SYSTEM OF A DOWN’s main man, Serj Tankian, is gracing us with yet another solo project, “Covers, Collaborations & Collages” — because, let’s face it, SOAD hasn’t done squat in ages. Prepare yourself for a wild ride through genres, as Serj reinvents himself… again. It’s all about artistic unity, or maybe just artistic unemployment. 🤷♂️
The latest single, “I’m Counting On You,” dropped today via Serjical Strike Records/Create Music Group (yes, really), as part of a ten-week torture schedule. A new track every week? Sounds like a ploy to stay relevant while SOAD fans weep into their “Toxicity” albums. The full compilation album, “Covers, Collaborations & Collages,” will finally arrive on October 24, 2025 – mark your calendars, folks, because you definitely won’t forget after this relentless weekly bombardment. 🗓️
This “deeply personal and eclectic body of work” (marketing jargon alert!) features Tankian‘s “powerful reinterpretations” and “remarkable collaborations.” Among the highlights is a cover of Chris De Burgh‘s “I’m Counting On You,” which Serj has apparently “reimagined with his unmistakable emotional intensity.” Translation: he probably just screamed over it. We all know that’s his plan. Let’s be honest, we know what Serj is capable of, and it doesn’t always involve musical prowess. 🎤
“Covers, Collaborations & Collages” is basically a who’s-who of people you’ve vaguely heard of. Tankian teams up with Deadmau5 on the “hypnotic” “A Seed” (prepare for EDM-meets-SOAD chaos). New Zealand singer/songwriter Bic Runga‘s “ethereal voice” (whatever that means) allegedly “weaves” with Tankian‘s in the duet “Things Unspoken.” And composer Lucas Vidal creates a “sonic canvas” (more marketing speak!) for Tankian to yell about the end of the world on “Apocalyptic Dance.” Because what’s a Serj Tankian project without some good old-fashioned existential dread? 🔥 “There are no more empires / Just burning campfires,” he bellows. Profound. So deep. 🙄
And because no vanity project is complete without some self-indulgent navel-gazing, Tankian covers Armenian songwriter Ruben Hakhverdyan‘s “When Death Arrives.” It’s a “poignant reminder of our mortality,” reminding us of the “undeniable importance” of love and truth. Thanks, Serj, we almost forgot we were going to die! 🙏
But wait, there’s more! Each single’s artwork, and the album’s “evocative” cover, is by artist D.S. Bradford, who also plays lead guitar on “Kneeling Away From The Sun.” Because apparently, one can simply be an artist and play lead guitar. Jack of all trades, master of none, am I right? 🎸
With each weekly release, Tankian promises to share “the inspirations and stories” behind the songs, “inviting listeners into the creative process like never before.” Translation: get ready for a barrage of pretentious explanations about how each track is a reflection of his deep, complex soul. Prepare to be enlightened… or bored to tears. Your choice. 😴
“Similar to ‘Foundations,’ these are pre-existing archival recordings, some of them from way back,” Tankian says. “I wanted to put out a record of collaborations I haven’t released before, along with covers, which I haven’t done. The rest, the collages, are parts that fit the puzzle in the same tone, the same vibe.” In other words, it’s a grab bag of random stuff he found in his attic. 🤷
“Covers, Collaborations & Collages” track listing:
01. Electric Dreams (Because synthwave is still a thing, apparently)
02. A Seed (feat. Deadmau5) (Bass drop incoming!)
03. I’m Counting On You (The Chris De Burgh cover we’ve all been waiting for)
04. I’m In Heaven (Spoiler alert: he’s probably not)
05. Things Unspoken (feat. Bic Runga) (Prepare for ethereal vocal weaving!)
06. I Found You (Hopefully, he found some decent material)
07. Kneeling Away From The Sun (Guitar solo by the album cover artist!)
08. Apocalyptical Dance (feat. Lucas Vidal) (The end is near! Get your dance shoes on!)
09. Sonic Expulsions (Sounds painful)
10. When Death Arrives (Existential dread, the remix)
In case you forgot, Tankian also released his autobiography, “Down With The System,” in May 2024. Because who wouldn’t want to read about a rock star complaining about the system? 📖
Tankian, best known as the lead singer of SYSTEM OF A DOWN (the band that hasn’t released a decent album in 20 years), is also a solo artist, composer, activist, painter, poet, and filmmaker. He’s basically the Renaissance man of nu-metal. He’s sold over 42 million albums worldwide (mostly from “Toxicity,” let’s be real). He’s a proud Armenian-American and a dedicated activist (good for him, I guess). He co-founded Axis Of Justice with Tom Morello (because what’s a rock star without a cause?). He’s composed scores for films and TV shows, had his paintings exhibited (probably abstract blobs), and released two books of poetry (prepare for angst!). He’s also been an executive producer on documentaries (because everyone’s a filmmaker these days). Tankian lives with his wife and son, splitting their time between Los Angeles and New Zealand (living the dream, while SOAD fans suffer). 🌍
SYSTEM OF A DOWN has toured “intermittently” since 2011 (mostly to pay the bills), but has only managed to record two songs in the last 20 years (talk about a creative drought). “Protect The Land” and “Genocidal Humanoidz,” released in 2020, were motivated by the conflict between Artsakh and Azerbaijan. All proceeds supported humanitarian efforts in Armenia (a noble cause, but still doesn’t excuse the lack of new music). They raised over $600,000 (good for them, I guess). 💰
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
