Despite only releasing two new songs since 2005 and playing a total of three live shows in the past two years, the popularity of Armenian-American nü-metal band System Of A Down has not waned. While they were already on the rise at the time, it was their 2001 sophomore album “Toxicity” that firmly put the eclectic group on the map.
That record obtained 3x multi-platinum status in the United States alone by the end of 2002 and was last certified 6x multi-platinum in July of 2022. A trio of records followed, with the last arriving in 2005. A hiatus closely followed that in 2006, with the band reuniting back in 2010 and having hit the road sporadically over the years since.
In 2020, fans were shocked when the group released two new tracks. After all, that pair of songs, which raised over $600,000 for Artsakh relief, represented the first new System Of A Down material in roughly 15 years. While it seemed like the end of the band’s own personal ‘Chinese Democracy’ crisis had come to an end, several years removed, that has sadly not been in the case.
As the band themselves noted at the time, neither of those tracks were entirely ‘new’ creations. One song was lifted from ideas headed for guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian‘s Scars Of Broadway project. The other was built upon ideas that had come about during a failed attempt to get the quartet back in the studio several years prior.
Even with the dearth of live activity and output, System Of A Down‘s popularity remains firm. They still have no issue drawing sizable audiences to headline large shows and festivals. Their catalog is also still in demand. Earlier this month, the title track to “Toxicity” became their second single to hit 1 billion plays on Spotify.
They may possess the foundation and profile most bands would kill for, but they seemingly forever remain deadlocked in creative stasis. In 2018, after a series of increasingly pointed statements made by members of the band about the creative impasse they had with vocalist Serj Tankian, the latter shared his ‘manifesto’ online.
In it, he elaborated on why he remained reticent to join the group in the studio. That proposal of sorts set out by Tankian sought to upend key elements of the band’s creative and financial aspects. Tankian for his part sought more creative input into the band’s material, as opposed to Malakian often serving as the chief songwriter.
Tankian also sought to establish individual members of the band having more say over the ideas they bring, while also seeking to turn the publishing splits of the band into equal shares. He said of that at the time:
“When we first started out our creative input and financial revenue splits were close to equal within the band. By the time Mezmerize/Hypnotize came around we were at the diametrically opposite end on both with Daron controlling both the creative process and making the lions share of publishing not to mention wanting to be the only one to do press.”
Attempts were made to reconcile the arrangement, but to date, it would seem that neither party has been willing to concede enough to reach an agreement. Despite this, the group remain friendly with a relationship healthy enough to play live at one-off events (Tankian also prefers to not tour at length anymore.)
While its easy to see Tankian as a stick in the mud, he also gave his bandmates his blessing for them to move on without him. It was an idea they actually pursued, going so far as audition a replacement. However, they ultimately decided against it, even when faced with the limitations their current lineup presents.
Perhaps more frustrating lately though is knowing that songs originally intended for System Of A Down have been diverted to other outlets. Tankian most recently issued his “Foundations” EP, which featured some material he had originally penned for the group.
The lead single “A.F. Day” was penned early on for potential use by System Of A Down. It was later revisited by the band in the mid 2010s when they attempted to get some new material out to mark the 100th commemoration of the Armenian genocide. As outlined above, those latter sessions however, fizzled out.
Likewise, Malakian has repurposed numerous tracks he had written with System Of A Down in mind, ultimately issuing them via his Scars On Broadway project. Even so, there are still a number of songs that remain in the vault.
That said, after two decades of relative sonic inactivity, should they ever be able to work past their issues, it would seem they won’t have a head start.
In a recent interview with The Sun, Tankian communicated that should they be able to see eye to eye, he’d prefer to proceed forward with a clean slate. He commented, “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.”
As for the songs and ideas still lingering in the vaults, he offered:
“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.”
Still, as Tankian himself admitted this past summer, his aforementioned manifesto wasn’t well received by his bandmates. As such, the drought of new material from the group will seemingly remain in place for some time to come yet.
