Soldier Side

Lore & Background

The narrative surrounding "Soldier Side" is found strictly within the context of *Mezmerize*, which serves as the first half of a double album paired with *Hypnotize*. Daron Malakian, who shares vocal duties on the album, wrote songs that often reflect specific personal moments or cultural observations. For instance, "Old School Hollywood" was written after he played in a celebrity baseball game featuring Tony Danza and Frankie Avalon. Regarding "Radio/Video," Malakian explained to *Revolver* magazine that neighbors named Danny and Lisa inspired the lyrics, noting how their possession of Paul Stanley's 1978 solo album influenced him. The track "Violent Pornography" contains the line "It's a non-stop disco," which Malakian clarified simply means "I love disco, betcha didn't know," having nothing to do with the rest of the song. These specific anecdotes ground the band's creative process in real-world interactions rather than abstract military mythology.

In Their Own Story

The creation of *Mezmerize* involved detailed production choices that distinguished it from standard releases. The Japanese version of the album included alternate mixes of "Soldier Side (Intro)" featuring additional strings, a detail absent from the retail version. Meanwhile, the single for "B.Y.O.B." featured a bonus track titled "Cigaro," which included a unique 4-stick hit intro not found on the standard album. The artwork for this massive release was crafted by Vartan Malakian, Daron's father. Early copies of the album contained an error crediting Serj Tankian as a co-lyricist on "Lost in Hollywood," a mistake that was corrected in later pressings. The band achieved universal acclaim with an 85 out of 100 score on Metacritic based on 19 reviews, and the single "B.Y.O.B." went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2006.

Reader's Guide

To navigate the *Mezmerize* era correctly, one must recognize that all music was written by Daron Malakian, with the exception of "Question!," co-written by Serj Tankian and Malakian. On this album, Malakian handles most vocal work alongside Tankian, splitting vocals roughly halfway on many tracks. The lineup includes Shavo Odadjian on bass (though Malakian is credited with uncredited bass and keyboards) and John Dolmayan on drums. Fans seeking the specific alternate mix of "Soldier Side (Intro)" must look for the Japanese version of the album, which adds strings to the track. For those interested in the raw energy of the era, the single "B.Y.O.B." offers the distinct 4-stick hit intro on its bonus track "Cigaro," providing a unique listening experience compared to the standard retail release.

Did You Know?

• The Japanese version of *Mezmerize* features an alternate mix of "Soldier Side (Intro)" that includes additional strings.
• "Old School Hollywood" was written by Daron Malakian after he played in a celebrity baseball game with Tony Danza and Frankie Avalon.
• Early pressings of the album incorrectly credited Serj Tankian as a co-lyricist on "Lost in Hollywood," an error fixed on later copies.
• The bonus track "Cigaro" (from the "B.Y.O.B." single) contains a 4-stick hit intro not present in the retail version of the album.
• Daron Malakian clarified that the line "non-stop disco" in "Violent Pornography" simply means "I love disco, betcha didn't know."