System Of A Down fans have endured a painful 13 year wait for new music since the release of 2005’s Hypnotize. Rumours as to whether the band were soon gearing up to release a new album have circulated for years now, with member’s highlighting ongoing creative differences have halted the process.
In a recent interview with Kerrang, System Of A Down’s guitarist Daron Malakian has revealed that the band are still yet to reconcile their differences noting that frontman Serj Tankian is the reason for the stalled process.
“There’s just a certain way that System make albums, and there’s a bunch of us that want to make an album that way and there is, I guess, one of us, that doesn’t want to make an album that way and wants to make an album his way,” Daron said. “And not everyone is on board with that.”
“That’s been the issue. I have material for a new System album. Right now, if everyone got together and was ready to play ball, I have an album ready. If it was up to me, System would have never gone on hiatus.”
Malakian continued to note that Tankian was never a huge rock or metal fan, noting that the experience of playing in System Of A Down meant something different for him to the rest of the band.
“Serj was never really a heavy metal or a rock guy,” Daron said. “I don’t know if he has the same love for this kind of music as I do. I’m the kid that grew up with Slayer and KISS on my walls. I wanted to be like them some day. Serj didn’t grow up feeling that way. He didn’t grow up a diehard fan. So I feel like the whole experience of becoming the lead singer in a hugely successful band was different for him than my experience was for me.”
Malakian continued with an unfortunate revelation, saying that the differences between Tankian and the rest of band “may never be resolved”, meaning that we may never hear System Of A Down music again.
“It may never be resolved, or it may be, but so far it hasn’t been. There was a time, I think, when I would have taken this a little bit more personally, but not anymore. I realize that it’s not me. We’ve had so many meetings about it.”
Now, considering it’s been 13 years since new SOAD material, it’s fair to assume fans have been clinging to the riffs and chaos featured on their previous albums. According to Malakian, if it were up to Tankian, their last two efforts, 2005’s Hypnotize and Mezmorize may not have even happened.
“Bands are like brands, I suppose, and that’s kind of frustrating for me,” Daron told Kerrang! “To be honest with you, Serj didn’t even want to make ‘Mezmerize’ and ‘Hypnotize’. We really begged him to make those records. At that time, he felt like he was out.”
Just this week, drummer John Dolmayan and bassist Shavo Odadjian were spotted in the studio together, however, it was revealed the two were working on music for their These Grey Men side project.
Watch System Of A Down’s ‘Sugar’:
