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INSANE: 2 - The Real Truth

Serj Tankian admits he “emotionally checked out” during System Of A Down’s final albums

“I was in a weird place. I contributed creatively, but I didn’t.”

Metal Hammer

“Daron’s the guitarist, I’m the vocalist, and yet he was using my Strat… Then somebody stole it after breaking our car window”: Serj Tankian reflects on his guitar journey with System of a Down, Tony Iommi, Buckethead and beyond

In a rare guitar interview, Serj Tankian breaks down his “fast folk” playing style and upcoming signature Gibson Les Paul, his love of shredders, and freaking out Maynard James Keenan (and being freaked out by Buckethead)

Guitar World

“Rick Rubin didn’t like it at all!” Watch Serj Tankian eat his first banana terracotta pie – and explain why he wrote a System Of A Down song about it

19 years after first singing about banana terracotta pie on Vicinity Of Obscenity, System Of A Down singer Serj Tankian has tried one

Metal Hammer

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“It was ridiculous!” Why Rick Rubin couldn’t stop laughing the first time he saw System Of A Down live

Rubin, who co-produced every System Of A Down album from 1998 to 2005, explains why the band split his sides for an entire set

Metal Hammer

Serj Tankian believes new System Of A Down album would be a 'fresh start'

Serj Tankian is convinced System Of A Down could make a new album in the future because it would give the band a "fresh start".

BANG Premier

“That thick sound you need for heavy metal – it’s all about the Les Paul. There’s no other guitar with the same kind of bottom-end as a Gibson”: Serj Tankian reveals he has a Gibson signature model on the way

The System of a Down frontman discusses his penchant for Gibsons, particularly Les Pauls, and elaborates on what we can expect from his signature model

Guitar World

Serj Tankian suggests what a new System Of A Down album would sound like: “It would be a fresh start in a brand new way”

The singer also says System Of A Down have some unreleased “amazing gems” in their vault

Metal Hammer

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"I have 10 to 12 albums of riffs." Shavo Odadjian has "plenty of ammunition" for a new System Of A Down album

Seven Hours After Violet might have brought Shavo Odadjian back to metal after 20 years, but he's never stopped writing for System Of A Down

Metal Hammer

The 15 best new metal songs you need to hear right now

Serj Tankian, The Black Dahlia Murder and Amaranthe are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

Metal Hammer

“I actually think people don’t think of System Of A Down as nu metal”: Serj Tankian names the greatest nu metal album of all time

It’s a classic for a reason, after all

Metal Hammer

What to Stream: Clooney & Pitt, Will & Harper, a Legend of Zelda game and two Ryan Murphy TV series

What Ellen DeGeneres says is her last comedy special hitting Netflix and George Clooney and Brad Pitt in a sleek, New York City caper are some of this week’s new streaming entertainment releases

The Independent UK

Imagine Dragons announce UK and European stadium shows as part of their 2025 Loom tour

Imagine Dragons line up summer stadiums and arenas tour in Europe

Louder

Imagine Dragons fans concerned by ‘crazy’ band post after drummer announces departure

Musician confirmed his departure after going on hiatus from the band last year

The Independent UK

"I don’t want to say that I have sacrificed the band or the music for The Truth, but I’ve held them both very close." Serj Tankian reflects on a life of truth, activism and System Of A Down

The System Of A Down singer acknowledges his past activism might have hurt the band, but is proud of their legacy and enduring popularity

Metal Hammer

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Metal Hammer

“Being crazy is being free, man. Completely free!”: the unhinged story of System Of A Down’s Hypnotize, the last album they might ever make

In 2005, System Of Down released their fifth, and possibly final, album Hypnotize

Metal Hammer

“It’s like something Frank Zappa would do”: Serj Tankian names the classic System Of A Down song he finds “funny”

“I wanted to write a very heavy metal song about pyjamas”

Metal Hammer

“We’ve really fought. In one day something can blow up into a full-scale war. There’s been days I’ve quit the band”: how System Of A Down turned friction into genius with Toxicity

In 2001, Metal Hammer joined System Of A Down in their Hollywood HQ to talk about their brilliant second album, Toxicity

Metal Hammer

Serj Tankian explains offer for System Of A Down to replace him: “I think it would take something away… but I would be OK with it”

System Of A Down’s frontman recently told Metal Hammer that he gave the band the option to continue without him

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Metal Hammer

“Respectfully, I draw the line at ethnic cleansing and genocide”: System Of A Down’s Serj Tankian continues war of words with Imagine Dragons

System Of A Down’s singer continues to clash with the pop-rock stars over their decision to perform in Azerbaijan, citing allegations of the country preparing for genocide

Metal Hammer

“There’s corrupt leaders and warmongers all over the world, where do you draw the line?” Imagine Dragons respond to scathing Serj Tankian comments, defend Israel and Azerbaijan shows

System Of A Down’s singer called the pop-rock stars “not good human beings” for performing in Azerbaijan, which has been accused of preparing to commit genocide against Armenians

Metal Hammer

Serj Tankian on whether System Of A Down could ever continue with a new singer: "The option has always been there for the band to move on without me"

System Of A Down frontman Serj Tankian has claimed that it's entirely possible that the band could continue without him, should they choose to do so

The Independent UK

System of a Down’s Serj Tankian doesn’t ‘respect Imagine Dragons as human beings’ after controversial gig

Pop-rockers Imagine Dragons performed in Baku last year dispite the pleas of fellow musicians

Metal Hammer

“I have zero respect for those guys. They're not good human beings.” System Of A Down's Serj Tankian slams Imagine Dragons for ignoring his concerns about 'art-washing' a genocidal dictatorship

“If you are that blind to justice that you will go play a show in a country that's starving another country, illegally... I don't know what to say about you as a human being”

Guitar World

“He’d call me at four in the morning and leave a 15-minute guitar solo on my voicemail”: Serj Tankian on his collaborations with the enigmatic Buckethead – and the time they played a high school battle of the bands together

From taxidermy-inspired music videos to playing a high school battle of the bands as fully grown adults, the System of a Down frontman recalls his artistic camaraderie with Buckethead

Metal Hammer

"I could see that schism developing." Serj Tankian says he knew System Of A Down had problems as early as 1999

The System Of A Down vocalist also reveals the artists that inspired his early style before he found his own voice

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