System of a Down

Toxicity

First released2001

Toxicity, the second studio album by System of a Down, was recorded in 2000 at The Larrabee Sound Studios and One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles under the production of Rick Rubin. The album was engineered by Andy Wallace, known for his work on heavy music production, and featured Daron Malakian and Shavo Odadjian as co-producers alongside Rubin. Rick Rubin's minimalist production approach emphasized the band's raw instrumental prowess and vocal arrangements, allowing their unconventional song structures and political messaging to take prominence. The recording process captured the band's aggressive yet melodic style during a period when nu metal and alternative metal were commercially dominant, resulting in an album that became a critical and commercial success upon its 2001 release.