The ending of this song, when they are harmonizing, always gives me goosebumps. Every time.

How I just discovered System of a Down is beyond me. Better late than never. Love this band.

"Nope, Nope, we're doing it again" hahaha perfect

If you really listen to that whole album, they never do the same thing twice. Every song, verse and chorus twists just a bit each time as each song grows. They’re brilliant recording artists.

For the musical laymen like myself, have you ever just been in love with a song for such a long time and it never gets old no matter how many times you hear it? But you never question WHY you love it so much, and then you stumble onto a video like this and it's suddenly so clear. Thanks for doing these videos, you earned another follower!

It's so entertaining watching your reactions to SOAD and your analysis of Serj and Daron's vocals. You really should cover their song "Aerials", it has a lot of vocal range to it and a little less energetic death growls. I think you'd love the song to be honest.

I still to this day remember the moment my stepson walked in the house and threw the CD Toxicity at me and said..."These guys are right up your alley", up to that point I had never heard them, since then I've seen them 3 times and have always been amazed seeing them live, great musicianship and so much energy, they're awesome, and lines "Why have you forsaken me" get me every time.

I have come to recognize when a song/performance has you entranced/mesmerized/flummoxed as you let the song play for quite awhile before pausing. SOAD had that effect on me as well the first time I heard them. :)

"Holy Mountains" has my favourite bit of Daron's unhinged voice.

Never in my life would I ever think that the word "buttery" would be used to describe Chop Suey. Love your reaction/analysis as always!

Serj is a master of the unexpected. He keeps you on your toes throughout the whole song, no matter which one it may be. His early stuff is just as good, but this is a classic. Again, love the reactions!!!!!!

The original title of this song was "Suicide" but the studios, somewhat understandably, couldn't allow this. So Serj, tongue in cheek, named it " CHOP" as in "CUT OUT" and "SUEY" as in "SUICIDE"-- with a reference at 2:00 eating Chinese takeout visibly unamused.

I love their harmonies and transitions, this is a great song and never fails to move me.

Your love, appreciation, knowledge, and enthusiasm for all types of music is infectious. I love it!

I'm a huge sucker for harmony, and this song Always gives me chills! 11/10 Thanks for the review!

The best rock/metal is when the melody is not jarring, instead it still flows like a river even whilst going balls to the wall hard. It is a melodic torrent of chaos...yet it still flows. This song is legendary, thank you for reviewing it. I enjoy your vision, mindset and videos.

SUCH a GREAT BAND!!! The transitions are UNREAL...the VOCALS...and, the instrumentals.....just SO WELL PUT TOGETHER!! ENJOY!!

Brother, this is an epic song, one of the best of its time and it still plays, it's incredible. System of a Down is one of the best in the world.

This song is Epic as far as I know this was the first song which reached the 1 billion views on youtube. A masterpiece🖤💯

There’s bands that don’t manage to get as many talking points into an entire album as System get into a single 3 minute song. Considering how much airplay this song got when it was released, by rights I should never want to hear it ever again and yet I probably appreciate it more now than ever. Great song

They are Armenian and I love this influence in their sound. I can hear the kind of oriental sound in their songs and this is one of the things that make them unique and special!

I am so moved by the line, “Why have you forsaken me?!” I then heard an interview with Serj and Rick Rubin about Serj not being able to think of lyrics to finish of the song. Rick told him to go into his library and randomly choose a book. If I remember correctly, Serj blindly chose a Bible and randomly fell on this line. I love SOAD and Rick Rubin, and it is yet another cool story about them.

This was the first SOAD song I ever heard, I think, and what grabbed me hard in the feels was how incredibly BEAUTIFUL the sounds were while the words they were singing made me uncomfortable. I was an internet infant at the time, so I didn't go running to my computer to research lyrics or meanings...I just accepted the juxtaposition they created was an amazing feat of art.

Yes, Holy Mountains please! More votes

listen to holy mountains. both Serj and Darren harmonize on that song very well together

I recommend checking out a Metal band from France called Gojira, especially the official video for the song "Silvera"

In every song of System of a Down, folk vocal techniques from Armenia are characteristic. They never forget to add that exotic spice that gives their songs a unique sound. Great rock band. I like them 🤘

I know you've covered a few songs by SOAD, however you would love Radio/Video and/or Question! I think you would find them really interesting and both give a different dynamic to the songs you've already covered. Loved this!

"Father into your...... " Look up Rick Reuben describing how that lyric was found. Amazing

Your examinations of System of a Down and Tool music are just incredible. Definitely adding a new layer to my enjoyment of both bands. Thanks!

