A chaotic masterpiece born from leaks, riffs, and pure SOAD madness — Riff Report style, butt!
On 26 November 2002, the mighty System Of A Down dropped one of the most unorthodox, chaotic, and beautifully unhinged releases in modern metal history:
🎧 Steal This Album!
And aye… the title wasn’t a joke. The whole record was a cheeky two-finger salute to music piracy, leaks, and the entire early-2000s internet wild west. Proper job, lads. 😆
💿 THE ALBUM THAT SHOULDN’T HAVE EXISTED… BUT THANK THE GODS IT DID
Here’s the mad backstory: a bunch of unreleased SOAD demos leaked online under a fake album name (“Toxicity II”), sounding rough as guts. Instead of crying into their choir robes, Serj Tankian and the gang went:
“C’mon butt — let’s fix the mixes and release the thing properly!”
So they re-recorded, remixed, polished, smashed, bashed, screamed, chanted, riffed and brought chaos into alignment.
The result? A cult favourite that many fans consider one of their most underrated records.
🎛️ PRODUCED BY THE WIZARDS OF CHAOS
The album was helmed by:
- Rick Rubin – the bearded guru of a thousand genres
- Daron Malakian – guitar sorcerer, melody gremlin, and part-time agent of chaos
This pairing captured SOAD’s signature blend of:
- killer riffs 🎸
- political fury 🔥
- surreal humour 😵💫
- and Armenian soul 💛
All wrapped in a neat DIY-looking disc that literally resembles something burnt on the family PC in 2002.
Only in Wales, mun… would we still be using discs like this in the car. 😅
📈 CHARTS, BABY!
Despite being a “B-sides-but-not-really” release, the album still:
🎤 Peaked at number 15 on the US Billboard 200
That’s wild for a record born from leaks and chaos. Riff Report salutes thee. 🤘
🎶 STANDOUT TRACKS (AKA: SONGS THAT SLAP YOU IN THE FACE)
🔥 “Innervision” – classic SOAD energy. Wake-up slap guaranteed.
🔥 “I-E-A-I-A-I-O” – the alphabet song if your teacher had a breakdown.
🔥 “Bubbles” – punk-spiked, hyperactive, a whole mood.
🔥 “Fuck the System” – subtle (not).
🔥 “Roulette” – Serj and Daron get all emotional and lush.
It’s an album full of curveballs — like being hit with a baguette during a mosh pit. You don’t see it coming, but you respect the chaos.
🧠 WHY STEAL THIS ALBUM! STILL MATTERS
- It captures the rawest, most unfiltered version of SOAD
- It showcases their ability to blend humour with razor-sharp political commentary
- It cemented their reputation for doing whatever the hell they wanted
- It remains a fan favourite and a hidden gem in their catalogue
Plus, who else could turn a dodgy leak into a stone-cold classic? Tidy!
🤘 RIFF REPORT VERDICT
A chaotic, rebellious, beautifully messy album that—like a Welsh mosh pit in the rain—makes no sense but feels absolutely perfect.
Score: 10/10 stolen CDs
Diolch for this one, SOAD. 🔥🔥🔥
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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