SYSTEM OF A DOWN ON "PERMANENT" HIATUS
Examiner.com
27-Dallas-Metal-Music-Examiner~y2009m7d22-System-o f-a-Down-on-permanent-hiatus
July 22 2009
However you want to classify them, alternative metal, numetal, or
whatever, Los Angeles based System of a Down surprised the heavy metal
world in the late nineties with their distinctive sound. A combination
of thrash and alternative metal combined with music and chants
that resemble more traditional music from their Armenian roots, the
quartet lit up the heavy metal world with their moderately successful
self-titled debut album and its massively successful follow-up,
Toxicity. Those two albums alone launched System of a Down into the
metal scene full steam and the band provided incredible albums for
the next several years gaining mass popularity around the world.
Rough, angst-ridden and frenzied music with growling yet sometimes
harmonizing vocals, mixed with their often politically charged
lyrics attracted truckloads of fans year after year and every album
released seemed like the band could do no wrong as the multiple award
nominations repeatedly rolled in their direction.
>From their multi-million seller Toxicity, songs like "Chop Suey!",
the title track or the more dramatic "Aerials", shot the band into
instant stardom and they continued to never disappoint their fans
with follow-ups like "B.Y.O.B." and "Question!" both songs from
their Billboard topping first-half of a double album release in 2005
Mezmerize / Hypnotize.
Sometimes good things never last. Back in 2005, while I was living
in Los Angeles, a friend of mine who personally knew members of the
band, leaked to me that once SOAD’s recording contract was fulfilled,
they were going to call it quits.
He was sort of right. In 2006, about one year following the releases of
Mezmerize / Hypnotize the band announced they’d be taking a necessary
break from each other for awhile. Several more recent interviews
with co-founders, guitarist Daron Malakian and vocalist Serj Tankian
confirmed that there’s no turmoil within the band, but the temporary
rest from recording and touring is "healthy" and none of the band
members know how long the hiatus will last.
Since the declaration to take a break, Tankian has embarked on a
solo career but enlisting SOAD drummer John Dolmayan for part of the
project. His first album, Elect the Dead has done well with varied
reviews and he’s currently working on the second album.
While Tankian was producing his solo work, guitarists Daron Malakian
and John Dolmayan also tried their hands at a side project called
Scars on Broadway. Their debut album was released in 2008 also to
mixed reviews. Currently, unofficial reports state that Scars on
Broadway no longer exists.
Both albums by the side projects have provided a nice, yet small
reminiscent trek back to System of a Down’s heyday, but in SOAD’s
case, it is truly a situation where the whole is greater than the
sum of its parts.
Personally, I hope this System of a Down hiatus is not permanent as
has been described by various sources closer to the band members. I’d
really hate to miss out on some of the music they could provide in
the future for us fans.