Their story telling hits in every way. Musically, dynamics inside, lyrics - everything. And this song never gets old. Thank you for your wonderful review and reaction!

I love this band and will watch anything from them, you will be amazed if you hear Serj voice on these songs live *Serj Tankian - Elect the Dead symphony * Empty Walls, Lie Lie Lie and Gate 21. Awesome reaction as always 👍

Suggestions by this band is amazing! Shows all of serj’s vocal range!

You should try their song “Question?” for vocal pairing and contrasting. It’s really good.

Just wait till you see them live. It’s astounding to watch them in real time effortlessly pulling off the craziest harmonies.

There's a part of this song in the animated film Sing 2 and my 5 year old goes crazy every time ❤ great tune!

Babe, they are legendary!!! I’m happy that finally you hear them. Soad unreal, always 🤘🤘🤘🎸

I love this song for its meaning and the way the band makes us feel❤

On the podcast "Broken Record" that features Rick Rubin(who produced Chop Suey), Rubin explains how the lead song writer/singer created the bridge part after writing down a random passage of a book he picked up off the shelf in the library of the house they were recording this song at. It worked perfectly. (kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Z7aPktSbu6idhJc.html)

I love your openness to New genres of music, watching you quietly turn into a thrasher over the last year or so has been entertaining as hell.

"Eerie" is so bang on, this song almost spooked me a hit when it first came out and I could never put my finger on way. I also love the "my" that you shine light on here. As always I LOVE the way you make me listen and appreciate songs differently, and I love watching you hear my favourite bits for the first time ❤

Holy. You are reviewing rock bands! I often see vocal coaches reviewing these kind of genres! Thank you for appreciating all kind of music. 👊🤘

I'm always a big fan of harmonization, so songs with it will draw me in big time!!! It's definitely the vocalist in me as I always try to find harmonies in songs when I sing as well.

I will never get tired of hearing this song. It's just ridiculously incredible!!!

I heard this song on the radio once, and I had to get the album! One of the best albums of all time! 🌿🌸

Bethany i love watching your face in these vids! Your expressions are priceless. Would really like to hear you sing in your style then watch you go metal as F!

I hope you cover their song Aerials soon. That's hands down my favorite song of theirs. It's such a beautiful song, both vocally and instrumentally.

To me the highest point in the song is when they “father, father, father into your hands I encommend my spirit, father into your hands why have you forsaken me???” To me, that’s such a clamor for a cry for help and feeling abandoned. It gets me every time!

Once you dive into their lyrics and the meaning behind it brings a new level of appreciation. Wake up, live in chaos, ask the void why you’ve been forsaken, rinse and repeat.

I have been stucked watching almost 10 videos straight and... I just can say that u r the kind of person who I would love to talk with about music and share knowledge. Whish u keep doing these videos, they are wonderful. I might have listened most of the songs a lot of times, and in different reactions/analysis, but just watch people in music sector doing these type of videos gives me a feeling that I can't describe, plus the little details that you learn in each of these videos. As I said, keep going, its incredible. Greetings from a Spaniard in Germany!

first time i think: "noooo, don't stop!" imagine listening for the first time the entire album with no breaks years ago when it came out. it was awsome

It’s still so hard to listen to this song, I lost my cousin to a drug overdose and it can be so hard to hear people talk about drug addicts like they are nothing. I wish I was there to help you when you needed me the most, it will always be my biggest regret. RIP J.P.G. I love you

Truly great review. Thank you. System Of A Down has been on my short list of favorites for years. To hear it reviewed by someone that knows what they are talking about is pretty awesome.

I love the way you watch and listen intently to each video to create your reaction videos, it's a beautiful thing in and of itself. But I must say that the true magic happens when you see and hear everything in its entirely. Wtching and listening, seeing and hearing are entirely two different things. Like musicality and feelings... the moment the technicality becomes something that you can feel is the moment that music becomes magic. And no one does this better than you! ❤

I enjoy your channel very much with all your input and the way you give your honest opinion on every type of music. Your expressions show how much you love what your doing,So I just wanted to say thank you

Another great choice, the one thing that stands out in all of your videos is your genuine love of music :)

Fantastic video! Really enjoyed your analysis!

Subscribed because of your honest, eyes closed, beautiful smile real deal reactions.. it’s gritty good music at heart.. ❤

I'm so thankful that you reacted to this song. Everytime I listened to SOAD, I say to my self, I hope @TheVocalyst comes across this song!

