* Mixed at Record Plant Studios, Hollywood, CA & Hollywood Sound, CA * Vocals and additional recordings at Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research, Hollywood, CA * Management: Velvet Hammer Management, David "Beno" Benveniste
* Art direction: Frank Harkins & System of a Down * Second assistant mixdown engineer: Bryan Davis * Assistant mixdown engineers: James Saez, Greg Gordon, Andy Haller * Assistant engineers: Sam Story, Nick Raskulinecz * Additional recording/finishing touches: D.Sardy * Engineer/assistant engineer: Greg Fidelman * Produced by Rick Rubin with System of a Down ** Serj Tankian – vocals, keyboard/ samples ** Daron Malakian – guitar, background vocals (Politically Lying, Unholy, Cowardly Killers) "Q" magazine (10/01, p.152) - 4 stars out of 5 - "This remains an excellent starting point for this most curious and underrated of bands." The album differs greatly from System of a Down's next 4 albums, the music being most influenced by heavy metal. Later, it is written in bold letters: "Open your eyes, open your mouths, close your hands and make a fist". This slogan inspired part of the text contained in the back of the System of a Down album: "The hand has five fingers, capable and powerful, with the ability to destroy as well as create". The text in the original poster is: "5 fingers has a hand! With these 5 grab the enemy!". The hand on the front belongs to the artwork of a poster designed by the artist John Heartfield for the Communist Party of Germany during the Third Reich. Two years later, after the success of " Toxicity", it was certified platinum. The album was certified gold by the RIAA on February 2, 2000. "System of a Down" is the eponymous debut album by System of a Down, first released in 1998. Lower caption = "Limited Edition" Extra album cover 2 Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research