Toxicity (song)
| "Toxicity" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
US CD single | ||||
| Single by System of a Down | ||||
| from the album Toxicity | ||||
| B-side | "Störaged" | |||
| Released | January 22, 2002 | |||
| Recorded | 2001 | |||
| Studio | Cello (Hollywood) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:39 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| System of a Down singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
UK/European release. Colors may vary between red, grey or white. | ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Toxicity" on YouTube | ||||
"Toxicity" is a song by the American heavy metal band System of a Down. It was released in 2002 as the second single from their second album of the same name. The song was written by band members Daron Malakian, Shavo Odadjian, and Serj Tankian. It is known for its dynamic chorus, aggressive vocals, and prominent drum beat. The song is predominantly in triple meter, alternating between 6
4, 12
8 and 4
4 time. The guitar during the verse plays in 6
4 using a 2+2+2 phrasing while the heavy part ("somewhere between the sacred silence and sleep") makes use of a hemiola with the guitar switching to a 3+3+3+3 pattern while the drums remain in compound duple meter until the bridge. The song was ranked number 14 on VH1's 40 Greatest Metal Songs, and was called a nu metal classic by Stylus Magazine.