Don't try this at home, kids. Although we can understand why you might be tempted to take Armenian-American alt-metal sensations System of a Down at their word and try for a five-finger discount on Steal This Album.

Reason No. 1: It isn't really their new album -- it's a bunch of old demos and stuff that didn't make the cut for last year's Toxicity.

Reason No. 2: The packaging. Or should we say the lack of -- there's no booklet, no liner notes, no photos, nada, zip, zilch.

Kinda makes you wonder just who is ripping off whom here. Thankfully, all doubts are dispelled once these cuts start pumping on your stereo. They may be leftovers, but pound for pound and grind for grind, many if not most of these 16 songs are every bit as sinister, savage and supercharged as anything from Toxicity, right down to the serpentine Middle Eastern melodies and vocalist Serj Tankian's pointed lyrics and idiosyncratic vocals.

Our only quibble: It doesn't hang together the way an actual record should.

Perhaps a better title would be Buy This Album on Sale. (More on System of a Down)

Track Listing
1. Chic 'N' Stew
2. Innervision
3. Bubbles
4. Boom!
5. N - guns
6. A.D.D.
7. Mr. Jack
8. I-E-A-I-A-I-O
9. 36
10. Pictures
11. Highway Song
12. Fuck The System
13. Ego Brain
14. Thetawaves
15. Roulette
16. Streamline