Amid preparations for their Americas tour, System of a Down commented on rumors of a possible new studio album after nearly two decades, which could follow Mezmerize and Hypnotize , released in 2005.
In an interview with the NME , Shavo Odadjian , bassist of the legendary metal band , said that the group is "always talking," but that above all, they value the quality of the material. "If it happens, it needs to be incredible! It can't just be a jam session ," he stated.
Vocalist Serj Tankian previously revealed that he had adopted a more passive stance towards the creative process of the last few albums, and stressed that a different approach would be needed for future works.
Conversely, Tankian recently revealed to interviewer Sona Oganesyan that there are no such efforts underway. "I would say there is no album being written."
This position is shared by guitarist Daron Malakian who, during a chat with producer Rick Rubin , who produced the band's last two albums, admitted that he also remains skeptical about returning to the studios.
“I don’t know how much I want to go back [to composing]. I’m sure people won’t be happy to hear that from me. I’m not in the same place I was 10 years ago,” he stated.
He concluded by saying that he would have liked to see how far the band could have evolved if they had continued releasing new work. "We're just too far [from Mezmerize and Hipnotize ], the story isn't capable of evolving for me."
Another obstacle, for drummer John Dolmayan , is the political disagreements he has with the vocalist, with whom he has publicly clashed numerous times . He also mentioned that he would only return to composing under "strict guidelines".
In 2020, System of a Down reunited to release the singles "Protect the Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz" to raise funds for the Armenian cause.
SOAD continues its activities
Despite uncertainties surrounding a possible new album, the band maintains a presence on stage and is preparing for a major tour in South America.
Regarding the performances, bassist Shavo Odadjian, also in an interview with NME , said that the group could use the dates to "test the waters," but that this did not necessarily mean the release of a new album.
The shows will take place between April and May of this year in Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. In Brazil, the band will perform in Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba, and São Paulo . Some previously sold-out tickets have become available on the Eventim website for all announced dates – availability is subject to change at any time.
READ ALSO: John Dolmayan, drummer of System of a Down, announces event in Brazil .
