Banda has a series of shows announced this year, with the right to pass through Brazil, but has not yet confirmed plans to release unpublished songs
THE system of a Down In 2025, it will have its most productive year in a decade. The band holds 15 performances, most of them in South America. Specifically in Brazil, there will be five shows: one in Curitiba, another in Rio and three in São Paulo.
It does not mean, however, that the Armenian American metal group is definitely back. At least according to John Dolmayan.
The drummer was asked in an interview with Lilian Tahmasian (via Blabberouth), if there is any chance of SOAD to record new albums. Since 2005, the band has released only two singles: “Protect the Land” and “Genocidal Humanoidz”in a charity action. In response, Dolmayan stated that “there is a lot of drama involved” especially in the creative part. He stated:
“I don’t know if I want [um novo álbum do System of a Down] right now. There is a lot of drama involved. And I like to go out and have fun with my friends and do shows. And I don’t want it to disappear. There would have to be very rigid guidelines for me to do another record with System again. ”
Whether or not it has established creative rules, SERJ TANKIAN (voice), Daron Malakian (guitar), Shavo Odadjian (low) and John Dolmayan (battery) seem to be at a good time. In an interview with the broadcaster Eddie Trunk (via Igor Miranda website), Odadjian revealed that he and his colleagues are now “in the same tune” – something that had not happened for almost a decade – which made the shows announced for 2025.
“We haven’t touched a lot together lately. Since 2017, we’ve been doing one or two shows a year. So relationships weren’t as good as they are now. Basically, everyone was not in tune. But we’ve talked and now it’s all great. Everyone is on the same page and everyone is happy. So we decided to test and do some more shows.”
Internal bullshit in System of a Down
On the other hand, it should be recognized that System of A Down offers little to their fans. What makes such a popular group produce in low rotation?
In an interview of 2020 to the journalist Eddie Trunk (via Ultimate Guitar), John Dolmayan turned on the “sincere” mode by pointing out the project’s main internal problems – which even washed dirty in public time before, after guitarist Daron Malakian accused vocalist Serj Tankian of “treading” the activities.
According to Dolmayan, the System of a Down is “dysfunctional” as it exists, but while the solo careers of those involved are in the spotlight. The drummer thinks no member should have time for other projects, only for SOAD.
On the other hand, he recognizes that the relationship between musicians is no longer the same – and everything is fine. The point is that people in the surroundings end up taking some side. For those directly involved in the fight, it is important not to be carried away by what they say.
“You will have fights and the result is: the bigger the band, the more people say you are great, that their role is the most important. Some hear this more than others and fall in love with their own ideas.”
The different personalities within the SOAD were pointed by Dolmayan. However, the drummer said the group initially had a “one for all, all for one” mindset.
“I was a friend of the guys before being in the band, but as everything in life, the more money and fame you have, the more complicated it becomes. Somehow, you lose the mindset that made you reach it, which is ‘we against everyone.’ It happens in every band. We used to be against everyone, right?
Single Situation on the Market
John Dolmayan has shown to have a curious – and right – market view regarding the System of a Down. The drummer pointed out that there are fewer and fewer rock bands in activity, as the style has not renewed the expected form, to the point that there are not so many groups capable of filling an arena with tens of thousands of fans. Although not so much competition, the SOAD cannot adjust.
“At first, we knew that we could fill a place with 3,000 people, but we played in the place of 2,000 people and created a frenzy around that show. I also think there are not so many bands to get in these festivals. There are more festivals and fewer bands coming to attract 50 thousand people. So we have needed the same bands. us. […] Everything was perfect for us. However, there are not so many rock or metal bands now emerging. This can change, it’s cyclical. ”
Ego questions
In another interview, to the podcast Drinks with JohnnyJohn Dolmayan made it clear that the solely responsible for the System of a Down being in the current condition is his set of members. So it is up to the band itself to solve their problems.
“We had huge success with each other, so the ego gets in the way, whether in relationships or business, and sometimes you lose sight of the reason why you started making music along with those guys. Especially in music, people lose focus. You have to forgive some things, you know? Leave it behind. System couldn’t do it yet.
Despite the natural distancing over the years, the relationship between musicians is, according to Dolmayan, good. The drummer gets along with Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian and bassist Shavo Odadjian.
“I’m the best when I’m with Serj, Daron and Shavo. Nothing I do in music will compare this. I’m aware, I admire that. I have, in my opinion, one of the best concert bands in the world. With all due respect to all, we’re the System of a Down. It’s how I see it.”
Daron Malakian vs. SERJ TANKIAN
In 2018, Daron Malakian told Kerrang magazine! that Serj Tankian already wanted to leave System of A Down before 2006. The singer did not even want to participate in the final albums, Mezmerize and Hypnotize, both from 2005.
“Bands are like brands, suppose, and that’s a little frustrating to me. To be honest, Serj didn’t even want to record Mezmerize and Hypnotize. We really begged him to do these records. At that time, he already felt he was out. There is a specific way that System makes the albums and some of us want to make an album, while there is one (Serj Tankian, although their name is not quoted right now) that does not want to do this way and wants to do it the way it. And not everyone agrees with that. That has been the problem. ”
Given this, Tankian published a long answer on the internet. The singer stressed that he himself was responsible for the band’s hiatus and justified with artistic issues (“I always had the feeling that continuing to do the same thing with the same people is artistically redundant”) and democratic (“Daron began to monopolize the creative and financial process, not to mention that he was the only one to appear in the media”). He claimed to have asked for more space in the group, but was not met.
System of a Down shows in 2025
- April 24, 2025: Bogota, Colombia (El Campín Stadium);
- April 27, 2025: Lima, Peru (National Stadium of Peru);
- April 30, 2025: Santiago, Chile (Chilean National Stadium Park);
- May 3, 2025: Buenos Aires, Argentina (Vélez Sarsfield Stadium);
- May 6, 2025: Curitiba, Brazil (Major Antônio Couto Pereira Stadium);
- May 8, 2025: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Nilton Santos Engenhão Stadium);
- May 10, 11 and 14, 2025: São Paulo, Brazil (10 and 11 at Allianz Parque, 14 at the Interlagos Autodrome);
- August 27 and 28, 2025: East Rutherford, United States (Metlife Stadium; with Korn);
- August 31 and September 1, 2025: Chicago, United States (Soldier Field; with Avenged Sevenfold);
- September 3 and 5, 2025: Toronto, Canada (Rogers Stadium; with Defton).
+++ Read more: how money and harsh troops crashed the System of a Down, according to drummer
+++ Read more: The moment when Serj Tankian turned emotionally off System of a Down
+++ Read more: Why the System of a Down should not change members, according to Serj Tankian
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+++ Follow journalist Igor Miranda @igormirandasite on Instagram
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
