Serj Tankian admits he “emotionally checked out of the band” whereas System of a Down have been recording their two most up-to-date albums, 2005’s Mezmerize and Hypnotize.
It’s not a wholly new revelation from the singer, who has admitted shedding curiosity within the band throughout that point interval in interviews over the previous few years, in addition to in his latest memoir, Down With the System. Nevertheless, it provides additional perception into his mindset that led to the band’s prolonged hiatus from 2006 by 2011.
“I had a really distinctive relationship with the previous couple of data as a result of I had, to a sure diploma, emotionally checked out of the band whereas making them,” Tankian advised Steel Hammer in a brand new interview.
He continued, “Due to the push and pull, I grew to become very passive. There was music I wished to usher in that I felt like I couldn’t… I used to be in a bizarre place. I contributed creatively, however I didn’t… I don’t know. I wanted oxygen – I felt like there was an excessive amount of occurring.”
That mentioned, Tankian nonetheless appreciates these two albums musically, including, “I nonetheless assume these songs are nice. However after I assume again on it, I additionally do not forget that it was a bizarre part of my life, and that’s one thing I’ve to concentrate on as properly.”
Because it stands, System of a Down haven’t made a brand new album since Mezmerize and Hypnotize, making it 19 years because the band launched a full studio LP. Tankian did put aside his inventive variations with guitarist-singer Daron Malakian to report and launch a pair new singles — “Defend the Land” and “Genocidal Humanoidz” — in 2020 to boost funds for Artsakh and Armenia as they got here below assault by Azerbaijan and Turkey.
In one other latest interview with The Solar, Tankian mentioned, “I’d say if System ever determined to make a report, it could be a recent begin in a model new method, in a stupendous new path.”
He additionally revealed that there’s some recorded music from the band that hasn’t but seen the sunshine of day. “We do have some unreleased materials from the previous that’s set,” added Tankian. “I forgot what number of songs there are, nevertheless it’s a handful of them that may be attention-grabbing additionally in an archival capability as a result of I believe a few of them are some actually wonderful gems.”
For now, System of a Down proceed to play occasional exhibits, together with a large live performance with Deftones at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco this previous summer time (see our photograph gallery under).
Along with his memoir, Tankian launched the brand new solo EP Foundations in September.