System of a Down to Launch Hypnotize November 22 with In-Store Appearance and Special MTV2 $2 Bill Concert in NYC

System of a Down will unleash Hypnotize on November 22 with two very special events in New York City: an in-store appearance at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square and a headlining date at Webster Hall that night for MTV2's $2 Bill Concert Series. In-store appearance begins at 6:00pm.

The $2 tickets go on sale at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square (1540 Broadway New York, NY) on Saturday, November 19th at noon while supplies last. Tickets must be purchased in cash, with a two ticket maximum per purchaser, and attendees must be 18 years of age or older. Tickets can also be won by listening to K-Rock 92.3 FM in New York City and other select radio stations around the country. MTV2's $2 Bill Concert with System of a Down will premiere on MTV2 on Friday, December 16th at 8pm ET/PT. In addition, the show will also premiere in full on MTV2.com and MTV Overdrive starting on Friday, December 9th.

Hypnotize is the second half of a promised two-disc set and the fifth studio album from the internationally acclaimed American Recordings/Columbia band. It follows Mezmerize which debuted at #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart in May and is already certified multi-platinum. The title track off Hypnotize was #1 most added at rock and alternative radio while the video- lensed by bassist Shavo Odadjian-has already been added to MTV.

In other news, the Los Angeles-based band -- singer, Serj Tankian; guitarist/singer, Daron Malakian; bassist, Shavo Odadjian and drummer John Dolmayan -- recently took home the "Best Alternative" honors at the MTV European Music Awards held in Lisbon, Portugal earlier this month. SOAD are also nominated for "Favorite Artist" in the Alternative category at the American Music Awards. The ceremony will be held in Los Angeles November 22, the same day Hypnotize hits stores.

Produced by Rick Rubin and Daron Malakian, Hypnotize is already striking a chord with critics: "Its snarling message couldn't be more timely," says Rolling Stone while Blender raves, "System accelerate their shifts from pummel to tune to rant to majesty, so that three-minute songs can sound like epics." Alternative Press offers, "Hypnotize is more than just leftovers from last May's Mezmerize - the 12-song set is more aggressive, metallic and all-around weird than its predecessor..." and Revolver calls the Mezmerize/Hypnotize set "a double album masterpiece."

The packaging for Hypnotize is specially designed to physically join Mezmerize and Hypnotize together, forming one unified product with continuous artwork. Most importantly, the albums interlock musically. The final track on Hypnotize, "Soldier Side" completes "Soldier Side Intro," which appears as the opening track on Mezmerize. Additionally the DualDisc edition will contain exclusive behind-the-scenes footage showing the making of both records.

SOURCE: Columbia Records

CONTACT: Angelica Cob-Baehler, Vice President of Columbia Records,
Media, Santa Monica, +1-310-449-2508, Angelica.Cob@sonybmg.com

Web site: http://www.columbiarecords.com/
http://www.systemofadown.com/