Within the 20 years which have handed for the reason that 2005 launch of System Of A Down‘s 1-2 punch of “Mezmerize” and “Hynpotize“, there was only a few glimmers of hope of a correct return to the studio. Again in 2018, the multi-platinum Armenian-American nü-metallers shocked their followers with a pair of ‘new’ singles, which helped increase over a half 1,000,000 {dollars} for the Artsakh/Armenian folks affected by the Second Nagorno-Karabakh Battle.
Neither of these songs have been completely new creations nevertheless, with one stemming from the failed writing classes the band set out upon within the mid to late 2010s, whereas one other was an concept guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian had been bouncing round for a possible launch through his Scars On Broadway mission.
The artistic variations within the band are tiringly well-documented at this level. On the root of the dispute is vocalist Serj Tankian‘s wishes for extra egalitarian beliefs with reference to artistic enter and monetary splits. Nevertheless, his concepts weren’t readily welcomed by his bandmates, resulting in the continuing deadlock.
It could appear {that a} lesser issue behind the scenes is the affect of politics and the differing perception techniques members of the band share. Vocalist Serj Tankian, has lengthy been an outspoken political and justice activist, together with his beliefs typically skewing in the direction of extra liberal endeavors.
His brother-in-law, drummer John Dolmayan, nevertheless has embraced a extra conservative method, proudly backing U.S. President Doland Trump for a few years now. Encouragingly, in these radicalized occasions, it’s an ideological divide that the pair have managed to get previous, however has apparently nonetheless remained a supply of at the least some minor friction through the years.
Whereas System Of A Down have managed to keep up a modest reside schedule, their lack of ability to get on the identical web page to jot down and document new music appears insurmountable. The attrition of kinds established by the behind-the-scenes battle of beliefs has already worn down the group’s main songwriter, guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian.
In an interview with System Of A Down‘s producer of alternative (and document label advocate) Rick Rubin that was revealed earlier this yr, Malakian instructed Rubin the next regarding the band ever beginning a “new story” within the studio:
“There was a time that that may have been one thing I wished. I’m undecided how a lot I need that anymore — I’m positive folks received’t be too pleased to listen to that from me. I’m not on the identical place I used to be perhaps 10 years in the past.”
It could seem that Dolmayan too would slightly protect what the band have now, than danger the any potential new fractures. Talking final month with Lilian Tahmasian, Dolmayan first revealed his admiration for producer Rick Rubin who additionally initially bought the band signed. He said, “If we ever make a [System Of A Down] document, if Rick‘s not there, I’m not there.”
Nevertheless, when requested if he ever truly sees the band coming again collectively once more within the studio, Dolmayan echoed Malakian‘s sentiments, responding:
“No. I don’t know if I need it at this level. There’s simply an excessive amount of drama concerned. And I like going out and having a very good time with my mates and taking part in reveals, and I don’t need that to vanish. There must be very strict tips for me to make one other document with System once more.”
When subsequently requested if conflicting political beliefs within the band had triggered points, Dolmayan replied:
“Yeah, we had issues with that as a result of Serj could be very outspoken. He has one mind-set, some issues we agree with – the remainder of the band – and a few issues we don’t. Some issues we’re precisely on par with. My perception system is somewhat completely different and I’ll get into that with you in somewhat bit. However, with Serj, we don’t need that to be the one factor, as a result of we don’t really feel like that’s the one aspect of System Of A Down. It’s a giant a part of the band.
Justice is a giant a part of the band. Justice has no politics. It’s both simply or unjust. It has no political affiliation. It both is or it isn’t. However there’s plenty of issues that come into play, morality. So we simply didn’t need it to be the one focus, and that was… Serj spent plenty of time speaking about political stuff on stage.
Now, I personally find it irresistible. The extra loopy he bought and into it… I consider something that’s passionately displayed is value listening to, even when I fully disagree with it. If you happen to’re actually captivated with it, I wish to know what you assume. So I like that a part of it, however the remainder of the band and me too felt prefer it was simply an excessive amount of of our focus.
We don’t simply sing about, lyrically, politics. We sing about love, demise, hate, silly issues, inane issues, inventive issues, insane issues. It’s all this stuff that make System Of A Down so distinctive. We didn’t need the point of interest to be politics, however that’s kinda what Serj wished to speak about on the time. So, we’re in a bizarre state of affairs the place I don’t wish to restrict what he has to say, however I don’t wish to restrict what folks consider me both.”
Dolmayan additionally additional expounded upon his personal political views in that interview, you’ll be able to learn that at size on this previous story. Dolmayan‘s reluctance to open the can of worms related to creating new music is assuredly a financially sound determination. Even with the shortage of any massive physique of recent materials in a long time, the group’s restricted reside reveals stay completely profitable. Again in 2024, Tankian admitted as a lot, whereas additionally expressed his disinterest with the grind of extreme touring. He instructed Rolling Stone on the time:
“Even when the band was making new music, I didn’t discover the life cycle of a major-label artist significantly satisfying. We’d sometimes spend six months writing, six months recording, after which two to 3 years touring and selling. That signifies that two-thirds to three-quarters of your time as a signed artist is spent doing issues that didn’t really feel very artistically fulfilling or artistic.
The apparent riposte to all that is that for those who’re profitable, you receives a commission fairly nicely in your bother. System is fortunate sufficient to make royalties from promoting music, and that revenue in all fairness constant. If you happen to outspend that revenue, you’ll be able to at all times refill the coffers with massive checks from touring. Enjoying reside can grow to be a bit like visiting the world’s most beneficiant ATM.
However keep in mind: I’d by no means wished to be somebody who made choices due to cash. I acknowledge it’s an incredible privilege to be ready to not must do precisely that, however I can’t ignore the truth that not making choices based mostly on cash was what had led me to that privilege within the first place.
Because it occurred, I used to be fairly good at staying inside my funds anyway, so the monetary lure of touring was by no means going to outweigh all of the negatives. With music, I’ve by no means made compromises and it’s at all times labored out, so why begin now?”
Tankian, who has made vital strides from a again harm that additionally lessened his enjoyment of spending massive chunks of time on the street in recent times, has seemingly warmed as much as the thought of taking part in extra reveals nevertheless, with 2025 representing their most formidable slate of reside live shows since 2017. These reveals will begin later this month and can discover the band taking part in the next cities:
04/24 Bogota, COL – Estadio Nemesio Camacho El Campin
04/27 Lima, PER – Estadio Nacional
04/30 Santiago, CHL – Parque Estadio Nacional
05/03 Buenos Aires, ARG – Estadio Jose Amalfitani
05/06 Curitiba, BRA – Estadio Couto Pereira
05/08 Rio de Janeiro, BRA – Estadion Nilton Santos
05/10 Sao Paulo, BRA – Allianz Parque
05/11 Sao Paulo, BRA – Allianz Parque
05/14 Sao Paulo, BRA – Autodromo Interlagos
With Korn, Polyphia & Wisp:
08/27 New York Metropolis, NY – Metlife Stadium
08/28 New York Metropolis, NY – Metlife Stadium
With Avenged Sevenfold, Polyphia & Wisp:
08/31 Chicago, IL – Soldier Area
09/01 Chicago, IL – Soldier Area
With Deftones, Polyphia & Wisp:
09/03 Toronto, ON – Rogers Stadium
09/05 Toronto, ON – Rogers Stadium
