Apparently Serj Tankian Didn’t Even Want To Do Hypnotize and Mesmerize
If you’re one of those guys sitting around, desperately waiting for System Of A Down to drop a mind-blowing new album any time soon, well, don’t hold your breath. Not only has guitarist Daron Malakian made it very clear that that probably won’t happen, we also now know that singer Serj Tankian is using songs he wrote for SOAD on his new solo album.
But it gets crazier. In a recent interview with Kerrang, Malakian makes it crystal clear that Tankian is the guy holding up the process…and that if it had been up to Serj, the last two records might not have gotten made, either.
Here are some choice cuts:
“I don’t want to throw Serj under the bus–he’s my friend and he’s someone that I care about–but I don’t know how to change his mind. We’ve all sat down and we’ve had meetings, and he’s totally set in his way of thinking.
“Serj was never really a heavy metal or a rock guy…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…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.
“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.”
On the one hand, if the plan was to not throw Serj under the bus, then the plan is a failure on Malakian’s part…but on the other hand, you gotta wonder if there is even a bus to throw Tankian under. Tankian’s been very clear that’s interested in projects other than SOAD, so it’s not like any of this is a skeleton in the band’s closet.
In my opinion, I wonder if System should be trying to put out any album if Tankian is feeling lackluster about the band. I couldn’t care less about Hypnotize; that record is a complete nothing to me. And since Tankian is so much of the band’s persona–both his voice and his lyrics–I have to wonder if pushing him to do something he hates will result in anything other than a meh album.
Anyway, let’s see if Tankian responds, or if SOAD end up making a new record any time soon–but once again, I wouldn’t wait up. Aw, don’t be sad, System diehard–here, look at this. Oooh, I think I see a smile!
Via Blabbermouth.
