Daron Malakian Opens Up About Writing SYSTEM OF A DOWN’s Final Albums: “You Gotta Look at Things in My Shoes Too”

System Of A Down guitarist and vocalist Daron Malakian recently opened up about the challenges he faced while creating the band’s final albums, Mezmerize and Hypnotize, and how that period shaped his perspective on the band’s future. In a new interview with Spin, he also discussed his current work with Scars On Broadway, who released their third album Addicted To The Violence last month.

The band’s long-standing creative impasse has been widely documented, with tensions first going public in 2018 when vocalist Serj Tankian called for a more balanced approach to songwriting, publishing, and overall decision-making. Tankian expressed frustration that Malakian had assumed primary control over the creative process, press duties, and publishing during the recording of the 2005 albums.

Despite the disagreements, Malakian emphasizes that the relationship with Tankian has remained strong:

“Serj and I have never hated each other. There’s nothing I ever did to hurt him purposely. I love Serj. Serj is my brother. He’s my family.”

Malakian explained that being the primary songwriter carried immense pressure, with expectations coming not just from the band, but also from Columbia Records, producer Rick Rubin, and management:

“I’m the guy getting all the phone calls. I’ve got all this pressure on my shoulders. I’m young, learning as I go. There’s money riding on these albums. You’ve got to look at things in my shoes too. None of it was to hurt anyone; I was just trying to do what was best for the band, our legacy, and our albums.”

He admits that the pressure and creative control shaped his artistic decisions during that time, even as Tankian felt “emotionally checked out” during parts of the recording. While Tankian later offered to step aside to allow the band to continue, the decision was made to retain the core lineup, preserving the music they created together.

Looking ahead, Malakian says he is unsure if he wants to record another System Of A Down album, noting that the band’s existing work continues to stand strong:

“System Of A Down has been such a blessing in my life, but as an artist, sometimes waiting for System has held me back. I feel more free now. I’m not even sure I want to do another record. I’ll always be proud of what we’ve made.”

System Of A Down remains active on the live front, with a series of upcoming North American shows alongside Korn, Avenged Sevenfold, Deftones, Polyphia, and Wisp:

With Korn, Polyphia, and Wisp:
08/27 New York City, NY – MetLife Stadium
08/28 New York City, NY – MetLife Stadium

With Avenged Sevenfold, Polyphia, and Wisp:
08/31 Chicago, IL – Soldier Field
09/01 Chicago, IL – Soldier Field

With Deftones, Polyphia, and Wisp:
09/03 Toronto, ON – Rogers Stadium
09/05 Toronto, ON – Rogers Stadium

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