Such a great song and incredibly talented band! I really enjoyed your break down and reactions to this song.

Been waiting a long time for this one!

Love it, and love watching your reaction!

Good morning Bethany, yet another great pick,,,,,,,, You and your reactions are absolutely priceless! Love it

SOAD is so good. That era of mixing in some rap style along with rock was blended perfectly with this song and them has a hole. Harmonies thought out to perfection. Just so Dang intense music that I knew you would embrace

2:54 the way you say "sooo good" is sooooo good

I love your reviews of these songs that are obviously well out of your wheelhouse! So interesting to hear your perspective.

I enjoyed watching this with you. Its absolute classic and remains on my playlist to this day. Nothing else like it.

That eireness is the same siren-like chromatic notes wavering in-out continuously, both during the verse and the chorus. SOAD was the master of transitions. Period.

It’s definitely Erie (the entire album actually) as the album came out 7 days before 9-11 . Throughput out the album there is a continued sense of dread, confusion and frustration.

Thank you for letting this play instead of interrupting every 30 seconds.

Since you've taken a first look at Chop Suey, I EXTREMELY URGE YOU to look at Serj Tankien's isolated vocals for this music. It is a god sent. Also, you HAVE GOT to react to Hypnotize anf Forest. For me two of their greatest songs and vocal delivery.

I love watching your reactions to "crazy" music.

So powerful but so relaxing at the same time!

I'd love to see you at a SOAD concert, jumping up on stage in the middle of Chop Suey and telling the band, "Guys! We've got to go back to the beginning. I've got to hear those harmonies again!" Love your reactions.

The piano at the end is just stunning.😊

I love your SOAD reactions. They really bring me back to hearing them. The unique palette of sound is unlike anything else. Each song a different experience. Theyre often called Nu-Metal and there are simalarities to aome others in the genre but really the inhabit their own space. Also, Darren and Serj harmonize in a way where it compliments and elevates their already great voices into something much greater.

Awesome to see you pulled into the calm-urgency-yerning transitions of SOAD with the rest of us. The emotional and blood pressure rollercoaster is so fun lol

This is one of those songs, whether you like the style/genre or not, by the end of the song, with the harmonies they're hitting, you can't help but like it. By the way, it's about time you reacted to this one.

One of my all time favorite songs of all time, and really the song that brought me back into metal.

That's why music is universal. He can catch anyone, anytime, anywhere, anywhere.

Exaclty, you can hear a through line from one tansition to the next, and once you've heard the song 10's of time, you hear it coming. Just like when you watch one of your favorite movies you've seen 10s of times, you can't wait for the next scene that you remember, is your favorite., and the build up is money.

Great reaction to a truly awesome song.

Writing, singing, the lyrics(!), musicianship, production, mixing - a masterpiece on every layer.

I been waiting for this moment

I'd love your take on their later works of Hypnotize and Mesmerized also Serj's solo works

the next one has to be Aerials. Amazing piece of work

i always give you a thumb up before watching because I know it will be awesome ;)

You still need to check out Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge. Especially Words Darker than their Wings live with the Parallax Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall

I love watching your face experience awesome songs for the first time

I was an angry teenager when this came out, and it swells my heart so much to hear someone explain the beauty of a song that was all rage to me back then. Kudos on another amazing review, keep em coming!!

I absolutely love your SOAD reactions! You're so good at picking out all of the little artistic nuances that make them so brilliant!

There is a YT clip of Rick Rubin who is the producer of Chop Suey. Rubin has discussed the song's creation and climax including one where he revealed that Serj Tankian pulled a lyric from a random book to fill out a section of the song. And it ends up being one of the best parts of the song.

Thank you again for a top top reaction.

Cristina Russo did a multitrack breakdown here on youtube. The isolated Darren screams of 'father' are something to behold. Worth checking out.

Love that you @thevocalyst chooses great music and music that does not disturb our ears (If you know what I mean, hahaha)

I just watched your analysis of Toxicity by SOAD and I'm loving this channel

Great reaction good to see how open minded you are with different genres of music .👍 I think the distinguishable two voices in harmony at the end , make it more inviting for Audience participation , more anthem like . Problem is , it makes it hard to commit to which voice you want to wail along to ! Either way there's something about that harmony that makes you sing along with gusto and conviction , they arranged this with perfection . Great band , we just need more 😁

This song has sooo many good memories for me...

the camera angles on this video are incredible

What can i say , i knew it , insta like. I wish when i was a kid and listened to this, to have a guys like you , to listen with me. Thank you