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Rating:
It's now been two years since the Armenian band System Of A Down went on "indefinite hiatus," and the former vocalist Serj Tankian has birthed "Elect the Dead," all in all a nice piece of work, displaying his mystical and reflective approach to music. Imagine the style of the last two albums (or double album, if you will) of SOAD, "Mezmerize" and "Hypnotize", partially stripped of their singer's approach, and you will have found almost all the differences between them and Scars On Broadway, the new band of Daron Malakian (guitar and vocals), which also includes friend John Dolmayan, formerly on drums in System.
It's a pity about the album's "visual" presentation; the cover is quite unappealing... By the way.....
Right from the energetic opening "Serious," there is a noticeable tendency to mix nu-metal, '70s-'80s rock, and tribal elements, alternating more heavy moments (and variations of these) with expressive and melancholic melodic inserts. Throughout much of the album, in fact, Daron brings out the more "sugary" side of his voice and plays with vocals similar to those of his former bandmate Serj, weaving very interesting vocal lines. Tangible examples are the tribal "Funny," "3005," or "Babylon," whose introduction will remind SOAD fans of episodes like "Holy Mountain" or "Soldier Side," "Outro", only to then transform into a more sustained piece with a "folkloric" and danceable insert. This track is the one most similar, in style, to "Elect The Dead." It's a shame that some pieces resemble each other a bit too much or are often repetitive: an example is the exaggerated linearity of "Kill Each Other/Live Forever."
During the rest of the album, however, the band also showcases its more delirious and rowdy side: the duo "Exploding/Reloading," very rock with '70s keyboards, and "Stoner Hate," partly recalls past moments of the artist ("Cigaro," "Bounce"). Particular attention should be given to the lyrics, which are absolutely nonsense in Malakian's typical style (for example, the "tongue twister" "Supercalafragalistcexpealadocious is a word to me, just like a Mamma Mia" in "Stoner Hate").
A more 'dancy' feel has been given to "Chemicals" and "Enemy" particularly in the bass and drums of the latter, which rhythmically support the piece. "Enemy" features one of the intros that Daron used in the early System live shows, then called "Drugs", which actually doesn't quite fit where it is... It only serves to break up an otherwise highly repetitive piece.
The melancholic "Whoring Street" deserves a separate mention, as the dark backing vocals bring to mind the duets with Tankian, capable of stirring something deep in the minds and hearts of SOAD fans.
With this track, the album seems to come to a close, but it's a pity that another track pops up, the punkish "They Say", chosen as the first single but without a doubt the most boring and uninspired song of the entire album, which seems almost forced in there, after what would have been a worthy ending.
If we really have to look for other points of comparison with Tankian, we can pay attention to the lyrics, which, excluding the nonsensical episodes of the work, attempt a "socially engaged" approach so dear to Serj: in the case of Daron, however, they are often more clichéd phrases (and sprinkled with "fuck" and "fucking" that make him seem like a rebellious kid) and much less poetic than those of his former bandmate, although they fit perfectly with the music on which they are sung. The drummer is the same, and so this is reflected in the rhythms, which are strong, detailed, original, and tribal like those of SOAD, indeed.
The entire album perhaps suffers from excessive repetitiveness, although it does everything possible to vary whenever it can, with devices (not even that ingenious, ultimately) typical of the genre, like heavy crescendos (see double pedal and attempts at screaming on "Cute Machines") or solos, a theme on which Daron has never excelled in terms of imagination. Many of the piece endings aren't convincing either, as they seem almost abruptly cut off...
But all in all, the entire work flows pleasantly, with few pieces calling for a "skip" to the next track and the total duration is just right: while it does contain some interesting elements of evolution and departure from their style (and it isn't a timeless masterpiece), this is evidently the future album SOAD never made.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Serious (02:07)
All, its all or nothin with your ego tripping
Everybody's looking for a sunday mission
Ain't nobody searching for a second chance
I'm just looking for a new romancin'
All, its all or nothin with your ego tripping
Everybody's looking for a sunday mission
Ain't nobody searching for a second chance
I'm just looking for a new romance
Because you're too serious
You're gonna make me delirious
Because you're too serious for
Losey, losey, losin and I'm feelin lucid.
Everybody's losing and there's no one choosin.
Ain't nobody searching for a second chance
I'm just looking for a new romance
Because you're too serious
You're gonna make me delirious
Because you're too serious for me
Because you're too serious
You're gonna make me delirious
Because you're too serious
You're gonna make me delirious
Because you're too serious for me
03 Exploding/Reloading (02:15)
I like, I like suicide mixed with Jesus Christ, yeah
I like, I like Jesus Christ mixed with suicide, yeah
I am, I am genocide mixed with Turkish lies, yeah
I like, I like Jesus Christ mixed with suicide, yeah
Exploding...
