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Hamilton Spectator (Ontario, Canada)
September 1, 2005 Thursday Final Edition
System of a Down sings different metal tune
by Graham Rockingham
Showtime
What: System of a Down, with The Mars Volta and Bad Acid Trip
When: Saturday, doors open at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m.
Where: Copps Coliseum
Tickets: $31 to $56.50 through Ticketmaster or at the Copps Coliseum
box office. 905-527-7666
Sometimes music writers can simply dig too deep in their quest for
answers. Take the case of System of a Down.
In the overly homogenous world of metal music, this California
quartet with the strange name stands apart from the pack. So far, in
fact, that the metal brand is disingenuous.
Their vocal harmonies are theatrical in character, at times almost
operatic. Their music, especially off their latest release Mezmerize,
is intricate and melodious, combining thrashing guitar attacks with
prog/rock themes and soft acoustic interludes.
Their lyrics offer some of the finest social satire since Frank
Zappa's cinematic explorations in the early '70s, offering up savage,
yet often hilarious, attacks on war, greed, drugs and the Hollywood
celebrity machine.
It's only natural that observers would search for answers to what
makes System of a Down so different. Much of the analysis has centred
on the band's Armenian ethnic roots.
Bassist Shavo Odadjian, guitarist/singer Daron Malakian, singer Serj
Tankian and drummer John Dolmayan all speak the mid-eastern language.
Although only Odadjian was born in Armenia, all are well acquainted
with the brutal persecution Armenians suffered at the hands of Turkey
in the early 20th century. Malakian and Dolmayan were both born in
Lebanon. All four were raised in Hollywood, Calif.
It's easy to be overly analytical about this stuff. Here's a
long-winded example from the Miami Herald: "The band members'
experiences as progeny of the Armenian diaspora provided the fuel for
(the album) Mezmerize."
When I interviewed Odadjian this week, I asked him about the effects
of this "diaspora." The answer surprisingly enough, focused on the
Swedish '70s disco band Abba.
"It comes from us listening to a lot of music, not from us coming
from a specific place," the 31-year-old said just before going on
stage in Montreal.
"From The Beatles to Slayer, from Abba to Frank Zappa. You might be
able to tell we listen to Zappa but did you know we listen to Abba?"
No. In fact I would never have dreamed such a thing. Slayer, yes. But
Abba? The Swedish disco singers are about everything anathema to
heavy metal. Is he serious?
Even over the phone, Odadjian can sense my incredulity. He offers to
recite every word of Abba's hit Dancing Queen just to prove he's not
joking. Please don't.
"But it's true," he continues listing some Broadway show tunes to
underscore his point. "Go put on a good old Iron Maiden record and
then listen to Phantom of the Opera. Then you'll see where we get
some of our stuff from."
That, I admit, would go a long way toward explaining the band's
theatrical sound. But what about those lyrics -- the wickedly
sardonic anti-war politics of their latest hit single B.Y.O.B. (Bring
Your Own Bombs) or the hilariously witty This Cocaine Makes Me Feel
Like I'm On This Song?
Bands like System of a Down and Green Day have made it cool again for
kids to take an interest in politics or at least question authority.
Odadjian, however, says the band isn't trying to be preachy or
convert anyone.
"We don't tell them 'This is right and this is wrong.'" he says. "We
tell them to, at least, have an opinion. We're not going to preach
.. because it wouldn't go with what we are saying which is have your.
own specific thought. I don't want them to have the same thoughts
about government or politics that we do. Just have some thoughts
about it."
Whatever the message, it's certainly working. Mezmerize was released
in May, opening at the top of the charts. Sales are pushing toward a
million.
The followup album Hypnotize, recorded at the same time as Mezmerize,
is slotted for release in November.
[email protected]
905-526-3331
GRAPHIC: Photo: SPECIAL TO THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR; System of a Down
also known as John Dolmayan, left, Daron Malakian, Serj Tankian and
Shavo Odadjian perform at Copps Saturday night.
