System Of A Down - Mezmerize

Released on May 17, 2005, Mezmerize is the fourth studio album by the Armenian-American powerhouse System of a Down. As the first half of a planned double-album project (completed by Hypnotize later that year), Mezmerize saw the Glendale, California quartet reach their creative and commercial zenith. The album received widespread critical acclaim, earning the distinction of being the band’s highest-rated work and debuting at #1 in at least 12 countries, including the US Billboard 200.

Musically, the album is a whirlwind of progressive structures, operatic vocals, and serrated riffs. It features the explosive hit single "B.Y.O.B." (Bring Your Own Bombs), which famously won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance. From the satirical bite of "Cigaro" to the haunting, melodic layers of "Lost in Hollywood," Mezmerize remains a landmark of the 2000s, proving that political defiance and avant-garde metal could dominate the global mainstream.