System of a Down’s landmark album “Toxicity” is being honored in a new exhibition at Beyond the Streets gallery in Los Angeles, marking the 25th anniversary of its release. The showcase features rare artifacts, photographs, and memorabilia related to the album and the band’s rise to international prominence.
Released on September 4, 2001, “Toxicity” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 222,000 copies in its first week. The album produced several of System of a Down’s defining tracks, including “Aerials,” “Toxicity,” and “Chop Suey!” The latter has since garnered more than 2.1 billion streams on Spotify and its music video has exceeded 1.6 billion views on YouTube. Blending thrash metal, alternative rock, punk, and Armenian musical influences, the album expanded on the band’s distinctive sound while solidifying its identity.
Guitarist and songwriter Daron Malakian recalled more modest beginnings while creating the album. He wrote many songs late at night in the room where he grew up, still living with his parents at the time. Aware of the pressures to evolve beyond their debut album, Malakian sought to push the band’s sound forward without losing its core identity.
While often associated with the early 2000s nu metal scene alongside bands like Korn and Limp Bizkit, Malakian rejects the idea that System of a Down fit neatly into any single genre. “We’ve never done anything to fit a genre,” he said, emphasizing the band’s tendency to go against prevailing trends.
The timing of “Toxicity’s” release amid a tumultuous period in U.S. history added complexity to the album’s impact. The band had planned a free concert on September 3, 2001, in a Hollywood parking lot, the night before the album’s release. However, the event was canceled due to safety concerns after thousands of fans gathered, sparking a well-publicized riot. Malakian recalled watching the unrest unfold from a nearby hotel and recognized that the band’s popularity was poised to rise sharply.
Just one week later, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks dramatically shifted the national atmosphere and influenced how listeners interpreted the album’s content. The song “Chop Suey!” was temporarily removed from some radio playlists, and many listeners connected its lyrics, written months earlier, to the tragedy. Malakian dismissed these associations as coincidence rather than prophetic insight.
The exhibition at Beyond the Streets features a wide array of items connected to “Toxicity,” including backstage passes, posters, clothing, recording materials, and instruments. Founder Roger Gastman described the free, all-ages show as a carefully curated experience intended to engage both longtime fans and newcomers, with opportunities to explore in detail or absorb the display more quickly.
“Toxicity’s” enduring relevance, a quarter-century after its release, reflects the band’s authentic approach to songwriting and music, according to Malakian. “That honesty in System of a Down and that honesty in the songwriting and the lyrics and the band still speaks to people,” he said.
The exhibition runs from Tuesday to Sunday at Beyond the Streets, 434 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, with hours from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. Early arrival is recommended.