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | 27 August 2001 | |
| Wikipedia infobox | 4 September 2001 | |
| Wikidata | 4 September 2001 | |
| US release | 4 September 2001 | earliest US date |
| UK / Europe release | 27 August 2001 | earliest UK or European date |
35 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | XW | American Recordings | 888880467751 | other |
| — | XE | American Recordings | 5099750153420 | other |
| — | US | American Recordings | other | |
| 2001 | FR | American Recordings | 5099701080423 | other |
| 2001 | — | American Recordings | 887654577320 | other |
| 2001 | AR | Columbia | 5099750153420 | other |
| 2001 | RU | American Recordings | 4606817000415 | other |
| 2001 | XE | Columbia | 8048684095686 | other |
| 2001 | US | American Recordings | 696998605923 | other |
| 2001 | CA | American Recordings | 074646224021 | other |
| 2001 | ZA | Columbia | 6007689542108 | other |
| August 2001 | XE | American Recordings | 5099750153413 | other |
| August 2001 | US | American Recordings | 074646224014 | other |
| 27 August 2001 | XE | American Recordings | 5099750153499 | original |
| 27 August 2001 | GB | American Recordings | 5099750153420 | original |
| 27 August 2001 | XE | American Recordings | 5099750153468 | original |
| 27 August 2001 | SG | American Recordings | 4893391077722 | original |
| 29 August 2001 | JP | American Recordings | 4988009248714 | other |
| 3 September 2001 | AU | American Recordings | 9399700092981 | other |
| 4 September 2001 | US | American Recordings | 074648605927 | other |
| 4 September 2001 | US | American Recordings | 074646224021 | other |
| 5 December 2001 | JP | Sony Records International | 4547366001815 | other |
| 23 April 2002 | CA | American Recordings | other | |
| 23 April 2002 | US | American Recordings | 696998651227 | other |
| 15 July 2002 | DE | American Recordings | 5099750838327 | other |
| 2009 | XE | Columbia | 886976355425 | other |
| 20 October 2010 | — | American Recordings | 884977781281 | other |
| 2012 | MX | Sony Music | 887254683728 | other |
| 16 April 2013 | BE | Columbia | 5099750153451 | other |
| 13 January 2017 | AU | American Recordings | 9399700092981 | other |
| 12 October 2018 | XE | American Recordings | 190758655918 | other |
| 12 October 2018 | XE | American Recordings | 190758655918 | other |
| 12 October 2018 | US | American Recordings | 190758655918 | other |
| 2021 | XW | American Recordings | 888888046775 | other |
| 10 October 2023 | US | American Recordings | other |
Cover art sources
coverartarchive · native: native 1500x1500
| Source | Size | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| coverartarchive ✓ | 1500×1500 | native: native 1500x1500 |
| deezer | 1200×1200 | upscaled |
| fanarttv | 1000×1000 | upscaled |