-As the century nears its formidable end, our global experience of universal proportions, predicted by many greats, will arrive at our solar system, to our system of a down.
Authoritarian oppression, family abuse, depression caused by conformity, and economic devastation will be neutralized by technological terrorism in times of complete chaos.
Control will never again be gained for toleration will become extinct. A husband quarreling with his wife will not think twice or regret his spent bullet. Hungry children will not spare the grocer, remorse in all forms will be removed from human thoughts and actions.
Freedom will only be available through revolution or death. This system of down is unavoidable as life on this planet becomes unnecessary.
The hand has five fingers, capable and powerful, with the ability to destroy as well as create. We have the power to stop and reverse the tides of time by making our awareness of abuse known to the powers of industry and their uncouth political arms.
Only by raising this awareness and promoting prsonal peace within today's self-defeatist society, can we allow the planet a chance to avoid self-destruction!
Open your eyes, open your mouths, close your hands and make a fist!

(baksidestexten till albumet)

Det har inte getts ut särskilt mycket rockmusik som pekat framåt under 1998. Men System Of A Down från USA är ett strålande undantag som visar vägen mot rockens framtid.
Den som kollat in gruppen på Europa-turnén med Slayer och Sepultura vet att det handlar om en sällsynt blandning av Van Halen och Dead Kennedys, av metal, hardcore, grunge, rap, svartrock, jazz och armeniskt.
Det var faktiskt i en armenisk skola i Los Angeles som System Of A Down blev till. Landet, som numera är styckat i olika delar, har en blodigt historia man kan ana som inspirationskälla i många av texternas tema om frihetskamp:

-Elimination, Elimination, Elimination
Die, Why, Walk Down, Walk down,
A whole race Genocide,
Taken away all of our pride,
A whole race Genocide,
Taken away, Watch Them all fall down,
Revolution, the only solution...

Det är ingen sörgårdsidyll System Of A Down målar upp. Undergången är nära om vi inte skärper våra sinnen och vågar möta de problem vi står inför.
En sak är säker - rocken har en framtid med en musik som denna!

Sugar