No, you didn't read that wrong: System Of A Down has just released their first new songs since the album Hypnotize (2005). The news came as a complete surprise to fans, and for a very noble reason.
Descendants of Armenians, the members gathered to discuss the war that is devastating the country. The Nagorno-Karabakh region, which they call Artsakh, has been invaded by a coalition of Azerbaijan and Turkey.
The songs are titled “Protect the Land” and “Genocidal Humanoidz” and feature the classic SOAD sound that fans have missed so much. Both tracks are available on streaming platforms, but those who want to further support the band's cause can download them for a fee on Bandcamp by clicking here . Listen to the songs below.
When announcing the new feature, the group released the following message:
“We as System Of A Down have just released new music for the first time in 15 years. The time to do this is now, as together, the four of us have something extremely important to say as a unified voice. These two songs, 'Protect the Land' and 'Genocidal Humanoidz,' both speak of a terrible and serious war being perpetrated in our cultural homeland of Artsakh and in Armenia.”
We are proud to share these songs with you and hope you enjoy listening to them. Furthermore, we encourage you to read on to learn more about their origins, and when you do, we hope you will be inspired to speak out about the horrific injustices and human rights violations happening there right now. Most importantly and urgently, we humbly implore you to donate, in small or large sums, to help those adversely affected by what are increasingly reported to be crimes against humanity.
In return, you will receive downloads of these two new tracks and the feeling that you are truly making a difference. These funds will be used to provide crucial and desperately needed aid and basic supplies to those affected by these grotesque acts.
On September 27th, the combined forces of Azerbaijan and Turkey (alongside ISIS terrorists from Syria) attacked the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, which we Armenians call Artsakh. For the past month, civilians young and old have been awakened day and night by terrifying sights and sounds of rocket attacks, falling bombs, missiles, drones, and terrorist attacks. They have had to transform temporary shelters into sanctuaries, trying to avoid the illegal bombs raining down on their streets, homes, hospitals, and places of worship. Those committing the attacks have set fire to their forests and endangered wildlife using white phosphorus, another banned weapon.
And why?
Because more than 30 years ago, in 1988, the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh (which at the time was an Autonomous Oblast within the USSR) grew tired of being treated as second-class citizens and decided to declare their rightful independence from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, whose borders engulfed theirs. This eventually led to a war of self-determination by the Armenians in Karabakh against Azerbaijan, which ended with a ceasefire in 1994, with Armenians retaining control of their ancestral homeland and maintaining their independence to this day. Our people have lived there for millennia, and for most families there, it is the only home they and their ancestors have ever known. They only want to live in peace as they have for centuries.
The current corrupt regimes of Aliyev in Azerbaijan and Erdogan in Turkey now want not only to seize these lands as their own, but are committing genocidal acts with impunity against humanity and wildlife to achieve their mission. They are betting on the world being too distracted by COVID, elections, and civil unrest to point out their atrocities. They have the bank balance, the resources, and have recruited giant public relations firms to twist the truth and hide their barbaric goal of genocide. This is not the time to turn a blind eye.
There is an immediate need for global citizens to urge their respective governments not only to condemn the actions of these rogue dictators, but also to insist that world leaders act urgently to bring peace to the region and rightfully recognize Artsakh as the independent nation that it is.
We understand that for many of you, there are more convenient ways you prefer to listen to music, so please consider the opportunity to download these songs as an act of charity above all else. Think of the listed price for the downloads as a minimum donation, and if you have the ability and are able to be more generous with your donations, each member of System Of A Down will be even more grateful for your benevolence. The band's royalties for this initiative will be donated to the Armenia Fund, a US-based charity instrumental in providing essential supplies for the basic survival of those in need in Artsakh and Armenia.
The music and lyrics speak for themselves. We need you to speak for Artsakh.
Peace,
Daron, Shavo, John and Serj
Learn more about the Armenian conflict below:
Recently, vocalist Serj Tankian spoke with Jornal da Globo and explained the war to Brazilian fans: “It’s a war, not just a conflict, because there are too many military personnel, too many soldiers dying, too many people dying, too many civilians dying for it to be considered just a conflict. And the Armenian community worldwide is now desperate to tell the world what is really happening, trying to make people understand that this could end up being something much bigger than just a war between Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Armenia.”
The focal point of the conflict is the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, which was declared part of Azerbaijan by the Soviet Union but has a large Armenian population. Like many conflicts in the region, this one also has a religious dimension, as Armenians are predominantly Christian, while Azerbaijanis are predominantly Muslim.
According to Oliver Stuenkel , what is most striking about the conflict at this moment is "the much more intense use of force." The band's vocalist further adds that a military solution is impossible since "many young people and many soldiers are dying on both sides."
“Personally, I don’t believe in borders and flags because, for me, the beauty of our differences lies in our culture, our music, our food, our art, our way of being. We smile in the way we love, you know? That’s our beauty. It’s not our army, it’s not our economy, it’s not our borders. I believe that no people should live subjugated to other peoples. Every people should live freely, with their own culture and their own people.”
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