My First Time Listening to Steal This Album! by System Of A Down | My Reaction 

This album originally leaked as what was titled Toxicity II from piracy sites. It was a rough demo form of this album. That's why this album is titled Steal This Album. That leaked version even has a few songs that didn't make it to the final cut. It's an interesting listen. Some aspects from those demos I like more, but I ultimately agree with the overall changes that System made when I think on it.

A few fun facts about this album: IEAIAO is all the vowels of Idealization, an "America without consonants". The verse in IEAIAIO about "Meeting John at Dale's Jr" was about the drummer John meeting his childhood hero who played Knight Rider. The song was originally called K.I.T.T. after the car from the show. Mr Jack was one of the first songs the band ever wrote in 1995. It was titled "P.I.G." as is vastly different. It can be found with Flake (the ending part of the song) and Toast on youtube as the "untitled demo tape". There were 2 canned songs from this album. Fortress and Cherry/Virgin Tea. Nuguns also had completely different lyrics and was basically a different song. These can be found on the "Toxicity 2 bootleg". The banjo thing in Nuguns is an Oud, a middle eastern lute with 11 strings.

The only band at my knowledge that didn't have bad or even weak album. Their whole discography is pure gold. Very talented guys.

Here's an interesting fact about "36" There's actually recordings of them performing it live as far back as 1997, as well as it was on one of their earliest demo tapes... Now what's even crazier is how far ahead they thought about this... 36 was exactly the 36th song they officially released.

Cruelly underappreciated album. And yes A.D.D. is one of the best things from them.

This album is an excellent transition between their Toxicity sound and their Mezmerize/Hypnotize sound: the instrumentals still have similarities with Toxicity (some of these songs already existed by the time Toxicity came out, but the band didn't include them on that record) while bringing the more melodic elements that will be huge on the next two albums. On the vocal side, all the harmonies are an anticipation of a lot of the stuff you will hear on Mezmerize and Hypnotize: seeing how much you enjoyed them, you're in for a treat with those albums ;) Can't wait to see your reaction to them, especially Mezmerize which I consider to be the best SOAD album ^^

Highway song is such a masterpiece alternating the heaviness, the melody the beautiful instrumental parts

Mezmerize and Hypnotize will be a big progression. On one hand more classical metal riffing and sound (very fast drumming and riffing, sometimes reminds of speed metal or black metal), but on the other hand even more melodical choruses and vocal harmonies. So more of both extremes, mixed together.

You were spot on with your analysis, I love this album because I think it’s the best mix of their original heavy sound and their newer melodic sound. Roulette was also the first song I ever learned to play on guitar, so that might make me a little biased towards this album

You are literally my favorite reaction channel now.

I used to listen shitloads to SOAD as a teen, definitely need to give their albums more listens again

"Streamline" is one of my favourite tracks by SOAD. The screams on that track are SO good. (If you can, keep those screams unedited for the video, reactions to those powerful screams are always a highlight in this kind of videos!)

I love all their stuff really. The all over the place sound is my how my brain works. It's hard to find anything that wasn't at least good. But there are so many flashes of greatness.

I was rewatching this reaction and first of all I must say I absolutely love it, it's like you are that friend which I didn't have back in the days to share my thoughts on this music and love for soad in general. And also I just realised how deep some of this sounds, instruments, vocalisations from mostly every soad song is inside of my brain, it's so idk heartwarming to listen to them. I would say I appreciate every artistic decision they made while recording their songs. This band is definitely one of a kind. And also it's funny how in 00's soad wasn't considered a heavy metal band mb with some elements but more of just rock/alternative.

So awesome that you answer to mostly every comment, extremely spot on analysis and extremely entertaning reaction! Looking forward to Mezmerize/Hypnotize, that's a double album but I'd guess you'll react to them separately; Also, both Serj and Daron got on personal projects during System's hiatus, and would be awesome if you also reacted to their individual works on Serj's "Serj Tankian" albums and Daron's "Scars on Broadway" albums, would be absolutely awesome, specially to understand further their styles individually now that you got them mixed up together. Love from Brazil!

Molly i want to congratulate you 'cause, i love your voice as a narrator, it's like you tell us a story of each one of these rock albums and i love how you enjoy and narrate what you enjoy about the music keep rock on girl!

I’ve been waiting for this!!

I have loved watching people find this band and Tool on RU-vid recently. This was my band when I first heard them at 14 and I love them just as much now. It's amazing how well they've held up. I'd love to see you do a deep dive on the history of the band and their Armenian roots, and some of the songs they've written that reflect those roots.

