System Of A Down vocalist Serj Tankian recently spoke with Metal Hammer regarding his mental state and his level of involvement when it came to what currently stands as the aforementioned multi-platinum alternative metal/nü-metal band’s current albums, 2005’s “Mezmerize” & “Hypnotize“. That separately released double effort was recorded under the band’s mentor of sorts at the time, Rick Rubin, with guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian also stepping up behind the boards.
By now you’re likely aware of the growing level of estrangement Tankian had from his bandmates when it came time to contribute to those two records. Unhappy with his own creative input being overlooked/ passed over, Tankian admitted to Metal Hammer in a recent conversation that he had essentially “emotionally checked out”. It’s a situation which Tankian has spoken on numerous times over the years since. He perhaps encapsulated his fatigue and disinterest back when he publicly shared his his 2018 manifesto for his bandmates.
Tankian stated at that 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.”
“I wanted to leave the band before Mezmerize/Hypnotize for these developing reasons. This is why I personally don’t feel as close to the music on those records. There were songs I wanted to bring in but was hampered by unkept promises coupled by my own passivity at the time.”
In his new conversation with Metal Hammer, Tankian spoke further of his frame of mind during those album sessions:
“I had a very unique relationship with the last few [System] records because I had, to a certain degree, emotionally checked out of the band while making them. 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 went on to add:
“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. We really enjoyed recording the albums at Rick Rubin’s place in Laurel Canyon, right across from the Houdini house.”
While the group did manage to repurpose some leftover song ideas for two new singles back in 2020 to raise over $600,000 for Artsakh relief, they have effectively remained at a creative impasse since the arrival of “Hypnotize“.
There have been numerous attempts to get the band back on the same page in the near two decades since, however, with Tankian‘s aforementioned manifesto not being warmly received by his bandmates, the group remain a legacy touring act for the time being.
This was almost not the case though, as the other members of the group did at one point go so far as auditioning a replacement with Tankian‘s blessing. Should the band and Tankian ever manage to get back on the same page, the eclectic vocalist, etc. would prefer the quartet effectively start from scratch, rather than cobble together the various song ideas they have stored up in the vaults over the years.
