Serj Tankian 'Emotionally Checked Out' While Making SOAD's Last Two Albums

Serj Tankian has not been shy about discussing the strain in System of a Down before they went on a long hiatus from 2006 to 2011, and in a new interview the singer gave more insight into his own struggles that led up to the break, namely his mindset while making the band's last two albums: 2005's Mezmerize and Hypnotize.

“I had a very unique relationship with the last few records because I had, to a certain degree, emotionally checked out of the band while making them,” Tankian admitted to Metal Hammer in a new interview. “Because of the push and pull, I became very passive. There was music I wanted to bring in that I felt like I couldn’t… I was in a weird place. I contributed creatively, but I didn’t… I don’t know. I needed oxygen – I felt like there was too much going on.”

“I still think those songs are great," he added. "But when I think back on it, I also remember that it was a weird phase of my life, and that’s something I have to be aware of as well.”

SOAD thought about continuing without Tankian, and the vocalist supported his bandmates in that decision, but it never happened. Now, they're back together and playing one-off shows when opportunities present themselves (Tankian is opposed to long tours). They released two new singles in 2020 to raise funds for Armenia but haven't recorded a full album in 19 years.

In another recent interview, Tankian addressed the possibility of SOAD releasing new music. “I would say if System ever decided to make a record, it would be a fresh start in a brand new way, in a beautiful new direction,” he said before revealing there's also some unreleased music in the archive that he wouldn't be opposed to sharing.

“We do have some unreleased material from the past that’s set,” he divulged. “I forgot how many songs there are, but it’s a handful of them that would be interesting also in an archival capacity because I think some of them are some really amazing gems.”