System of a Down Have Discussed Reunion: Serj Tankian

Nothing’s been set in stone, but the odds of a System of a Down reunion are higher than they’ve been since the alt-metal band parted ways in 2006 amid financial problems and creative differences, according to Gibson.com

This week, SOAD frontman Serj Tankian acknowledged to the U.K.’s Rock Radio that he and his former bandmates have talked about a reunion and how they would approach it.

“If we decide to [reunite], the first people to find out will be our fans, on the website,” said Tankian. “We’ve all agreed that as a band.”

Earlier this year, Tankian wasn’t sounding so open to the idea of a reunion, telling Billboard the band was still on “indefinite hiatus.”

Tankian, whose second solo disc Imperfect Harmonies will hit stores September 21 on Serjical Strike/Reprise Records, also wanted to clear up rumors about the style of his new album.

“I’m not working on a jazz album at all,” said Tankian. “My album is orchestral rock, a very different thing. I’ve written a jazz opera, though, and it will open in Cambridge, Massachusetts, soon. It’s two different things… In one way [my new album is] really modern, with the electronics stuff, but it's also really classical, with the legato orchestra. The core of the songs are still rock-based songs with some jazz influences here and there.”

In a departure from SOAD’s hard-hitting sound, Tankian toured Europe earlier this summer with a full orchestra, but he doesn’t worry that the new material will be off-putting to loyal SOAD fans.

“I’m asked if I think System fans might be bewildered with the solo work I’m doing,” said Tankian. “That’s not giving our fans enough credit. They like more than just heavy metal music – so do most people. So they’ll find it quite easy to get my music, and come with me if they want to.”