Reloading...
Exploding...
You live, you live on your knees, spread like a disease yeah
You live, you live on your knees, spread like a disease yeah
I like, I like suicide mixed with Jesus Christ, yeah
I like, I like Jesus Christ mixed with suicide, yeah
Exploding...
Reloading...
Exploding...
Exploding...
Reloading...
Exploding...
Well I like, I like genocide mixed with suicide
mixed with suicide
I like, I like Jesus Christ mixed with suicide
mixed with genocide
04 Stoner-Hate (02:00)
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Is a word to me
Mamma mia!
Losing all my patience
In the hall of fabrications
It's so easy to say
Easy to say
When you sing lalalalala
Stoner hate has got your back
California has been invaded
By a hippy psychopath
When you sing lalalalala
Stoner hate has got your back
California has been invaded
By a hippy psychopath
And I'm rude (rude)
Obnoxious (obnoxious)
With an intent to kill
Rude (rude)
Obnoxious (obnoxious)
With an intent to kill
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Is a word to me
Mamma mia!
Losing all my patience
In the hall of fabrications
It's so easy to say
Easy to say
When you sing lalalalala
Stoner hate has got your back
California has been invaded
By a hippy psychopath
When you sing lalalalala
Stoner hate has got your back
California has been invaded
By a hippy psychopath
And I'm rude (rude)
Obnoxious (obnoxious)
With an intent to kill
Rude (rude)
Obnoxious (obnoxious)
With an intent to kill
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Is a word to me
Mamma mia!
Losing all my patience
In the hall of fabrications
It's so easy to say
Easy to say
When you sing lalalalala
Stoner hate has got your back
California has been invaded
By a hippy psychopath
When you sing lalalalala
Stoner hate has got your back
California has been invaded
By a hippy psychopath
05 Insane (03:07)
So many ways to hide
I see the trouble deep inside
Let's go insane again
Bring back the pain again
Let's go insane again
Bring back the pain again
Run, run baby run
You'll see the things to overcome
Let's go insane again
Bring back the pain again
Let's go insane again
Bring back the pain again
Dream, dream your broken dream
You'll see the things I've never seen
Let's go insane again
Bring back the pain again
Let's go insane again
Bring back the pain again
Let's go insane again
Bring back the pain again
Let's go insane again
Bring back the pain again
06 World Long Gone (03:16)
Sometimes! I said sometimes!
I go crazy! Like I'm crazy!
It takes patience! Lots of patience!
Then it's over, fucking over!
I look at the sky, faded,
I reach, the stars
Maybe I don't know
How many people are starving
In this world long gone
Sometimes! I said sometimes!
I go crazy! Like I'm crazy!
It takes patience! Lots of patience!
Then it's over, fucking over!
I look at the sky, faded,
I reach, the stars
Maybe I don't know
How many people are starving
Maybe I don't know
How many people are starving
In this world long gone
I look at the sky, faded,
I reach, the stars
Maybe I don't know
How many people are starving
Maybe I don't know
How many people are starving
In this world long gone
08 Babylon (03:56)
Running to Babylon
Run all the way to Babylon
Meet you there in Babylon
Meet you there in Babylon
Running to Babylon
Run all the way to Babylon
Meet you there in Babylon
Meet you there in Babylon
Marooned again, you were the one that threw me into life
Marooned again, you were the one that looked through sadder light.
I liked the way we slept on rooftops in the summertime
If we were all marooned again, I'd give my soul to save you
Marooned again, you were the one that put me in defense
Marooned again, you were the one that took my confidence
I liked the way we slept on rooftops in the summertime
If we were all marooned again, I'd give my soul to save your life
Oooooooooohhhhhhhhh.....
Oooooooooohhhhhhhhh.....
Running to Babylon
Run all the way to Babylon
Meet you there in Babylon
Meet you there in Babylon...
Babylon...
09 Chemicals (03:13)
I smack your face
You fell in love
When I said fuck your mom
I looked at you
And said itâ??s all oveerrrr
You turn around
And walk away
And you just grab my arm
I looked at you
And said I canâ??t stay sobeerrrr
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals
Madness!
Feelinâ?? scared!
Lookinâ?? around and nobody there!
When I say fuck the world
As you ready to rock
I piss on your face while you suck on my cock!
Madness!
Nobody cares!
Lookinâ?? around and nobody there!
When I say fuck the world
As you ready to rock
I piss on your face while you suck on my cock!
Oh baby, baby..
Wonâ??t you rape me?
Wonâ??t you fantasize?
About the time when we were loveerrrs?
I try to bone
You try to warn
But no compromise.
I grab your ass under the cover.
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals
Madness!
Feelinâ?? scared!
Lookinâ?? around and nobody there!
