"Mesmerize," disc one of System of a Down's forthcoming two-disc set "Mesmerize/Hypnotize," is scheduled to reach stores May 17, and its first single will hit radio stations this month.

The single, the "Mesmerize" track "B.Y.O.B," contains a lyric questioning "a president's involvement in the business of war," ("Why don't presidents fight the war?/Why do they always send the poor?/Why do they always send the poor?"), according to the band's publicist.

A revamped version of SOAD's website is scheduled to launch Monday evening (3/7), and will offer a look at the artwork for "Mesmerize/Hypnotize," much of which was designed and painted by Vartan Malakian, SOAD guitarist/producer Daron Malakian's father.

The band recorded the 30 tracks that comprise "Mesmerize/Hypnotize" at co-producer Rick Rubin's Los Angeles studio during the second half of 2004. Andy Wallace mixed the set.

Disc two, "Mesmerize," will be released in about six months. According to a press release, "[t]he decision to release the two discs six months apart was made simply to give fans time to get into and really live with the music from disc one before plunging into disc two.'

"Hypnotize/Mesmerize" will be the follow-up to System of a Down's multi-platinum 2001 release, "Toxicity," which debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 album chart.