System Of A Down might have come up during the whole nü-metal movement, but they hardly fit the genre… or any genre, really. So what made them such a unique band? Bassist Shavo Odadjian said in an interview with KROQ that it was essentially the inspirations they drew from that really set them apart.
"There was a lot of things. The music, first of all, we just kind of did our own thing. It wasn't that the other stuff wasn't good. We've been inspired by a lot. We listen to a lot of music. [Guitarist Daron Malakian] listens to a lot of music, [and so do vocalist Serj Tankian and drummer John Dolmayan]. And I think it's the way it's also arranged.
"Daron has a really great ear and style and songwriting ability. So even if I brought riffs in, he just arranges them in a different way. And then Serj's vocals — those are not normal. And John's drumming, it is what it is. But, yeah, there's a difference, and we just kind of ran with it. And it's what we can do together. When we start playing, that's what we sound like together — those four guys."
We recently named System Of A Down as one of the seven nü-metal era bands that should be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. Check that editorial out here.
