System Of A Down - Toxicity

Released on September 4, 2001, Toxicity didn't just cement System of a Down's place in metal history—it redefined what "heavy" could sound like. While maintaining the raw power of their debut, this record expanded their sonic palette with intricate vocal harmonies and a fascinating blend of jazz, progressive rock, and traditional Armenian and Greek folk music.

The album's release was famously overshadowed by the events of 9/11 just one week later, yet its lyrical focus on mass incarceration, government surveillance, and environmental collapse felt more prophetic than ever. It remains their most commercially successful and critically acclaimed work, now certified 6x Platinum in the United States.