Shavo Odadjian of System of a Down Says he's Always Open to Creating New Material

In a recent interview, System of a Down's Shavo Odadjian expressed his willingness to record new music with the band. Despite releasing their last albums Hypnotize and Mezmerize in 2005, followed by a 2006 hiatus, they reunited in 2011 and have only released two singles, ‘Protect the Land’ and ‘Genocidal Humanoidz,’ since then.

Odadjian said his “door is always open” for new music, sharing that he has “a hundred riffs waiting” for the band. He expressed frustration, saying it’s a “shame” that more new music hasn’t been made, emphasizing their potential to create powerful albums. He highlighted how quickly they recorded the two 2020 singles and suggested that the band could easily create a full album if they put effort into it.

Despite ongoing creative differences, Odadjian affirmed the band members’ strong relationships, noting they love each other and enjoy performing together, leaving the possibility of new music open. He also discussed their ability to compose cohesive albums, emphasizing that they are more than just songwriters.

Image Courtesy: The Argonaut

Frontman Serj Tankian revealed in an interview that the band had started work on a follow-up to Hypnotize in 2015, but differences on how to proceed creatively led to its cancellation. The songs ended up on Tankian’s solo EP Elasticity. Earlier this year, Tankian even mentioned he’d be open to the band continuing with a different lead singer due to his reluctance toward long tours. In his memoir, Down With The System: A Memoir (Of Sorts), Tankian disclosed that the band auditioned a new singer in 2018 after he offered to quit.

Drummer John Dolmayan has been vocal about his belief that the band should have replaced Tankian back in 2006, criticizing the lack of new releases as an insult. He and Tankian have publicly disagreed on various political matters, adding to the band’s internal tensions.

Image Courtesy: The Metal Report

Odadjian previously mentioned in 2018 that they had some really great ideas for new material, but progress has been stalled due to creative differences. He expressed excitement about working on new music, stating it could surpass their previous efforts. However, in April, guitarist Daron Malakian tempered expectations, saying a new album was unlikely anytime soon due to differing studio approaches, though he assured fans that the band members were not enemies.

Since then, the band members have pursued other projects. Odadjian recently announced his new band, Seven Hours After Violet, whose debut album will release on 11^th October. Meanwhile, Tankian unveiled his latest solo EP Foundations earlier this year.

--Silviya.Y