System of a Down debuts new music for the first time in 15 years, prompted by Armenian unrest
System of a Down is out with new music for the first time in 15 years.
Why now? Members of the heavy metal group, who are of Armenian descent, said the current conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan brought them together.
Proceeds from “Protect The Land” and “Genocidal Humanoidz” will go to the Armenian Fund, assisting with humanitarian efforts in the region. The tracks can be purchased at Bandcamp.
“The time to do this is now, as together, the four of us have something extremely important to say as a unified voice,” members of the band — Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian, Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan — said on Instagram. “These two songs, ‘Protect The Land’ and ‘Genocidal Humanoidz’ both speak of a dire and serious war being perpetrated upon our cultural homelands of Artsakh and Armenia.”
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Their hope, according to a statement, is that listeners will "speak out about the horrific injustices and human rights violations" they say are currently ongoing in their homeland.
The lyrics in "Genocidal Humanoidz" directly address what members of the group say they've heard about and personally witnessed, not shying away from taking a stance on the conflict, claiming "the prostitutes who prosecute have failed from the start." Take these lines: "Can // You // See // Us // Beating the devil // We never work with the devil // We never summon the devil // We never hide from the devil."
"On September 27, the combined forces of Azerbaijan and Turkey (along with Isis terrorists from Syria) attacked the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, which we as Armenians call Artsakh," the statement says, in part. "For over the past month, civilians young and old have been awakened day and night by the frightful sights and sounds of rocket attacks, falling bombs, missiles, drones and terrorist attacks. They’ve had to find sanctuary in makeshift shelters, trying to avoid the fallout of outlawed cluster bombs raining down on their streets and homes, hospitals and places of worship. Their attackers have set their forests and endangered wildlife ablaze using white phosphorus, another banned weapon."
The BBC reports that around 500 people have been killed so far and 70,000 more have been displaced.
The last albums from System of a Down, "Hypnotize" and "Mesmerize," were released in 2005. The group went on hiatus the following year, then got back together in 2010 for a reunion tour.
Follow Gary Dinges on Twitter @gdinges