Serj Tankian has released the first track and announces his upcoming EP Elasticity. If you thought System of a Down could get weird, then get ready for a whole new lesson in absurdity.
Any song that starts with a burp is going to be something a little different. We have been used to System of a Down putting out weird and crazy tracks for 2 decades now. They often turn out to be some of the best tracks to be honest. Needles, Cigaro, This Cocaine Makes Me Feel Like I’m On This Song.
This time however, there is something….missing. It’s hard to put your finger on it but I don’t really feel the magic that comes from a SOAD track. We already know that this EP contains songs that Serj wrote for the never to materialise 6th SOAD album.
I previously wrote an article asking if SOAD are saving their perfect legacy by not releasing a new album. The second album Dictator from Daron Malakian‘s side project Scars on Broadway also contained tracks Daron wrote for that 6th SOAD album. Whilst a good album, would have been a little underwhelming with System of a Down written on the cover.
Then we get the surprise 2 track full System of a Down release in Protect the Land and Genocidal Humanoidz. Released to raise awareness of events in their ancestral homeland of Armenia. It got me thinking, hey maybe the magic is still there. Maybe with the full band together they can write that elusive album and still keep their legacy intact.
I am however disappointed with Elasticity. It’s hyper weird, but doesn’t really have any of the sparkle – or heaviness, that you get with a SOAD track. It’s closer to a stoned out their mind noise rock opus. What would we have got if System had included this on their 6th album?
It’s very fair to say the ability for System of a Down to produce tracks like no one else, and make it a success is from them all working cohesively together. Personally I much prefers Daron’s solo work than Serj’s. Maybe it’s Daron’s wizardry that is missing from Elasticity.
This doesn’t help my decision on whether I want that elusive new System of a Down album! I would hate to see their perfect legacy ruined by a sub-par release. The disappointing release of Elasticity by Serj Tankian leaves me on the side of ‘no album please!’ It appears destiny will never give us that new album, maybe that’s for the best.
The Elasticity EP will be released on March 19.
Elasticity EP tracklist:
1. Elasticity
2. Your Mom
3. Rumi
4. How Many Times?
5. Electric Yerevan
SEE: Ranking all System of a Down albums
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