Classical Composer Reacts to Toxicity (System of a Down) | The Daily Doug (Episode 541) 

Now that you've done the big 3 tracks from this album, please, do yourself a favor and listen to the full thing. Toxicity as an album is a masterpiece.

Among things that drew me to SOAD is their beats and rhythms. Being from east Europe I recognized eastern and oriental influences in their Armenian heritage

I have never heard a bad SOAD Song. Saw them twice. Perfection.

When System of a Down was fairly new, my dad heard the music from my older brother's room. "What is this?" he asked, though he never really liked music, much less metal. "It's... Well, nobody knows WHAT they are..." said my brother. As a classic rock and metal fan, I remember that moment as the day metal had taken a new step. I'm no fan of the genre after the 90's, but Toxicity is a masterpiece of an album and I have the deepest respect for SOAD.

I was 14 when ''Toxicity'' came out, I envy you for listening to this for the first time.

I love Dolmayan’s drumming. He always has good drum sounds and he’s very tight and creative.

I’d like to recommend maybe an unexpected song. Radio/Video is a great song to demonstrate their dynamics and how versatile they can be

SOAD was/is a sui generis amalgam of four amazing talents, and the whole transcends the sum of the parts; fantastic vocals (both main and harmony), guitars, bass, and drums. I have yet to get tired of them.

This album is absolutely beautiful from start to finish. Would love to see you listen to the full album

Ive watched many of your videos and am so glad a man of your profession and age can see metal music for the talent it has. Many people judge it so fast as garbage noise. Thank you for being amazing Doug and listening to music I never thought would get this appreciation.

The thing i've always enjoyed about this band is John Dolmayan's fills and unusual beat patterns on drums. Its a quality of their production that often gets overshadowed by the vocals of Serj and Daron.

I remember when this CD dropped ... every 5th car was playing it on 11! As in 2001, I still want to open the window and scream "disorder, disorder"! Great albums stay great ...

Man, people reacting for frist time to SOAD has become such a thing, I wish someone would have recorded me, my friends or all the people I have introduced to them in the last 20 years. They are one of the most shocking and original banda ever, that is for sure.

If I can suggest the next SOAD song to be reacted to, I would recommend Holy Mountains. Is one of the two songs about the Armenian Genocide that they recorded (and for me the best one by far).

Prison Song by System Of A Down is another good shout out although I wish it was a bit longer, that heavy section is just perfect haha

Imho Serj Tankian is a genius... His solo stuff with orchestra is amazing too

On my favourite songs of all time, this has a special place on my list 🫶🏼

"You, what do you own the world? How do you own disorder?" One of my favorite lines of all time. It has more meaning to me the older I get.

Man, i honestly don’t know of a metal groove as iconic as the chorus of this song. The drums are just killer

First song I learned fully on drums! Legendary 🔥

I really enjoy your reviews if metal songs and how you look at the lyrics as well as the music

"What does that mean?!" Exactly me hearing this in my early teens :D

That's cool that SOAD have become a frequent guest on the channel. Nice, Doug!

Very good reaction channel. Love the actual breakdowns

Oh man I wasn't even thinking about the video and was just expecting the next song to start. I played the CD so many times back in 02.

Enjoyed this reaction a lot. Thank you

You should really check out Spiders or Sugar from SOADs first album. Amazing songs!

I love your reactions man! You might not like some of my favourite songs but I love to see an experts input and how surprised you get at unexpected changes!

it's 6/8 at the start. Then it goes to 4/4 in the bridge, but the drummer is playing a triplet feel. At the end it's 4/4

I see it as the "Toxicity" of the socioeconomic system manifesting as disorders in people.

You are one of the only guys on RU-vid that accurately breaks down the rythem and timing along with truly listening to the words and giving insight I love your videos I would love to see if you could compose and perform a orchestra to play alot of these heavy metal riffs

Iron Maiden - Brighter than a thousand suns

Try "Hypnotize" from SOAD - that piece has crazy progressions and harmonics

The drums are the best part of this song

It's a darkly wonderful journey to listen thru their whole discography... at the end of the day I think my favorite is Steal This Album but I mean they really produced a catalog of truly awesome sound and ideas I don't think they've released a single dud track

I loved the video, a great critics. It will be so fabulous that you could hear the song 'Ego brain' from their 3rd album 'steal this album' is a very powerful song. The lyrics are very strong. Bless.🖖

So envious you get to hear this for the first time... Have you heard of a band called Kaipa? They have some cool tunes with English lyrics

It's awesome to watch someone who knows what they're talking about react to your favorite song, awesome reaction.

Yeah, Serj is certainly a unique metal vocalist, very recognizable and unusual in delivery, I think it's in-part the Armenian heritage that brings a different flavor to it.

Your analysis is always super insightful. Love your reaction vids

I've been fortunate to see many great bands live, but when it comes to energy System is really different. Something primal comes out when you see them live :)

My favorite song by these guys...good reaction Dr. Doug!!!

Spiders from their first album is also wonderful.

Getting it in on this one. Man, this song is hype.

You deserve a lot more subscribers, kudos to your professional analysis

One of the best, and one of their heaviest! Great!

First time seeing your videos and i think nobody will ever explain these songs better than you are one of the few people who knows that they are talking about.

what gets me is as you're going over the ideas at the end, you touched on a lot of what I get from the song, another expansion on that could be they are in LA, you've got Hollywood right there, which definitely the influence of Hollywood has a global impact "You, what do you own the world? How do you own disorder, disorder? Now, somewhere between the sacred silence, sacred silence and sleep Somewhere between the sacred silence and sleep Disorder, disorder, disorder" could also refer to that influence and the disorders that are associated it, drug disorders, eating disorders, as you mentioned mental disorder, I believe they are touching on all aspects of the idea of toxicity.

great video, if you liked that one, you definitely should check ''question'' from the ''mesmerize'' album, that one is pretty intense.