When I say fuck the world
As you ready to rock
I piss on your face while you suck on my cock!
Madness!
Nobody cares!
Lookinâ?? around and nobody there!
When I say fuck the world
As you ready to rock
I piss on your face while you suck on my cock!
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals!
Madness!
Feelinâ?? scared!
Lookinâ?? around and nobody there!
When I say fuck the world
As you ready to rock
I piss on your face while you suck on my cock!
Madness!
Nobody cares!
Lookinâ?? around and nobody there!
When I say fuck the world
As you ready to rock
I piss on your face while you suck on my cock!
Come eat some chemicals with MEE!
Come eat some chemicaaals!!
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals...
10 Enemy (03:03)
I know it's really hard to see,
That we are the enemies,
I know it's really hard to see,
That we are the enemy
Of the Earth,
They'll fuck you,
Then they'll fuck themselves,
They raise the flag that Jesus sells,
They'll fuck you,
Then they'll fuck themselves,
They raise the flag that Jesus sells,
I know it's really hard to see,
That we are the enemy,
I know it's really hard to see,
That we are the enemy
Of the Earth,
We're on drugs,
We're on drugs,
We're all on drugs,
We're on drugs,
We're on drugs,
Baby, we're all on drugs,
Do you like drugs?
I know it's really hard to see,
That we are the enemy,
I know it's really hard to see,
That we are the enemy
Of the Earth,
We are the enemy of the Earth,
We are the enemy of the earth!
12 3005 (02:54)
Let's clap our hands,
for the president
and Jesus Christ
and did I mention Charlie Manson and everybody else, who was nice.
Let's sing a song,
for the people scared..
searching in the air
If you search real hard you'll see that I'll be there.
Shooting up your world,
watching all the ressurection junkies losing ground
Yeah I'll be there,
shooting up your world
watching all the ressurection junkies losing ground
Let's do high five,
for a genocide,
and the internet
and all the communications skills that are lost, when we are dead.
You'll never survive 3005,
while you'll be sinking in the ocean
I'll be in my space ship still alive!
Shooting up your world,
watching all the ressurection junkies losing ground
Yeah I'll be there,
shooting up your world
watching all the ressurection junkies losing ground
Shooting up your world,
watching all the ressurection junkies losing ground
Yeah I'll be there,
shooting up your world
watching all the ressurection junkies losing ground
Let's clap our hands,
for the president
and Mickey Mouse
and every other motherfucker that's burning up in this house!
13 Cute Machines (03:03)
Cute machines,
That I love,
Cute machines,
I can't get enough,
Cute machines,
That I love,
Cute machines,
I can't get enough,
And go, go, go, go, go, go, go,
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go.
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go,
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go.
Cute machines,
That I love,
Cute machines,
I can't get enough,
Cute machines,
That I love,
Cute machines,
I can't get enough,
And go, go, go, go, go, go, go,
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go.
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go,
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go.
Cute machines,
That I love,
Cute machines,
I can't get enough,
Cute machines,
That I love!
Cute machines,
I can't get enough,
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
14 Whoring Streets (03:01)
Is there anybody here, who hears me crying. I'm dying.
Is there anybody here, when it's over, over, I'm just passing the time.
Wondering how you people will ever survive.
Whoring down your whoring streets, killing you while you're killing me.
It's time, to show all you people you will never survive
Whoring down your whoring streets, killing you while you're killing me.
Is there anybody here, who hears me crying, I'm dying.
Is there anybody here, when it's over, over, I'm just passing the time.
Wondering how you people will ever survive.
Whoring down you're whoring streets, killing you while you're killing me
It's time, to show all you people you will never survive.
Whoring down you're whoring streets, killing you while you're killing me.
Killing you while you're killing me.
Whoring down your whoring streets, killing you while you're killing me
Is there anybody here, who hears me crying, I'm fucking dying.
15 They Say (02:47)
I walk the line, the line I choose
I see the people in front of me
I climb the wall, the wall of news
I watch them show the tragedy
If you were me, could you defend
The given rights to all of men?
Let's fuck the world with all its trend
They say it's all about to end
They say it's all about to end
They say, they say
There's a prison that's gone, but the fear lives on
I watch you walking on the dotted line
Maybe you don't see what's in front of me
Maybe you won't stand the test of time
For we live in sin, for we will win
I watch the president kiss his family
For we live in sin, for we will win
I watch the president fuck society
If you were me, could you defend
The given rights to all of men?
Let's fuck the world with all its trend
They say it's all about to end
They say it's all about to end
They say, they say
I fall in love with the old times
I've never mentioned my own mind
Let's fuck the world with all its trend
Thank god it's all about to end
They say it's all about to end
They say, they say
They say, they say
They say it's all about to end
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