For years, followers of System of a Down have held onto hope that the band would return to the studio and launch new materials. In spite of everything, they nonetheless tour and carry out collectively. However behind the scenes, issues are far much less harmonious than their stage presence suggests.
In a current dialog with Lilian Tahmasian, drummer John Dolmayan supplied some candid perception into the band’s inner dynamics. When requested whether or not he thought the band would report once more, his reply (by way of Final Guitar) was blunt: “I do not know if I need it at this level. There’s simply an excessive amount of drama concerned. And I like going out and having a great time with my mates and taking part in reveals, and I do not need that to vanish. There must be very strict tips for me to make one other report with System once more.”
Dolmayan‘s hesitation displays extra than simply private fatigue. It underscores deeper philosophical variations inside the group — notably between him and vocalist Serj Tankian.
“We had issues with that as a result of Serj could be very outspoken. He has one mind-set, some issues we agree with — the remainder of the band — and a few issues we do not. Some issues we’re precisely on par with. With Serj — we do not need that to be the one factor as a result of we do not really feel like that is the one ingredient of System of a Down. It is a large a part of the band.”
That “factor” he is referring to is politics. Based on Dolmayan, Tankian‘s political commentary — particularly throughout reside reveals — has overshadowed the band’s broader creative id.
“Justice is an enormous a part of the band. Justice has no politics. It is both simply or unjust. It has no political affiliation. It both is or it is not. However there’s lots of issues that come into play, like morality, so we simply did not need it to be the one point of interest, and that was… Serj spent lots of time speaking about political stuff on stage.”
This is not to say Dolmayan lacks appreciation for Tankian‘s convictions. In reality, he went out of his option to specific admiration for his bandmate’s depth — even when it did not align along with his personal views.
“Now, I personally like it. The extra loopy he received and into it…I consider something that is passionately displayed is value listening to, even when I utterly disagree with it. If you happen to’re actually enthusiastic about it, I wish to know what you assume. So I like that a part of it, however the remainder of the band and I too felt prefer it was simply an excessive amount of of our focus.”
In the end, Dolmayan sees System of a Down as a band with a a lot wider emotional and thematic vary than what their political moments would possibly recommend.
“We do not simply sing about politics. We sing about love, loss of life, hate, silly issues, inane issues, creative issues, insane issues. It is all these items that make System of a Down so distinctive. We did not need the focus to be politics, however that is what Serj wished to speak about on the time. We’re in a bizarre scenario the place I do not wish to restrict what he has to say, however I do not wish to restrict what individuals consider me both.”
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