The internal drama of System of a Down has been well-reported on over the years, though it's all played up to be a bigger deal than it really is. According to Serj Tankian in an interview with Metal Hammer, the drama really isn't that bad and has done a great job of keeping the band in the spotlight. Tankian also said drama is a sign of a healthy band relationship.
“Show me a band that doesn’t have drama, and I’ll show you a shitty band,” he said. “There will always be drama – we’re four individuals who feel different about different things. But the press has played it up, and it’s kept the band in the limelight irrespective of our lack of making a record for 14 or 15 years.
“We put out two songs for Artsakh, which to me is one of the best things we’ve ever done as a band, in terms of reaching beyond ourselves. And I’m extremely proud of my brothers in System Of A Down that we were able to accomplish that. But yeah, you know, the drama’s gonna be there, always.”
Speaking of not putting out a new album in forever, it might happen. Not immediately or anything, but in general it might happen.