So stoked for this!! Inner-arguably my fav SOAD album!!!!

the bridge on Innervision is just awesome with the drums. Streamline is about as beautiful an ending as they come, although the ending to Psycho(prev album) is right up there too

OMG! I recently (last night) discovered your videos and saw your two reactions to SOAD and liked them, hoping you would soon react to Steal This Album but not expecting that today, Wow now to wait for two great Hynotize/Mesmerize materials.

This was such a cool channel to stumble upon. I haven't listened to this album in probably 15 years or so, I was IN LOVE with this thing when it came out.

im really enjoying the full album reactions to SOAD, please do them all!! You wont be disappointed by any of them!! i promise!!

Man, I love this album! I love the violent ups and downs in it. I love the strings on the background I love instruments and screams now and then. It is my favorite of their work. True creativity at work here.

Awesome video Molly! You pick up on stuff so quick lol. Took me many listens to appreciate the harmony in the vocals. When I worked merch at aftershock we would display the bands playing sets that day obviously. The only event I’ve worked where from the jump people waited those long ass lines for a single SoaD hoody. Like small bands I’d never heard of had like 4-5 t-shirts… system came with a bright red hoodie and we sold out on Saturday and they didn’t even play til Sunday lol. Anyways! It’s nostalgic and fun, an album anyone can find something they like on 😁

Great reaction as always. More soad love!

Cant wait see you reacting to the next 2 albums. They are different!

Yessss please review all there albums and darrens scars of Broadway. Awesome stuff 😊 Edit: I just heard you say you reviewed there first two

SOAD also has a lot of songs that didnt end up on any album such as Storaged, Shame, Honey, Fortress, Cherry, Friik, Marmalade, Snowblind, Metro, Johny, Temper or Dam.

This is literally my first time watching your videos. Soad is the most of us adolescence band. Thank you :)

Can't wait to see you react to the epic double album!

One of my favorite bands of all time, this came out during the glory days of stealing music online. I really hope your channel blows up cause your reactions are honest and genuine 🤘🤘🤘

your commentaries propose the next track, and it's very fun!

Great reaction to a great album! Innervision is my favorite and then Theta Waves but that's not saying much given how good all the songs are. The way you bobbed along to Nuguns and IAEIAO totally matches how I and (I think) many others respond to System of a Down. You're so lucky to just get to listen to Mezmerize/Hypnotize next and back to back as opposed to the 3 YEAR gap between them and Steal This Album and the 6 MONTH gap they had between each other. Keep up the great work!

I was waiting for this video since Steal this Album has most of my favorite songs of SOAD. I´m going to enjoy this so much.

Great reaction as always. I'm looking forward to your Mezmerize and Hypnotize analysis.

Another thing that happens a lot in SOAD albums, but especially in this one is the way the ending of a song mix with the start of the next one, two good examples will have to be Pictures/Highway Song, and Thetawaves/Roulette

I've said it before, you've got a touch of metal in ya! Again another great breakdown from you...I don't know if this has ever been mentioned but some of the things you're hearing that have that as you put it weird melodic feel comes from their background, they're Armenian and fuse alot of Armenian folk into their metal riffs, when they came to the states they were thrown right into the culture of struggle in LA....that's what A.D.D. is based on, the struggle was real and was part of the ingredients to this music, they're Odd...but man do they bring it!!!

I love these videos because I feel like I'm showing my favoite songs to a friend and theyre really into it

Definitely their most divided album. It’s either fans favorite or their least, there is no in-between. I love this album personally. Highway Song and Innervision are my personal favorites from the album. Can’t wait to see you listen to Hypnotize

Awesome album! It's a amenians instruments behind a guitar so topAnd so interesting reaction, thanks ❤

I dived back into this album last year, pictures ended up being my second most listened to song for the year because it's such a fun song and those percussions hook me in every time.

Can’t wait for your take on Mesmerize & Hypnotize

Not my favorite SOAD album but they never make anything bad. They are just so far in left field. One of a kind

Loved your take on this album! Loved SOAD from the first time I heard Chop Suey way back in the day! Haven't heard this album for a while though, I always thought Johnny was on this album, brilliant song, slightly disappointed it wasn't here!!🤘❤🤘

I heard this album many years ago and this is the first video I see from you. It's a good reaction. SOAD are great artists for me, you have a good perception of them. I like mudvayne so much but I don't know if they deserve a reaction like this but the album I use to listen to is The end of all things to come. I remember I was a teenager listening to this at home when one friend handed me the original CD, now I am an adult and I keep listening the same album

These videos are all multiple months out from this but this channel is still awesome, it's the full unbridled head over heels birth of a metalhead and it's really cool tbh

Your reviews are really entertaining. Great selection of music too. These albums are all incredible. Not sure if you already have done so but Queens of the Stone age - "Songs for the deaf" definitely fits in with the albums you have reviewed so far

My favorite SOAD album. Great listen front to back.

