System of a Down
Armenian-American art-metal that never stopped sounding unhinged — lurching time signatures, Serj Tankian's operatic yelp, and hooks that shouldn't work but do.
System of a Down formed in the Los Angeles area in the mid-1990s, with Serj Tankian on vocals, Daron Malakian on guitar and vocals, Shavo Odadjian on bass and John Dolmayan on drums. All four members are of Armenian descent, and the band has consistently used its platform to draw attention to the Armenian genocide and its recognition.
Their music combines heavy metal and alternative rock with abrupt tempo changes, Middle Eastern and Armenian melodic touches, and vocal interplay between Tankian's theatrical delivery and Malakian's higher counterpoint. The band released a run of albums through the 2000s before going on hiatus, and has since returned largely as a live act.
Festivals System of a Down is playing
System of a Down at a glance
What festivals is System of a Down playing in 2026?
System of a Down is booked at 1 festival: Sick New World Texas 2026.
Is System of a Down playing Sick New World Texas 2026?
Yes — System of a Down is on the Sick New World Texas 2026 lineup, October 24, 2026 at Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX. They play Saturday, October 24.
Where is System of a Down from?
System of a Down is from Glendale, CA.
What kind of music does System of a Down play?
System of a Down is tagged alt-metal and art-metal.
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