Serj Tankian has something up his sleeve! System Of A Down‘s singer just announced a solo album called Covers, Collaborations & Collages, out October 24!
As the title hints, it’s a mix of unreleased collabs, covers, and other songs Tankian’s been sitting on for years. “Similar to (my 2024 EP) Foundations, these are archival recordings, some from way back,” he explained. “I wanted to put out collaborations I haven’t released before, along with covers—which I’ve never really done. The rest, the collages, just fit the puzzle in tone and vibe.”
The tracklist backs that up. Guests include Deadmau5, Bic Runga, and Lucas Vidal, while Tankian takes on Chris de Burgh’s I’m Counting on You and Armenian songwriter Ruben Hakhverdyan’s When Death Arrives.
Leading up to the release, he’s dropping one new track a week, complete with behind-the-song videos. The first taste? Electric Dreams (above).
The full record looks like this:
01. Electric Dreams
02. A Seed (feat. Deadmau5)
03. I’m Counting on You (Chris de Burgh cover)
04. I’m in Heaven
05. Things Unspoken (feat. Bic Runga)
06. I Found You
07. Kneeling Away From the Sun
08. Apocalyptical Dance (feat. Lucas Vidal)
09. Sonic Expulsions
10. When Death Arrives (Ruben Hakhverdyan cover)
Of course, anytime Tankian announces something solo, System fans immediately ask: what about a new SOAD record? The short answer: Don’t hold your breath.
In his 2023 memoir Down With the System, Serj admitted he once told his bandmates to carry on without him if they wanted to keep touring. Daron Malakian later revealed they even toyed with potential replacements, but it never felt right. John Dolmayan has floated ideas about how a new album could work, while Shavo Odadjian says he’s got “a hundred riffs waiting”.
For now, it looks like Covers, Collaborations & Collages is the main event. And honestly? With a lineup like that, it sounds like a solid consolation prize.
