Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Although Linkin Park‘s “Hybrid Theory” is regarded as the best-selling nu metal album of all time due to its 12x platinum status, System Of A Down‘s historic 2001 6x multi-platinum sophomore album “Toxicity” is frequently hailed as one of the most influential records to arrive during its era, as per theprp. Nonetheless, there are still some apparent misconceptions regarding a hidden track that concludes the record, some 25 years after it was released. For good measure, fans have frequently referred to it as “Arto.” It does, after all, include a cameo by avant-garde Armenian-American musician Arto Tunçboyaciyan, who would later collaborate directly with System Of A Down singer Serj Tankian on a project called Serart.
The song wasn’t mentioned by name on the record’s original album art because it was a secret track. But as of the time of publication, streaming providers showed it as “Arto.” Although anyone who are familiar with Armenian church hymns have probably long aware of the song’s original roots, the band’s guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian took to social media on April 24, Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, to somewhat correct the record. Malakian took the following action to dispel any misunderstandings regarding the song in light of the original composition’s connections to Armenian culture and the aforementioned genocide, which the Armenian-American metal band has long fought for international recognition of.
There is a hidden track at the end of the Toxicity album that fans call “Arto.” However, the composition is actually a spiritual Armenian hymn called “Der Voghormia” (“Lord Have Mercy”). The piece is often used to commemorate the Armenian Genocide, like in this video depicting priests performing Der Voghormia at the Genocide Memorial in Armenia, over a century later. When we, as System Of A Down, perform the song live, we do it to remember the 1.5 million souls who lost their lives in 1915.
On April 25, System Of A Down headlined the “Sick New World” in Las Vegas, Nevada, for their first performance of 2026. The following dates are also planned for later this year.
