Ahh.. SOAD , i don't see anything wrong , game's , movies , and other bands are more raw.

User: sanddude stole the words out of my mouth. "Off for 12 and under. Iffy for 13-14. On for 15+"

This album has every curse in the book, sexual references galore, violence. It's also absurdly well-written, with lyrics that are nothing short of visionary poetry and complex, sophisticated instrumental arrangements that draw from every genre you can think of. Mesmerize is funny, smart, beautifully executed and raises your IQ another few points with every listen. Having said that, it's also inappropriate for tweens and kids you can't take lyrics with a grain of salt. Some 12-year-olds will be able to handle it, while some 18-year-olds won't be able to get through the first track. You need to decide weather your child is precocious enough to deal with the music and understand its content to its full extent. If they are, then the album is a great listen that the parents will probably enjoy as well, given time; my dad was the one who got me into System of a Down.

Look, this stuff is sending a good message. Just look at Serj Tankian helping out with Stopping the Killing in Darfur and recognizing the Armenian Genocide. All the swearing has no meaning unless you adults GIVE IT MEANING! Kids can give it a possitive meaning. It is bad if you say F*** YOU ALL!. But it is not if you say SAVE THE F***ING EARTH, GO GREEN!!!. It is all about perception. I'm only 13 and i understand that. It's not about what you say, its about what others hear. I think kids can hear a good message from this. (also these songs can be really funny)

I think that the age given for System of a Down ''Mezmerize'' is up way too high. Sure, it may contain some sexual references and strong and suggestive language, but the songs themselves I feel can have more of a positive impact of people, especially those of the young age. This is because for many people, it introduces a new way to look at the politics and the world we live in, and whether its a good thing or a bad thing, it all depends on where you stand when it comes to such matters. For many, I think it might be better to expose younger people at a younger, to music such as System of a Down, because of the new perspective it could give them. But its not all about the politics, the sexual references, and the messages the band is sending out, it also has an uplifting feel to their music that I think many people could relate to also in the lyrics. So personally, if I was a parent, I would definetly not rate this album at such an older age, for it could be better to let kids this age to explore and find the music they like and can relate to, and the album ''Mezmerize'' by System of a Down could be a great start to that.

Not as bad as some people say it is.

First of all, this album is okay. Daron took on as a lead vocalist, and he is terrible. I recommend not buying this, because Malakian made it crap. It was better when serj tankian wrote the music, because it was more passionate and appropriate. That guy, Daron, made system of a down into a glorified mix of eminem and bieber, and its total crap!!!

I love it ITs awsome perfect for enyone that knows not say bad words

I absolutely adore this album, as with all System of a Down's albums. I have been listening to System since I was about eight years old, as with other "inappropriate" bands/singers. None have encouraged me to curse or do anything "bad". Heck, I'm a fourteen year old girl and I can't recall a time I have lied or cursed, even with listening to music such as this. I know some parents might find System's lyrics distasteful, but hey, from the schools I've been to (public and private), I see fifth graders using worse words and talking about worse things than System does. The music is mostly political, or trying to open the listeners mind to new ideas, or steer them away from the commercialism and lies we face in our world/society. Don't be turned off by B.Y.O.B, it is the only song that is that "extreme" that System made. Any drugs that are in the songs are referred to in negative perspective, describing how they might ruin your life or alter your view on reality. The songs that use the worst language are "Cigaro" and "B.Y.O.B" (C**k, S**t, and f**k), but most teens hear these words daily, and much more of it in rap and hip-hop. The song "Violent Pornography" is basically about how the media portrays society on TV, and showing that the filth you find on TV now a days can be compared to a violent pornography, so if you were thinking this song was about sex, it's not. Much of the lyrics will probably sound like nonsense, but in order to understand all of their songs, you have to decipher the lyrics, so their songs also pose a mental challenge for the listener (that is if they care to know the meaning). The music itself mixes genres, but generally is rock/metal. In my opinion, this isn't their best album, but like all of System's albums, the music is poetic, entrancing, inspirational, eye-opening, VERY unique, political, and better than the usual stuff you hear. System also mixes some crude but funny humor in some of the songs. To put simply, if you don't want your kid to hear the reality of the world we are now facing, such as the degradation of American society and government, or don't want them listening to metal or a few bad words that they normally hear anyway, don't let them listen to the album. If all that is okay with you (which it should be), then go ahead and let your kid listen. ~Volchitsa