Armenian-American metal band System of a Down have confirmed that they have been working on material in preparation for a new album, their first new album since 2005.
In an interview with Kerrang!, drummer John Dolmayan confirmed that: ‘We’ve been working on a new album for the last six months and there’s about 15 songs that I think are album-worthy.” He continued on to say that ‘there’s a tremendous amount of pressure on us, though, because it’s been 11 years – at least 12 by the time it comes out.’ The drummer stated that ‘our playing ability is better than it ever has been’. but did mention that “we’re not trying to make Toxicity Part II, just because it was by far our biggest album.”
This is the first solid confirmation of new material since System of a Down returned from hiatus in 2011, since returning the band have played numerous festivals across the world and played both Download and Reading Festival. System of a Down have not released an LP since their critically acclaimed double album Mesmerize/Hypnotize in 2005, but collectively the band’s 5 albums have sales totaled at over 40 million.
The band have announced a string of tour dates for 2017, including a headlining appearance at the Download Festival in Donnington and several other European festivals.
Check out footage from the last time they headlined Download Festival in 2011 below:
