System of a Down's Ongoing Creative Standstill: Inside the Rift That Froze a Legendary Band

Nearly two decades after the release of Mezmerize and Hypnotize in 2005, System of a Down remains frozen in time creatively — still touring on occasion, but without a new full-length album in sight. Despite maintaining personal friendships, the band has been unable to overcome long-standing creative and business disagreements, particularly between vocalist Serj Tankian and the rest of the group.

In his 2024 memoir Down With The System, Tankian offered a candid look behind the curtain, revealing that in 2017, amid worsening health and back issues, he proposed stepping back from touring entirely. More than that, he even suggested the band find a new frontman, offering to publicly support the transition and train the new singer himself.

"I wanted them to be happy," Tankian wrote. “This band meant a lot to them — and so did they to me. It felt like the right time to bow out and let them continue without being held back by my health or touring limits.” His vision was to create an unusually smooth and supportive departure — one where the outgoing member would help shape the next era of the band.

Initially, his bandmates didn’t reject the idea, but they urged him not to make any announcements. They promised a flexible arrangement: show offers would be presented as they came, and Tankian could decide on a case-by-case basis.

But a year later, at a charity event in Glendale, Tankian discovered that the band had in fact been quietly auditioning potential replacements — without ever mentioning it to him. When bassist Shavo Odadjian offhandedly admitted they'd tried out a singer (who, he said, “couldn’t scream and growl”), Tankian was surprised — not that they'd explored options, but that it had all happened behind his back.

"I could teach him to growl in the parking lot," Tankian replied at the time. “He’s a good singer. You should consider him.”

He even pitched another friend as a possible successor in later years — but nothing came of it.

Malakian Pushes Back: "System Is Us Four"

Guitarist and chief songwriter Daron Malakian addressed the period in a recent On The Record podcast appearance with Ultimate Guitar. According to him, the idea of continuing without Tankian never sat well.

“I never really wanted to do that,” Malakian said. “To me, System of a Down is us four. If one of us isn't in, then it's not the band anymore.”

Although Malakian acknowledged that some auditions took place, he emphasized that he had no real desire to replace Tankian — despite assumptions that he would be the most eager to do so.

“People thought I was pushing for it, but I was actually the most against it,” he said. “I didn’t want to look over on stage and see someone else. That just wouldn’t be System.”

He also clarified that he and Tankian never actually discussed the reasons why the singer change never happened — suggesting that the idea simply faded out due to lack of personal commitment from him.

The Deadlock Over New Music Remains

The deeper issue, of course, extends beyond who’s on the mic. Creative and financial disagreements — particularly around songwriting input and revenue sharing — have continued to prevent the band from making new music. Tankian has long advocated for a more democratic creative process and revised business arrangements, but consensus has remained elusive.

While the group briefly reunited in 2020 to release two politically charged singles — “Protect the Land” and “Genocidal Humanoidz” — inspired by the Artsakh conflict, the reunion was short-lived. There’s been no new material since.

For now, System of a Down continues as a touring act, appearing at major festivals and select shows. But both Tankian and Malakian seem united on one point: if it’s not the original four, it’s not really System. And until that core can find a path forward, the studio silence is likely to endure.