Absolutely LOVE System of a Down

You really got it, great analysis

Great job , Doug 😊

Shout out to Rick Rubin for producing this amazing album!

Love your reactions to metal music. SOAD is a staple, I've been an Iron Maiden fan for many, many moons, and have recently come to love a relatively new band out of Italy called Frozen Crown. Check out their track titled "Neverending". I think you'll like it.

I always thought it was "when I became the sun, I shone like faith into man's hearts." To me I always thought about spreading awareness of the toxicity to other people, helping them to see the light. Like a Plato's Cave type thing,

one of the few names to be remembered after 300 years

my little sister told me about System of a Down. I still have her old cd's...and I won't ever give them back

The last line most likely to my understanding is to do with eastern meditation and the form of enlightenment we can reach. In an astrology way, we all have animals or symbols of what we are, but we all can reach the stage of the Pheonix. One who can take the bad from the world and recycle it to neutral or positive energy The ones who reach this stage shines so bright it's shown in the darkest and deepest places of the heart, the mind, and soul.

Here's some suggestions for S.O.A.D songs you should react to next: Holy Mountains, Lonely Day, Soldier Side, and Sad Statue.

One of my fav SOAD songs is Spiders. They have such a great sound. Shame they ain't an official band anymore.(unless something changed?) Serj Tankian has done some solo work too and I recommend checking that out.

Probably the best sounding drums I've ever heard!

The video is definitely worth watching

I always like when someone hears SODs big tracks as a introduction then comes across Lonely Day for the curveball - SOD- Lonely Day. Definitely worth a reaction

"There's combinations of compounded duple meters in this." I, knowing only basic music theory: Ah, yes, the compounded duple meters, of course.

i like that you try to come up with what the lyrics mean, you're a smart and wise man=) and i find it sad that most comments - coming from fans - won't help - so far i've read that serj and jon are great, but we're all already aware of that i'm also sad that personnally i just don't have a clue about what the song is about...

Radio/Video from Mezmerize is their special gem. I promise.

I see it as when I became the son I shown life into the [mans] heart. God as you see it. I could be wrong.

Toxic City - Toxicity. It's also a portmanteau of sorts

You should definitely try out KORN's Freak on a Leash which was featured on movies particularly Queen of the Damned and probably one of my favorite songs by them. Rob Zombie is also an amazing one to try with Dragula which was on The Matrix first film.

St Patrick’s Day coming up soon! Why not celebrate Clannad before they all pass away of old age…? “Caisleian Oir” (‘Golden Castle’) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cHEoJ0IjbA4.html “Wild Cry” - Live in Dublin - 1986 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZGYI2M0S7go.html “Last of the Mohicans” theme - 2011 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-G0np-5xbkus.html

"What does that mean?" in confused tone... everyone's reaction to SOAD lyrics lol

Finally someone who understands this song for the first time. Subscribed.

Wow great stuff! I just discovered your channel and subbed you up, thanks for sharing all the reactions to killer tunes, Peace!

You should listen the song question!

I wish I could hear it again for the first time ❤ classical music is not my arena but system of a down could be an opera i imagine

I love your interpretation of these final lines. It's very optimistic. My assumption is that it has something to do with becoming a totalitarian leader, and with cult of personality.

I would highly recommend listening to the last two songs in their album Mezmerize, Old School Hollywood and Lost in Hollywood, they are both really great songs and my personal favourites from the album.

The deer song by Soad should be an interesting song to react

Is interesting see how a person with a lot of musical formation processing every song, theme, gender!!! brutal.... music is awesome!!... congrats!, very cool video! 🤟

Become the sun and shine!

If you did a long full album listen and review, that would be awesome.

This is my favorite SOAD song, bar-none. I knew you would love it, especially the drums and, of course, the message. Next from SOAD: "Cigaro." 🙂

If you love this, when are you going to do Empty Walls live version? It's incredible, and I'm sure you'd love it!

Im waiting for the day Doug reacts to Snarky Puppy - Trinity, but the extended version

love as energy

This specific song is a great example of Armenian motives in SoAD music. Love them and love Serj's voice so much!

I love them

I love how a pro reacts a pro

Doug, you have to hear the song "Question" from System of a down. That song will blow you away.

When you said "what does that mean" you sounded like Jim Gaffigan.

Awesome reaction

Greetings from Los Angeles Great band ever 🙏🏻❤️SOAD

I am surprised that you would not recognize the reference to the Schumann quote, "To send light into the darkness of men's hearts, such is the duty of the artist"

My favorite song of theirs.

Look at you... now a true Metalhead :-D

Late to the party .... I think the verse means ,when I became the sun , when I found myself I became like the sun inspiring others ... Cheers u r great sir

As a Dutch guy I knew all if that cheers for making sure😊😊😊

I got to be honest, my favourite version its not even the original anymore, its that school of rock one with the girl vocals on youtube.

Hey, Doug! I really think you should try reacting to Accept - they are amazing and they use classical music parts really often. Wolf Hoffmann - the guitarist and main songwriter - has said himself he is so influenced by classical music and he does more than a good job to put it in metal songs. Some good ones are ,,Symphony of pain” (about Beethoven’s hearing tragedy); ,,Metal heart” that uses… You’ll see what it uses. Give them a try!

Queen - Millionaire Waltz from A Day At The Races (1976)