System Of A Down's new album seems to perpetually be in varying states of limbo. While there was hope we'd hear new music this year, now it almost seems like it's further away than ever. In an interview with Exclaim, vocalist Serj Tankian says he's pretty over being a vocalist right now and wants to concentrate on doing more instrumental music. He elaborates that he feels like he's constantly written lyrics for so long in his lifetime that he could use a change in artistry from what he normally does.
Tankian has recently worked on the soundtracks to films and documentaries such as Intent To Destroy, Furious: The Legend Of Kolovrat, 1915, The Inhabitant, The Promise, and a few others.
Screw vocals. I'm tired of it. During a conversation with a friend yesterday I came up with an idea: before we started making music, I was mainly known as a poet and vocalist. I wrote poetry every day. It was what I did constantly, what made me release two poetry books. In fact, I came to music from words. I wrote so many lyrics that it stopped to be interesting. Not because there is nothing I want to talk or sing about. Sure there are topics I don’t want to write lyrics to but at least I can pull out some new emotions out of it. Poetry is always something that opens yourself up and supports self-determination. I just did it for too long. Now I am more interested in writing instrumental pieces of music.
At this point, it's hard to imagine a System Of A Down album is coming anytime soon, and that's fine if Serj and/or whoever else's hearts aren't really into making it.
Coincidentally, SOAD drummer John Dolmayan is working on a solo album, and Serj is reportedly contributing some vocals. This summer, bassist Shavo Odadjian noted "the new album is not happening right now."