Fantastic Molly! Looking forward to mesmerise! X

I'm glad you're doing System's discography. I've been a long time fan.

This is my second favorite album of theirs next to hypnotize! Great reaction btw I can tell you are actually listening to the music and just absorbing it in 👍🏼 You gotta hear scars on broadway the first album was supposed to be for system of a down but the band broke up back then and Darron and the drummer john decided to take matters into their own hands and make an amazing album

My fav album from SOAD! So much nostalgia. I was 19 when this was released.

Amazing album ! Thanks for reacting !!

Glad you listened to this one 😊 it's pretty fun especially as a drummer 😅 Innervision is one of the songs I listen to the most 🔥

Enjoying your channel, you have insightful reactions. I remember the first time I heard System was in late 1997 on a radio station in Portland, Oregon called 101.1 KUFO. they had a segment called the 'cage match' at 10pm and they would put two new artists' song against each other and we would have to call in to vote. System won for 4 weeks straight so the station started playing them in regular rotation. They quickly became one of my favorite bands of the time, glad to see you having a similar experience!

I would love to hear your thoughts on the 2 Fair To Midland albums - "Fables from a Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times Is True" - "Arrows and Anchors" Amazing forgotten rock band, never talked about enough. With weirdly named songs like my favorites: "Dance Of The Manatee" & "Amarillo Sleeps On My Pillow"

It's fun to hear albums that I've not heard in over a decade.

Loved the reaction and analysis!! And you're very pretty.

Here we go can't wait to watch. Steal this album out of the main 5 was my least favorite years ago but for the past year its been my all time favorite. The perfect blend of their first two albums and their last two. All are unique but there isn't a song on this album that I don't skip (except 36 sometimes lol) Edit: Finished the video and it was a great reaction! System is beautiful chaos. Melodic and hard-core. What makes them them are all 4 members bring something. Serj, Daron, John (Drummer), and Shavo (bassist). I feel this album gives all 4 time to shine and their memorable moments. Serjs solo work like his Elect the dead album feels like the beautiful weirdness and lyricism and amazing vocals, while Darons band Scars on Brodway kinda shows that he is the main key to the sound. (Not discrediting the other 3 but Daron does a lot) I actually relistened to the self titled Scars on Brodway due to 3 songs showing up in my shuffle from the album and I believe you would love to check it out. As great as it is, it's not system. Serj and Daron together is :))

It's worth noting that for the first three System albums, many of the songs existed for many years before recording (hell, some songs from their 3rd album can be seen being played live in the mid-90s or on demo recordings before they had released any albums). If I remember rightly, this isn't true of the final two albums, which are much more closely connected between their writing and recording. It would also be interesting to see a short reaction of one of their early shows, pre-album (or else just check it out on your own time; I think you'd appreciate it). I'd recommend the 1997 Whiskey A Go Go gig. It's hugely energetic, and it's very interesting to see as part of their inception. I believe that's the earliest full videoed gig of theirs on youtube. There is also a very respectable quality audio recording (low guitar on the first song which gets adjusted for the rest) of their 1996 gig at The Dragonfly (36 from this album features in that gig, in fact), which is also with their old drummer Ontronik (Andy) Khachaturian (who, it must be said, should really get more credit than he does-a lot of the signature System drumming sound was already in place with him), who had to leave the band due to a hand/wrist injury. This 1996 gig also features a few songs that never appeared on albums (maybe as bonus tracks at some point, can't recall), including their take on Metro by Berlin which is well worth a listen. I still recommend the Whiskey gig over the Dragonfly though, personally-it's one of my favourite all-time live gigs (discounting ones I've personally been too... I was unfortunately too young and too much of an ocean away to enjoy that one in person!). Looking forward to your Mezmerize/Hypnotize reactions.

I'm glad you're getting into the band. When you finish their studio albums you should give the unofficial album compilation "Storaged Melodies" a listen. It's still up on RU-vid. You can hear the sound that was a staple of their live shows from the beginning.

Awesome reactions to this great band!

I know that Hypnotized and Mesmerized are up next on the SoaD train, but do you ever look into demo albums like the fan-assembled Storaged Melodies? I believe I recall you referencing back to a demo album you heard from Defrones, makes sense if it wasn’t in ur interest to review it. Also fun fact, because it takes notoriously longer for physical albums to reach Japan, the Japanese version of their self-titled album has 1 (or 2?) songs exclusive to Japan, Störaged and Marmalade

Another fun album reaction. I still remember being very confused about this album title. The intro sums up System Of A Down pretty well: You never know what you are in for. Favorite tracks on this album: Inner Vision, Boom, A. D. D. (American Dream Denial) What I love about their music is the high energy. It makes me dance like crazy. And the harmonies are beautiful.

