System of a Down Cranks It Up

Big, blustery displays of angst can certainly be impressive, but unless it’s shaped by cogent ideas, such music can fail to leave a lasting impression. There’s angst aplenty coursing through System of a Down’s music, but it’s carefully tempered with stylistic elements culled from many sources--jazz, the group members’ Armenian cultural roots, the muscular quirks of artists such as Faith no More and Primus--plus lyrics that tackle everything from politics to poetry.

As powerful as System’s new self-titled album debut is, the music proved even more intense on stage at the Roxy on Saturday. The Los Angeles quartet shifted smoothly through a dynamic, eclectic set that churned with hard-core aggression one moment, then soared with brooding beauty the next. At one point, during “Suite-Pee,” singer Serj Tankian’s microphone cut out, but the band didn’t miss a beat--nor did the enthusiastic, sell-out crowd, which chanted the chorus in perfect time until the equipment was fixed.

Throughout, the charismatic Tankian addressed issues historical and topical, from the Armenian genocide to the U.S. anti-terrorist attacks to the lack of air conditioning at the club. Mostly, though, he let System of a Down’s convincing music do the talking.