Toxicity

"Toxicity" began as an idea that bassist Shavo Odadjian brought to System of a Down under the working title "Version 7.0," a name he took from the then-current AOL software, joking that when the song came out it would be on Version 7.0 and the band would be telling the future. Although guitarist Daron Malakian and vocalist Serj Tankian were the band's principal songwriters, Odadjian's original concept proved crucial. The track nearly went overlooked, with Odadjian recalling that it had fallen through the cracks and that he felt good about it even though it wasn't taken well at first. It was only when Malakian revisited the composition that the song was fully realized. Producer Rick Rubin encouraged the band to over-write, and they entered the studio with roughly 44 songs.

The drum beat came from a moment of irritation. Drummer John Dolmayan, trying to work out rhythms while Odadjian stood in front of him talking and moving his arms, mocked his gestures and produced one of his most recognizable beats. Malakian steered the song toward a more melodic direction with larger choruses, a shift that caused friction, including a physical brawl between Malakian and Dolmayan. The aftermath brought renewed camaraderie, and within a week the band had completed "Toxicity" along with "Chop Suey!".

The lyrics draw on varied imagery. "Eating seeds as a pastime activity" references the Armenian tradition of snacking on roasted sunflower seeds, while "sacred silence and sleep" reflects Serj Tankian's interest in Native American spirituality and the writings of survivalist author Tom Brown Jr.