I think SOAD were more and more melodic with every next album. This album was perfect transition between Toxicity era SOAD and Mesmerize Hypnotize era SOAD. It still had the heaviness and the songs on this album were originally written for toxicity, but it has the vocal harmonies and softer moments that are typical on Mesmerize and Hypnotize.

Most underrated SOAD album! Loved your reaction!

♥️ I'm a brand new subscriber watching from London UK 🇬🇧

great album and great reaction. p.s. most of these tracks are prerecorded and meant for toxicity so that's why they have such a familiar sound

Can't wait for Mezmerize/Hypnotize!

9:34 Love your reaction haha,

Ese álbum es unos de mis favoritos buen video ❤️🤟

i adore this album so much. there is their heavy side and there musical side, being fused together. it gets over looked too much, the thing about some of the metal community is just heavy good, which is right, but as a fan of some songs in all of the main genres, I just love the musical aspect system can bring where those popular/current musicians fail. the uniqueness is what we all need in modern music.

I just saw this one. Hoping the Mezmerize/Hypnotize soon :)

Since you've been listening to this genre/era of music, you should do S.C.I.E.N.C.E. by Incubus.

I remember when AOL Version 7.0 came out Toxicity came out soon after, thought that was pretty funny, their cultural nods are pretty fascinating

Amazing review 👏👏

Damn thanks for still doing System. Next Mezmerize and Hypnotize? You will also enjoy Serj Tankian albums!!!!

Some of the early demos from SOAD in the mid 90s are definitely worth a listen as well, a lot of them can be found of the "storage melodies" fan compilation

I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS lol

Great reaction

I lost my mind when I heard "Pictures" in the ending credits of an Orange Is The New Black episode

My first time hearing S.O.A.D was with the number Aeriels and is was sold at once! Since then i have been a big S.O.A.D fan. To me the best metal band in the world! The harmony between Serj and Daron is just fantastic! Also the bass and drums are killing together with the guitar. But the lyrics and vocals make them unique!

My favourite album, especially songs like Mr. Jack, Highway Song, Roulette & Streamline. Can you imagine, that those songs were written in the same time, as Toxicity material? I heared some stories that these are rejected songs from Toxicity session. Anyway, you clearly heared that at this time SOAD is going through some melodic, emotional, dark way of their music, I can tell you, on Mesmerize & Hypnotize you will hear even more of it ;)

Great action, to hear all System of a down, Albums , ..to know what value they have, thanks

Yay! She loves Mr Jack! I think we got a keeper here! LOL

this album is one of their best because its a good meld of their older more aggressive stuff, with the more melodic stuff like on hypno/mesmerize so its really got something for every soad fan

Hell yeah! This album rules!

Steal this album My favorite Soad album. I know very much fans either hate or loves this album. But the thing that makes this album even better is that its Serjs favorite work with Soad. But its still a great album. Even if this album is b-sides its a awesome album just thinking on the heavy and angry vocals like every album except hypnotize, because hypnotize is not really a heavy album. Hypnotize is pretty have but not as the 3rd first albums. And the songs with random instruments like in Nüguns and science. Because im half indian and makes it feel like not interily its from america

one of my favorite albums

This is a transition point from them, Mezmorize is more like Toxicity in a lot of ways, but more melodic. Then Hypnotize is just something special. My favorite album by them

there is a band in our country that is influenced by those bands you reacted especially korn and soad. the name of the band is "Slapshock" a nu metal band here in our country, but sadly the band disbanded last year and the frontman died. I hope you could react or listen to their songs, especially their earliest albums. 4th Degree Burn (1999), Headtrip (2001), Project 11-41 (2002), this 2002 album is my favorite, enjoy!! :)) btw great reaction!

Hell yeah! Was waiting for this album reaction. your channel is great, I've said this before but its awesome you listen to full albums. If you haven't listened to much led zeppelin I highly recommend reactions to their music. Each album is different.

I discovered this band for the first time when I was 13, and they remained my favorite for several years (until I found Tool!). Been a fan for over half my life now. I was lucky to find them so early!

Such an amazing album!

Several favorites from this one, but the ones that always stick out to me is Roulette

I really love the melodic parts they do inbetween the crazy stuff.

System of a Down Steal This Album is the greatest ever because it doesn't just have one or two really good songs they're all great I really enjoyed going through them with you it's been many years since I've heard the songs thank you

Great work as always Molly, can you react to Pantera’s “The Great Southern Trendkill” album?

Chic N Stu is a reference to Chick Hern and Stu Lance. Former Lakers play-by-play duo. SOAD is from Glendale, CA.