Said Dolmayan: 'I texted, 'no matter how we feel about each other, no matter what issues linger from the past, we need to put them aside because this is bigger than SYSTEM OF A DOWN and bigger than all of us.we need to do something to support our people.'' Joined together on a subsequent conference call, everyone voiced the same concern and the vital importance of helping in some way, the way they knew best - music. So why now? Last month, profoundly affected by the unwarranted surprise attacks and bombings of civilians perpetrated by Azerbaijan and Turkey (Turkey was responsible for the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 as well as over 100 years of denial), Dolmayan texted his three bandmates. Produced by Malakian, who also wrote the music and lyrics, both songs are streaming now on all DSPs and are available for purchase on Bandcamp with band royalties earmarked for the Armenia Fund.

Today, motivated by the recently erupted conflict between Artsakh and Azerbaijan, the latter aided by Turkey and accountable for the greatest violence the region has endured in 26 years, SYSTEM OF A DOWN - Daron Malakian (guitars, vocals), Serj Tankian (vocals), Shavo Odadjian (bass) and John Dolmayan (drums) - announces the release of its first new songs in 15 years: 'Protect The Land' and 'Genocidal Humanoidz'. For years, fans and press speculated about this, and of late, the rumor mill has gone into overdrive hypothesizing when the band might return to the studio. It's been 15 years since the Grammy-winning, multi-platinum-selling SYSTEM OF A DOWN, one of the most beloved rock bands in the world, released new music.

System of a down album release dates