Serj Tankian has recalled his time working on the last two System Of A Down albums, and said that he “emotionally checked out” during the recording process.
The iconic metal band – which also includes Daron Malakian; Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan – haven’t put out an album since their two 2005 releases: ‘Mezmerize’ and ‘Hypnotize’.
Now, the frontman has recalled his mindset while working on the releases and explained how it led to an extended hiatus between 2006 and 2011 in a new interview with Metal Hammer.
“I had a very unique relationship with the last few records because I had, to a certain degree, emotionally checked out of the band while making them,” he said.
“Because of the push and pull, I became very passive. There was music I wanted to bring in that I felt like I couldn’t… I was in a weird place. I contributed creatively, but I didn’t… I don’t know. I needed oxygen – I felt like there was too much going on.”
He continued: “I still think those songs are great. But when I think back on it, I also remember that it was a weird phase of my life, and that’s something I have to be aware of as well.”
Serj Tankian. CREDIT: Daniel Knighton/Getty Images
This isn’t the first time that the singer has admitted losing interest in the band during that period. He has made similar comments in interviews in the past, as well as addressed the topic in his recent autobiography Down With The System.
While the band haven’t shared a full album since 2005, they did share two singles – ‘Protect The Land’ and ‘Genocidal Humanoidz’ – in 2020. Both were shared in a bid to raise funds for Artsakh and Armenia after they came under attack from Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Speaking out about the hopes of new music from System back in September, Tankian told The Sun: “I would say if System ever decided to make a record, it would be a fresh start in a brand new way, in a beautiful new direction.”
He continued: “We do have some unreleased material from the past that’s set… I forgot how many songs there are, but it’s a handful of them that would be interesting also in an archival capacity because I think some of them are some really amazing gems.”
Similarly, back in June the frontman spoke to NME, and shared his thoughts on the artists boycotting SXSW this year amid the Israel-Hamas war and the festival’s ties to Barclays.
“It’s important for the youth to raise their voice, because we are not living in a just world. I think in some cases, pure activism is taken hostage by certain fringe elements of society, including in the US – certain anti-Semites who have gotten into that world. However, I think the majority of the activists and their intentions are pure, and I think what they’re doing is important,” he said.
“In terms of the Hamas invasion of Israel, I want to say that was obviously a terrorist act and they are war criminals and deserve to be punished,” he added.
“But, the Netanyahu government’s response is also – as we can see with the number of civilians that have died – a war crime.” Tankian also highlights the less-discussed story of Azerbaijan’s invasion of Nagorno Karabakh last September. “Azerbaijan attacked the 120,000 residents of this area who have been living there for time immemorial. Incredible injustice, humanitarian catastrophe, genocide, war crimes, is happening today – so yes, there is going to be pushback.”
In addition to sharing his memoir, Tankian also released a solo EP called ‘Foundations’ in September.
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