September 1, 2005 Thursday Final Edition
System of a Down sings different metal tune
by Graham Rockingham
Showtime
What: System of a Down, with The Mars Volta and Bad Acid Trip
When: Saturday, doors open at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m.
Where: Copps Coliseum
Tickets: $31 to $56.50 through Ticketmaster or at the Copps Coliseum
box office. 905-527-7666
Sometimes music writers can simply dig too deep in their quest for
answers. Take the case of System of a Down.
In the overly homogenous world of metal music, this California
quartet with the strange name stands apart from the pack. So far, in
fact, that the metal brand is disingenuous.
Their vocal harmonies are theatrical in character, at times almost
operatic. Their music, especially off their latest release Mezmerize,
is intricate and melodious, combining thrashing guitar attacks with
prog/rock themes and soft acoustic interludes.
Their lyrics offer some of the finest social satire since Frank
Zappa's cinematic explorations in the early '70s, offering up savage,
yet often hilarious, attacks on war, greed, drugs and the Hollywood
celebrity machine.
It's only natural that observers would search for answers to what
makes System of a Down so different. Much of the analysis has centred
on the band's Armenian ethnic roots.
Bassist Shavo Odadjian, guitarist/singer Daron Malakian, singer Serj
Tankian and drummer John Dolmayan all speak the mid-eastern language.
Although only Odadjian was born in Armenia, all are well acquainted
with the brutal persecution Armenians suffered at the hands of Turkey
in the early 20th century. Malakian and Dolmayan were both born in
Lebanon. All four were raised in Hollywood, Calif.
It's easy to be overly analytical about this stuff. Here's a
long-winded example from the Miami Herald: "The band members'
experiences as progeny of the Armenian diaspora provided the fuel for
(the album) Mezmerize."
When I interviewed Odadjian this week, I asked him about the effects
of this "diaspora." The answer surprisingly enough, focused on the
Swedish '70s disco band Abba.
"It comes from us listening to a lot of music, not from us coming
from a specific place," the 31-year-old said just before going on
stage in Montreal.
"From The Beatles to Slayer, from Abba to Frank Zappa. You might be
able to tell we listen to Zappa but did you know we listen to Abba?"
No. In fact I would never have dreamed such a thing. Slayer, yes. But
Abba? The Swedish disco singers are about everything anathema to
heavy metal. Is he serious?
Even over the phone, Odadjian can sense my incredulity. He offers to
recite every word of Abba's hit Dancing Queen just to prove he's not
joking. Please don't.
"But it's true," he continues listing some Broadway show tunes to
underscore his point. "Go put on a good old Iron Maiden record and
then listen to Phantom of the Opera. Then you'll see where we get
some of our stuff from."
That, I admit, would go a long way toward explaining the band's
theatrical sound. But what about those lyrics -- the wickedly
sardonic anti-war politics of their latest hit single B.Y.O.B. (Bring
Your Own Bombs) or the hilariously witty This Cocaine Makes Me Feel
Like I'm On This Song?
Bands like System of a Down and Green Day have made it cool again for
kids to take an interest in politics or at least question authority.
Odadjian, however, says the band isn't trying to be preachy or
convert anyone.
"We don't tell them 'This is right and this is wrong.'" he says. "We
tell them to, at least, have an opinion. We're not going to preach
.. because it wouldn't go with what we are saying which is have your.
own specific thought. I don't want them to have the same thoughts
about government or politics that we do. Just have some thoughts
about it."
Whatever the message, it's certainly working. Mezmerize was released
in May, opening at the top of the charts. Sales are pushing toward a
million.
The followup album Hypnotize, recorded at the same time as Mezmerize,
is slotted for release in November.
[email protected]
905-526-3331
GRAPHIC: Photo: SPECIAL TO THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR; System of a Down
also known as John Dolmayan, left, Daron Malakian, Serj Tankian and
Shavo Odadjian perform at Copps Saturday night.