System Of A Down: Mezmerize

(Herald rating: * * * * *)

Listening to Mezmerize makes you think of a Matrix film - it's faster and more violent than most, and although the thrills are primitive, the underlying messages are not. Let's hope that unlike the films, when fourth album Hypnotize is released in six months it will live up to its predecessor - this is their best yet.

SOAD haven't strayed from the staccato-riffery of Toxicity, or from the schizo-comedy that sees them chopping and changing time signatures, or singer Serj Tankian giving a hammy performance. But they've cut the fat and taken more liberties.

Take BYOB (Bring Your Own Bombs), a heavy protest against the Iraq war that breaks into a cheerily sarcastic singalong: "Dancing in the desert, blowing up the sunshine." Or Question!, which weaves elements of their Armenian heritage into a bombardment of guitars.

Tankian's views haven't softened. In Violent Pornography: "Everybody sucks, everybody dies."

Too much anger is directed at obvious themes - Hollywood, for instance - but creative delivery makes up for it. Like a certain blockbuster, you'll be on the edge of your seat throughout.

Label: Sony BMG