October 16, 2002 — Steal This Album, a collection of never-before-released original tracks from the vaults of multi-platinum recording artist System of a Down, will be released in time for the holiday season on American Recordings/Columbia Records.

Produced by Rick Rubin and System's guitarist Daron Malakian, and currently being mixed in Los Angeles by Andy Wallace (who mixed the Toxicity album), Steal This Album will feature from 12 to 17 tracks whose roots go back as far as before the group signed their 1995 contract with American, and as recent as the 2001 Toxicity sessions. While the band had intended to release previously recorded material at some point, the leaking onto the Internet earlier this year of some of the tracks recorded for Toxicity played a part in the timing of this release.

"We don't consider any of these songs B-sides or outtakes," said System vocalist Serj Tankian. "The songs that didn't make it onto Toxicity are as good as, if not better than, the songs that did -- they weren't originally included because they didn't fit the overall continuity of the album, and we're happy that our fans will be able to hear them in their completed form."

The final track listing for Steal This Album won't be determined until mixing has been completed, however, some tracks that will most likely make the final lineup include "Innervision," " Fuck the System," "Pictures, " "Boom," and "American Dream." These songs were originally recorded for the Toxicity album, but recording had never been completed nor had the songs been mixed or mastered. At least one acoustic song -- "Roulette," which Malakian began writing seven or eight years ago -- is planned, and features only Tankian (vocals) and Malakian (vocals, guitar). In addition, various "interludes," intros that have been used on the band's tours, and other musical tidbits will be woven throughout the CD.

"This record is like a bridge between Toxicity and our next studio record," explained Malakian. "It may give our fans a clue at the direction we're headed in musically. "

The Steal This Album packaging will resemble a home-made CD as it will be housed in a clear jewel case with no cover art, no booklet, and no standard J-card. The title will be scrawled across the face of the CD, and complete credits and other information can be accessed by inserting the CD into a computer and logging onto a special Internet site.

System of a Down have experienced phenomenal success since the September 2001 release of Toxicity, their sophomore album. Toxicity -- which has now sold in excess of four-million copies worldwide -- was named one of the Best Albums of the Year (2001) in publications such as Rolling Stone, Time, Spin, and Alternative Press.

The band currently has four singles being played at radio -- "Aerials," which reached the Number One position at both alternative and active rock formats, "Chop Suey!" "Psycho," and "Toxicity."