Scars On Broadway, the alternative metal outfit spearheaded by Daron Malakian of Armenian-American nü-metal superstars System Of A Down, has found itself on the receiving end of a tidal wave of negative feedback. July 18th, 2025 saw the release of “Addicted To The Violence“, the third studio album from Scars. That effort was also the band’s first new full-length since 2018. Despite Malakian‘s high-profile status among the metal scene, the album largely flew under the radar — a development compounded by his lack of touring on it.
However, earlier this week Scars On Broadway, or as they have come to be known, Daron Malakian And Scars On Broadway, issued the below visualizer for the “Addicted To The Violence” track “Your Lives Burn“. A decidedly neutral protest anthem, the song finds itself at odds with the incendiary political and social justice-related lyrical content commonly found in System Of A Down‘s body of work.
Rather than standing behind a cause or aligning with a political or ideological side, “Your Lives Burn” lackadaisically condemns media and political manipulation of the masses, existing more as an observation, rather than a rallying cry some would expect.
Of course, the often left-leaning and humanitarian views injected into System Of A Down‘s discography were largely the input of vocalist Serj Tankian. But with such an outspoken catalog, Malakian‘s role as the primary songwriter of System Of A Down finds him irrevocably tied to the band’s activism as well, even if he doesn’t subscribe to some of it.
Malakian isn’t the only member of System Of A Down to find himself tethered to Tankian‘s beliefs. In fact, the group harbor strange dichotomy of political allegiances within their ranks. In direct contrast with Tankian‘s politics are that of drummer John Dolmayan, an outspoken proponent of U.S. President Donald J. Trump.
Regardless of Malakian‘s bemoaned lyrical neutrality on this song , the below David Provan visualizer for “Your Lives Burn“, which features provocative imagery associated with communism, Christianity, Naziism and more, just added fuel to the fire.
Most of the criticism leveled against Malakian regarding this song falls upon him failing to effectively pick a side — an unsurprising development given how polarizing political beliefs have become via their ongoing weaponization in the social media age.
Others however have taken to eviscerating the musical quality of the song itself. You can take a trip to the proverbial burn ward yourself in the comments over at YouTube.
“Your Lives Burn” lyrics:
‘Well I’m sick of the left and I’m sick of the right
Clickbait causes the cage fights
Political bias has run amok
Cancel me I don’t give a fuckYour lives burn in the fire
Rise up to the motherfuckin’ liars
The politicians and the media conspire
While your lives burn in the fire
Your lives burn in the fire
Rise up to the motherfuckin’ liars
The politicians and the media conspire
While your lives burn in the fireThey’re trickin’ the weak and then they’re countin’ the sheep
Rich woke preachers won’t let you sleep
They brand all the victims and they conquer us all
United we stand divided we fallYour lives burn in the fire
Rise up to the motherfuckin’ liars
The politicians and the media conspire
While your lives burn in the fire
Your lives burn in the fire
Rise up to the motherfuckin’ liars
The politicians and the media conspire
While your lives burn in the fireI’m a rude crude rabbit with a really bad habit
If you wanna bring the static all my guns are automatic
I’m a rude crude rabbit with a really bad habit
I’d rather live with the vermin and the maggotsYour lives burn in the fire
Rise up to the motherfuckin’ liars
The politicians and the media conspire
While your lives burn in the fire
Your lives burn in the fire
Rise up to the motherfuckin’ liars
The politicians and the media conspire
While your lives burn in the fire
Burn in the fire
Burn in the fire’
