SYSTEM OF A DOWN
Will Download’s other headliners stay a heritage act or build a new future?
Chop Suey!. B.Y.O.B. Sugar. System Of A Down’s 2017 headline set boasted an energy-busting 29 songs, reminding us why they were such a killer band in the early 00s. In six months, we’ll see them do it all again. But when it comes to new music, hope’s fading fast. It’s been 15 years since their last album, Hypnotise – longer than the gap between Tool albums.
In Metal Hammer #311, guitarist Daron Malakian talked to us about Scars On Broadway, the band he formed in 2006. They released a debut album in 2008, and then nothing until 2018’s Dictator. He’d held off putting anything out in case it was needed for System, and his words indicated nothing was forthcoming.
“I’ve constantly played and written throughout the years. I just haven’t released anything, because there’s a lot of confusion on what’s happening with System,” he told us. “Being the main writer in System Of A Down, I always felt like, ‘If System’s going to do something, then I should probably save these songs and put them out as System Of A Down.’ Now that I have a clearer picture on where all of that stands, I feel a little bit freer to release the stuff that I’ve been writing.”
He put the continued recording hiatus down to “creative differences”, and it’s clear each member has varied interests. In the last year, frontman Serj Tankian has worked on film scores and sung on Game Of Thrones’ soundtrack; helped launch an Armenian social network; executive produced I Am Not Alone, a film about the 2018 ‘velvet revolution’ in Armenia; worked on his coffee brand and art exhibitions, and started a Patreon account.
Meanwhile, Daron took Scars On Broadway on tour in March, bassist Shavo Odadjian has been busy with lifestyle/ cannabis brand 22Red, and drummer John Dolmayan has been working on a sci-fi comic book series, Ascencia. With this much creative talent, it’ll be a crime if they never record again.
In good news for fans of proper heavy metal (hi guys), Accept are releasing their 16th album this year, while Annihilator will put out 17th album Ballistic, Sadistic this month. Architects have gone a bit quiet following their triumphant show at Wembley and a summer turn at London’s All Points East, so we’re crossing our fingers for a follow-up to 2018’s poignant Holy Hell. Babymetal
will be channelling the Fox God during their first UK tour in February, and we want a follow-up to Beartooth’s third record Disease after their Feb dates.
B is also for Behemoth, and Bloodstock, where they’ll headline. Black Peaks have been on pause due to singer Will Gardner’s health – get well soon! – but we’re hopeful for good things in 2020. As BMTH recently released standalone track In The Dark,
could we see more surprise music from them? Oddball sludge merchants
Boss Keloid are due a new album, as are the legendary Carcass - judging by new single Under The Scalpel Blade, it will be full of ballads. As will Code Orange’s, if it ever appears. Taking a break from stalking supermarkets, thrilling theatres and designing pop cvlture clothes with Oli Sykes, Dani Filth will be returning with a new
Cradle Of Filth album.
Sabbath may be no more, but
Deadland Ritual have released a couple of singles. Could this be the year for a full-length album from Geezer Butler, Matt Sorum and co? Viking-loving Norwegians Enslaved are definitely due an album, but we’re wondering what’s going on with Faith No More. They’re touring for the first time in five years – does that mean a successor to Sol Invictus is on the cards? Prog metallers Haken are currently supporting Devin Townsend, but this year look set to drop a record of their own. Meanwhile, the avant-garde
Ihsahn has so much creative inspo, something special is on its way.
It’s an almighty year for Judas Priest, as they officially turn 50. Happy birthday! We’ve got their Bloodstock headliner and those rescheduled Ozzy support slots to look forward to in October/november at the very least. Crobar/down legend Kirk Windstein releases debut solo record Dream In Motion this month, while Loathe have a newie due in February. Now
Megadeth’s cruise is receding into the distance, we’re expecting great things from the band, Dave’s health pending. We’re sending him our metallest get-well vibes.
Mötley Crüe surprised… absolutely no one by announcing another tour. They’re making the rounds of US stadiums next summer, and we wouldn’t be surprised if the UK was next on their hitlist. My Dying Bride have finished work on their lucky
13th album, and frontman Aaron Stainthorpe has promised something “aggressive, beautiful and layered with harmonic melancholy like never before”. We’re hyped for those Ozzy shows we mentioned, and Sharon has hinted that his first solo album in a decade will be dropping super-soon.
We hear that gothic metallers Paradise Lost are releasing their 16th album, too. Perturbator, aka James Kent, is a curator for Roadburn alongside Emma Ruth Rundle. He’s joining forces with Cult Of Luna’s Johannes Persson for a specially commissioned performance.
Now Tool have finally let Fear Inoculum
into the world, could we see more from Maynard James Keenan’s project, Puscifer? They released albums every four years up until 2015, so by our maths they’re a year overdue. Rammstein
are returning to singe our eyebrows in round two of their stadium tour. Bang! Bang! Rob Zombie will no doubt be bringing his own brand of theatre in the follow-up to 2016’s The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser. We hope by now he’s coughed up the dictionary he swallowed. We hear Sheffield’s mathcore heroes Rolo Tomassi have something in the works, while
Suicide Silence are releasing Become The Hunter – but will it be enough to silence critics of their experimental, self-titled outing?
Bay Area legends Testament are descending on Europe next month, with new music on the way. Vile Creature, the self-described “weird queer kids with lofty ambitions”, will reach for those ambitions with a new record, while Wardruna will be bringing those earthly, primitive feels on album
“WE’RE HYPED FOR THE RESCHEDULED OZZY SHOWS”
number five. Dutch symphonic pioneers Within Temptation will take last year’s Resist on tour, teaming up with Evanescence to conquer arenas. Wolves In The Throne Room are likely to be serving nature-loving black metal realness in the second half of the year. Bring on the next 12 months…