Serj Tankian "Had Nothing To Do With" Writing Sessions For New System Of A Down Material

System Of A Down's John Dolmayan hasn't been shy in interviews or online of late when (frequently) asked about the status of his day job, and in a new chat with Loudwire Nights, the drummer has shed some light on previous writing sessions with the band in regards to a potential new album.

While the material that might have followed up 2005's Mesmerize and Hypnotize was essentially scrapped after these alleged 15 songs initially came together, John has revealed that frontman Serj Tankian actually played no part whatsoever in these particular sessions anyway.

“First of all, nothing is finished until all four members are on it, and Serj had nothing to do with it [the new material]," John said. "He wasn’t at those rehearsals, he wasn’t in the process of bringing the songs and working on them or writing them. These were just things we did with the anticipation of a record happening, which never happened.

“We’re a very stubborn and stupid band," he continued. "As sad as that is to say, we never reached our potential, and I don’t think we ever will.”

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It's a similar sentiment echoed in John's latest interview with Kerrang!, in which the drummer stated:

“First of all, thank you to everyone for actually giving a shit still – to our fans who have been waiting patiently [for a new album]. I appreciate it personally, and I’m sure the rest of the guys do, too. Unfortunately it’s not something that’s in my control. I wanted to make an album in 2007… and 2009… and 2012… and 2015… and 2018, and we’d have been making an album now if it was up to me. As long as we were making music that we felt was of the same quality, there was no reason to stop making records, but not everybody in the band shares my mindset for whatever reason.

“For whatever reason, System Of A Down has done a really good job of getting into that in our own way," he added. "But we’re not alone; Tool did a very good job of that for a long time and Rage Against The Machine has done a fantastic job of that for as long as we’ve been a band.”

When asked if that realisation will unify System to all create together once more, John replied: “This is just the reality of life. People can’t get it together and can’t get out of their own ways. Maybe they’re upset about something that happened 20 years ago, or maybe they want to create a new reason to be upset. Either way, it is what it is. At a certain point you move on to other things. If you’re dating a girl, you’re in love with her and you want to marry her but she doesn’t love you, you’ve got to move on.”

John's debut solo album These Grey Men is due out on February 28.

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System Of A Down, meanwhile, will be playing two huge U.S. stadium shows with Korn and Faith No More in May, before hitting Europe in the summer.

Catch the band live at the following:

May

22-23 Los Angeles, California – Banc Of California Stadium

June

3 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
5-7 Nurburg, Germany – Rock Am Ring
6-7 Nuremberg, Germany – Rock Im Park
8 Berlin, Germany – Waldbuhne
10-13 Nickelsdorf, Austria – Nova Rock
14 Donington, UK – Download Festival
16 Prague, Czech Republic – O2 Arena
17 Budapest, Hungary – Laszlo Papp Sports Arena
19 Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion
23 Stockholm, Sweden – Ericsson Globe
25-27 Seinäjoki, Finland – Provinssirock
30 Krakow, Poland – Tauron Arena

July

1-4 Viveiro, Spain – Resurrection Fest
2-3 Lisbon, Portugal – VOA Heavy Rock

Get your Download Festival tickets here.