<SPAN class=pn-normal>In the United States System of a Down is known as not political. But the band members themselves are.  A personal question involves with their Armenian ancestors.

Serj Tankian is sitting there o­n a comfortable sofa in his hotel room in Amsterdam.
He has flown over there for the music press to answer all their questions about their new album called “Mezmerize” that will be the first part of a dual album project.
The second album is called “Hypnotize” and will come out somewhere around November.
After the album “Toxicity” which made System of a Down break through the world of Metal in 2001.
Mezmerize is the third actual album of the band from Los Angeles ( Steal this album ) was just an extra version of Toxicity that was brought out in 2002.
It seems that these promotional visits that Serj made to Holland most of the times were all just the same.
But this visit was different from others noticed the music press while Serj was talking.
Since some recent ( 2004 ) Holland gave recognition to the Armenian genocide that occur 90 years ago in 1915.
And for Serj and System of a Down this was a big step forward in their quest for recognition.
All four band members are Armenian, and are well aware about the Armenian Genocide>
The band from Los Angeles made this their mission in life.
”This is an important moment” says Tankian about the Dutch government.
With his black pointy beard and his wild looking curly hair, the frontman and philosopher of System of a Down looks like a kind of magical figure from a fairytale.
He manifests himself as a political activist that gives people some information about what is happening in our world today.
The CIA keeps him under surveillance since September 13th 2001 because he wrote an article about “Understanding Oil” thought that America had all this already coming towards them from the beginning and created its own devastation from the start.
When you talk to him, you would never think that this soft compassionate person is “a danger to society” at all.
And neither the less think that he is a frontman and vocalist of a fierce metal band.
”For us there is no political question” but a personal o­ne, our ancestors died because of the Armenian Genocide.
And we grew up there when we were young and now we live here in California.
Our time of recognition and battle against the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide and the fight for recognition by other countries continues through our minds and music.
And it does not come forward as nationalism, no the Turkish denial from the Genocide is a symbol of denial, that is our point and statement.
The crusade of System of a Down is noticeable in their music and lyrics of the band.
However the band is experimenting with new rhythms and more complex than other bands like Korn.
They seem to have their own kind of music which is different from the rest of all the known nu-Metal bands in the world today.
In the United States SOAD attracts the most young group of “rockers” then other populair bands.
However the public and fans mostly don’t even know where Armenia is “Serj laughts”
And then he became serious and that he thinks that most people underestimate the fans of their true knowledge what this band is truly trying to say.
Each year o­n April 24th ( The official remembrance day of the Armenian Genocide ) System of a Down organizes a special benefit concert under the name of “Souls”.
The money that is being brought up from the tickets and sponsorship will be send to organizations around the world that teach and give people information about Genocide all over the world.
Armenia, Cambodia and Rwanda Tankian says.
It starts with people getting aware of their situation in a couple of speeches.
Are you guys a rock band with a mission, yes Tankian replies, but a political band?
No says Tankian clearly through the room and he explains that he doesnt see System of a Down as a political understatement.
”We just give a humanitarian, personal message to the world”.
Tankian knows the press and public well that they mostly ask these kind of questions, but understands the essence of it.
The first single of Mezmerize is called: B.Y.O.B ( Bring Your Own Bombs ) with the furious lines “Why do they always send the poor!?”.
When he is asked to give his comment o­n that, Serj points at the humor and balance of the band.
And yes indeed o­n Mezmerize we can find some great songs like a kind of reggea-ish “Radio/Video”.
And finally we asked if Mezmerize would be like Toxicity with its hard rollercoaster riffs and sickening sounds.
”That is how we want it, and that is how it should be” Serj replies, we dont want to push it all into your mouth at the same time that is why we bring this dual album out in two sections.
When you listen to System of a Down you hear four amazing people have so much fun with making their music.
If you cannot laugh about your own opinions then i don’t understand what this life is all about.


<SPAN class=pn-normal>Source: People Newspaper

Share on Facebook