Serj Tankian has long-promised to release an EP with all the song ideas he had for the now-canceled next System of A Down album, and it looks like we get our first single later this week. Today, Serj released a little teaser for the EP, which will be called Elasticity.
But let's take a step back first. A few years ago, the band couldn't "see eye to eye" when it came to their next release. Guitarist Daron Malakian's Scars On Broadway ended up using some material that was meant for the SOAD comeback album, and now Serj is doing the same.
Speaking to Spin last year, Tankian said of the release: "Originally I had these songs in mind for a System record if we were to end up doing a System record. But as we could not really see eye to eye on how to go forward with that I decided to finish them off myself and release them as an EP."
When asked why this new EP reminds him of System, Tankian responds "I always have random rock tracks done at different times and I sit on them. And then one day the right project or right idea for releasing them will come along. They all have piano or synthesizers, which is a little different than the four-person crew with System, although we had some synths as well. It’s got stuff that’s really heavy, heavy and there’s a funny aspect and then there’s a song about my son. It kind of runs the gauntlet on diversity of thematic expression: political, non-political. I guess that’s always been me, all over the place. I think I’m gonna call it Elasticity just because I wanted to do it with System and it didn’t happen. For me, it’s not Toxicity but it is Toxicity. [Laughs.] That’s what I’m thinking of calling it. I haven’t finalized it, but that’s what I’m thinking of calling it. We’ll probably put it out later this year."
Of course, we have to mention that System of A Down did eventually release two new tracks, late last year, "Protect The Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz". The music video for "Genocidal Humanoidz" premiered this weekend.
Here's the sample of “Elasticity,” and while it may fit in on a SOAD album, it certainly sounds different than any of the songs Daron released. I look forward to hearing the full track.
Update: A previous version of this article noted these songs were "rejected" from System of a Down, that is inaccurate. They were written by Tankian for System, but since the band elected not to do a new album, Tankian then decided to finish these songs for a solo EP release. We apologize for the confusion.
[via The PRP]
