Hypnotize is the fifth studio album by Armenian-American heavy metal band System of a Down. It was released on November 22, 2005, six months after the release of its companion album Mezmerize, and one year following the album's completion. Mezmerize and Hypnotize both debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart, making the band one of only four acts (the others being The Beatles, Tupac Shakur, and DMX) to achieve this with two albums in the same year, and the only American band to do so. As of 2023, Hypnotize is the latest studio album by System of a Down, who had entered a four-year hiatus in 2006, and the band did not release new music until 2020. Reception Hypnotize received generally positive reviews. It opened at number one on the Billboard 200, with 320,000 copies sold in the first week. The album also debuted at number 1 on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 47,000 copies in its first week. The album was certified gold and platinum by the RIAA on December 13, 2005. Since its release, Hypnotize has sold 8 million copies worldwide. Entertainment Weekly (No. 851, p. 100) - "[T]hey're flaunting a heretofore underexplored sensitive side, offsetting their trademark stampeding riffology with flashes of delicate lyricism." - Grade: B+ Rolling Stone (No. 988, p. 117) - 3.5 out of 5 stars - "Hell immediately runneth over on Malakian's scoured-staccato guitars and Dolmayan's furious hammering." Spin (p. 62) - Ranked #20 in Spins "40 Best Albums of 2005". Uncut (p. 109) - 3 stars out of 5 - "System succeed through their skill at wielding complex, progressive heaviness in a pop context." Track listing All lyrics written by Daron Malakian and Serj Tankian, except where noted. All music written by Malakian, except where noted. Notes The album was initially going to start with a Middle Eastern-style instrumental track entitled "Hezze", which Malakian stated was one of his favorite songs on the record prior to its release. It was dropped at the last minute because the group wanted to open the album with a heavy song, and because the band felt it was incongruous with the other songs on the album. However, during live performances of "Mr. Jack", Malakian would yell "Yalla hezze" (English translation: "Come on, shake!") after the first chorus. A funk/jazzy guitar instrumental, is then played after. "The Charade", originally titled "Charades", a song written