I honestly think that their first album is miles ahead of anything else they've done.
From there, I don't know. Toxicity is plagued with a terrible opening song(loathe the prison song), and I really don't see why Hypnotize/Mesmerize was released as two albums because they both are padded down with a lot of meh b-sides.
Steal this Album isn't bad, it's just universally considered sort of the one that a lot of people hate because it signifies System of a Down adopting a less "heavy" sound than the first two albums(albeit, Toxicity was already bridging into that direction, but not as much as Steal this Album is a way softer yet way more experimental/eclectic album).
I honestly like all their albums. But, from personal experience, talking with fans, I find that most people don't like the post-Toxicity material that much. Then again, I think that comes from close-mindedness because whether they're as effective or not with their later sound, it's definitely more sophisticated.
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