System of a Down - The Reunion

System of a Down went on hiatus in August 2006, but reunited in late 2010, eventually embarking on a worldwide tour in both 2011 and 2012. During the break, Malakian announced he was forming a band called Scars on Broadway. Dolmayan joined him, but Tankian went out on his own and released the solo effort, "Elect the Dead" in the fall of 2007. Scars on Broadway's debut album bowed the following summer, but Dolmayan also elected to form his own group, Indicator, while Odadjian pursued other projects.

It wasn't until November 2010 that System of a Down officially announced that they would be reuniting for a number of European festival dates the following year. They hit UK's Download Festival, Switzerland's Greenfield Festival and Germany's rock am Ring/Rock im Park, among other locales. A swing through Mexico and South America followed, and from late February to early March 2012 they headlined five dates at Soundwave festival in Australia.

The band has not yet announced plans for a new album, instead taking their reunion day by day. On April 23, 2012 System of a Down announced via its website there would be a summer tour of the eastern half of the United States and Canada. On August 11 and 12 they played the Heavy MTL and Heavy T.O. music festivals in both Montreal and Toronto.

System of a Down Tickets - The Genesis of a Political Hard Rock Era

That is, of course, the essence of hard rock, the essence of heavy metal -- it's this sense that a strong, powerful, even angry voice can speak out on certain injustices. Such is the same for four Armenian artists looking to break out into the music scenario as none other than System of a Down. 43 -year-old Frontman Serj Tankian as the lead vocals along with supporting vocals and guitarist 35-year-old Daron Malakian joined with bass guitarist Shavo Odadjian and drummer John Dolmayan for a rumpus wildfire act of political statements and agendas involving their home country. Of course, System of a Down wasn't always known as that with the four artists originally playing in 1993 as a band known as Soil. It was only in 1995 that they became known as System of a Down, named after a poem written by Malakian. The band originally hails from Los Angeles, California, which in 1997 became known to American Recordings by a performance in Hollywood's Viper Room. After being discovered, then came the true heyday of the 'Down.'

System of a Down Tickets - The Explosion

It was no doubt that American Recordings found a sound that can match the explosion of rock n' roll in a completely new direction, one fully supporting the style of rock alternative. With their debut album released in June of 1998, moderate success hit their table with such singles as 'Sugar' and 'Spiders' -- but it wasn't until they released their second album in 2001 entitled Toxicity that true triumph slammed them all on the forehead. The single 'Aerials' became a smash hit, skyrocketing System of a Down into musical stardom as SPIN Magazine's 2001 Best Album of the Year.'The albums Mesmerize/Hypnotize followed with even more experimental work and sounds catapulting the Armenian rock band into a musical genius category of immense proportions. One look at 'Chop Suey!' under Down's belt, and you can bet they were making waves unlike anyone had ever seen in the musical world. They've toured with many other bands -- such as Incubus and Fear Factory, riling up crowds with their controversy in subject matter regarding their music.

System of a Down Tickets - The Meaning Behind the Madness

To say that System of a Down is simply an 'alternative rock band' is nothing more than an understatement. Their intense fusion of ripping guitar riffs, heavy drum sets, programmable beats, and a certain subtle Eastern European sound gave them the honor to be compared with such bands as Korn and the Deftones. Moreover, no one else sounds like Serj Tankian with his upper railing voice, trailing vibes of power through a crowd with the words of political injustice and debate.