The reason I mentioned Daron's ego was because it came out last week that SOAD stopped last time because after Mezmerize/Hypnotize, Daron started trying to take control of the band including rights, royalties, overall direction and amount of vocals he got and Serj and the others weren't particularly happy about that. Then while they were talking about doing a new album a couple of years ago Daron started becoming a bit of a control freak again.

""By the time Mezmerize/Hypnotize came around we were at the diametrically opposite end on both with Daron controlling both the creative process and making the lions share of publishing not to mention wanting to be the only one to do press," Tankian wrote. "There were songs I wanted to bring in but was hampered by unkept promises coupled by my own passivity at the time.""

https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8465459/system-of-a-down-soad-serj-tankian-daron-malakian-break-silence-about-lack-new-music

Album Rating: 1.0 | Sound Off

Complete garbage.

Album Rating: 1.5

your sound off is money scoop lol

Cool review bu you refer to him as Daron and Malakian so many separate times that I couldn't figure out whether they were the same person or not
Please pick one c:c

I don't mind Daron's vocals but then again I only like them when they play off with Serj. I can't imagine sitting through an entire record listening to his voice especially when instrumentally this band is doing nothing good either. The singles alone made me never want to hear this or even prior work.

Album Rating: 1.5

better neek?

Album Rating: 1.5

and that's exactly it fear, i've never felt his voice had the ability to hold anyone for a full album -- and it doesn't. lol

Ok so I just listened to this once, wouldn't rate it a 1/5 but yeah this album is very predictable and uneventful. ''Lives'' was catchy for me since it was revealed as the album's first single tbh, and ''Guns Are Loaded'' is decent.

The rest sounds really weak, tired and forgettable. That ''Your politics will never corrupt me'' part in the title track is painful to hear, and what the hell is going on with Fuck and Kill? Lol.

Also, for those who want more System or haven't checked the album already, listen to Storaged Melodies.

Album Rating: 3.5

I think this fits nicely as a sequel to the original Scars album. See how it grows on me. It was all recorded in 2012 with, afaik, no major changes made to those original recordings, so let's see what Daron's planned third Scars album will be like (coming in 2018?).

Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals...

Daron's vocals were always my least favourite part of SOAD. I can't imagine listening to an entire album of them.

And thanks for that link DatsNotDaMetulz. Seems to me like there's not drama per se in the band, but that Serj is just tired of being around Daron, and I can't say I blame him.

oof my bones ouch owie

Album Rating: 3.5

Review is well written but what? That album is fuckin' awesome

Album Rating: 3.0

Nah, it's just that Serj wants to do his own thing, where he doesn't want to bring in any heavyness to soad anymore, hence making Daron taking complete control over because the rest of the band clearly feel Serj's ideas aren't up to par with the standard they want to meet.

Serj's solo stuff chrushes this easily tbh.

I always hated Daron's squeaky voice when he sings. He was good at doing backing vocals, but when he started singing entire lines on Steal This Album and later, it got real painful lol

his steal this album contributions where fine. but when he started singing whole songs in mezmerize and hypnotize i kinda didnt gel with it any longer.
hes a great counter point to serjs voice when he did backing vocals tho.

Album Rating: 3.0

^agree. Will you listen to this Flug



'Till the end is such a jam here btw, his voice actually carries the song nicely.