ENOUGH ABOUT THIS SYSTEM OF A DOWN “REUNION” ALREADY

I’m tired of hearing about this System of a Down “reunion.” Not because I don’t like the band; I’m quite happy they’ll be playing shows again, in fact. But because it’s not a reunion. System never broke up. Therefore they cannot get back together.

It’s been 5 years since System of a Down released new music. Here are some other bands that often take a very long time to release new albums:

• Metallica (5 years between St. Anger and Death Magnetic)
• Tool (Always take at least 5 years)
• Nevermore (5 years between This Godless Endeavor and The Obsidian Conspiracy)
• Machine Head (4 years between Through the Ashes and Blackening, will be at least 4 years before a new album)
• Iron Maiden (4 years between A Matter of Life and Death and The Final Frontier)
• Ozzy Osbourne (6 years between Ozzmosis and Down to Earth, another 6 years between Down to Earth and Black Rain)

In all those cases not a single person cried “Eureka!! They’re getting back together!!” when they decided to make new music, nor will anyone do so when they write and release new music in the future.

Also, does anyone notice a pattern with the above bands? Nevermore excepted, those are huge fucking bands that play arenas, just like System of a Down was when they wrapped up their last touring cycle. Maybe touring the world with a gigantic stage show for 2-3 years gets tiring? I mean it could all be peaches and cream, but I’m just saying… it sounds fucking grueling as hell to me, and a little break is warranted.

Maybe the System of a Down guys knew that by creating this whole “on hiatus” band status thing they’d be stoking the fires of the rumor mill and they’d be getting the media in a frenzy any time any member so much as mentioned System in the meantime. I mean, that’d be a pretty brilliant marketing strategy… way more people seem to give a shit when you say your band “broke up” and is subsequently “getting back together” than when you just take your sweet ass time writing records. But I’m pretty sure the move by System wasn’t deliberate; all four members were very vocal and careful in the press about saying, “no, we’re not breaking up, we’re just taking a little time off.” No big fights between members, no fucking each other’s girlfriends, no crazy drugged out delusions (that we know of), no shenanigans… just overworked musicians needing a little downtime.

So enough with all this “reunion” talk; if you wanna talk smack about System of a Down go ahead and do that, but I don’t wanna see the word “reunion” anywhere near their name because they didn’t fucking break up. They were ALWAYS going to get together to write and record new music and tour together after taking this little vacation; there was never any doubt. Oh, and hey, Phil Freeman, I love ya but points 3 and 4 of your article are hence moot and you’re wrong about points 1, 2 and 5; Hypnotize and Mezmerize were masterpieces (especially the former) and Serj’s solo stuff has been kinda “meh.” Furthermore, System’s political/social message is as vital now in this overly content and lulled America as it ever was.

-VN