Serj Tankian - Elect the Dead

It's no secret that the last System of a Down record focused heavily on contributions from guitarist and songwriter Daron Malakian and seemed to downplay singer Serj Tankians role in the band. We will never know if that tension is what caused the band to go on hiatus, but after spending some time with Elect the Dead, it becomes clear that Serj has a lot more to offer than perhaps he has been allowed to recently with SOAD. Removed are the majority of over the top silly lyrics and and in their place is a much more cynical, and politically charged tone. However, what remains consistent is the myriad of vocal styles and fast-slow song structure that is interwoven perfectly with catchy choruses and full-on rock out moments. Perhaps what is most impressive are the pianos, strings, and acoustic guitars that make up the backbone of the songs. In the moments where the crunchy guitars and pounding drums are stripped away, you can see how beautiful the music here really is. [www.serjtankian.com]