System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian was a guest on SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation. During this interview, Odadjian expressed his frustration to Eddie Trunk on why the band hasn’t released new music in fourteen years.
Odadjian explained:
“We haven’t made a record for 14 years. We do play live still. We do tour, not as often as I would like to. But I am blessed for being able to still do it. When we’re put together, the four of us, we’re not hating on each other. We hang out; we have a good time. It’s just we haven’t made music together. Which is kind of frustrating, I’ll be honest. ‘Cause I know we can make ‘the bomb’ music together.”
The bassist was asked if there’s enough material for a new record:
“Yeah, there are. No recordings. Two years ago, we got together, the three of us, minus Serj, because, at the time, he was doing a lot of solo stuff, and we were, like, ‘We don’t wanna wait around. Let’s just get in there and see what we can do.’ And we got in and wrote about 10 or 11 songs. Daron brought seven or eight songs, and I brought four or five ideas and they became songs, minus Serj’s vocals, of course. It was really good. It came out really great. And I hope to one day go back to those and use some of Serj’s stuff. I know Serj got some stuff.”
Shavo later questioned why a new album isn’t happening:
“In my world, man, why it isn’t happening is a big question. I think we can get over anything, ’cause it’s not like someone’s done anything so horrible that we can’t get over it. It ain’t anything like that. It’s just creative differences that are lasting a little too long for me, for my taste.
It’s been so long, I don’t even remember why we’re not [able to make new music] at this point. I really would love to have done it. Like I said, if it was up to me, we would have never stopped. We would have been on our probably ninth or tenth record now.”
It has officially been 5,013 days since System of a Down released 2005’s Hypnotize and 5,202 days since 2005’s Mezmerize. While knowing Tool’s new album, Fear Inoculum, will be released 4,864 days after 2006’s 10,000 Days, there’s still hope that SOAD will one day have new music.
We’ve heard countless of updates on new SOAD material, which includes drummer John Dolmayan saying the band has “fifteen fantastic songs written.” Shavo mentioned back in 2017 that a new album “is not happening right now.” Frontman Serj Tankian added that the band doesn’t see “eye to eye.” Guitarist Daron Malakian has confirmed there won’t be an album for 2018 as Dolmayan later expressed a new record will arrive “maybe never.” The group has later taken us to a (since deleted Instagram post) surprise update on possibly working in the studio together.
What else? Oh yes, Malakian mentioned how Serj didn’t want to record 2005’s Mezmerize/Hypnotize. Due to these back and forth updates, Tankian later went to his social media to share his “confessions” explaining the band’s hiatus and a few months later he confirmed he was mixing “some rock songs for a future release.” A few months ago, we heard Malakian reminding all that the band “doesn’t see eye to eye” with their future direction. With all of these back and forth updates, it’s no secret that anyone can be frustrated.
Listen to the full conversation below:
