System of a Down drummer John Dolmayan recently revealed his strategy for creating a new album with the band. He shared specific advice he gave to guitarist Daron Malakian in an interview with Victims of a Down.
Dolmayan outlined a collaborative approach that would prioritize all band members’ contributions equally during the songwriting process.
“I told Daron [Malakian, System guitarist/vocalist] the secret sauce of how to get an album done,” Dolmayan said. “Well, traditionally when we go in to record, Daron would bring his songs in, ’cause he’d have a lot of them. They were very well thought out. They were the most complete.”
The drummer explained his suggested change to the band’s typical recording process.
“And what I would do, if I was Daron, if I was giving Daron advice, which I’ve actually given him this advice, and I said, ‘Why don’t you just tell Serj, ‘Bring your songs in first. We’ll go through all your ideas,'” he continued. “And then Shavo, you bring in all your ideas. And then Daron, you bring in your ideas last. What’s the difference? But that olive branch says ‘I care about your songs more than I care about my own, and I’m gonna have you bring in yours first.'”
Dolmayan emphasized the individual strengths each band member brings to System of a Down’s creative process.
“Now, most of Daron’s songs are gonna end up on the album. He’s the best songwriter I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said. “And Serj is a prolific lyricist. And believe it or not, many of the songs you like most in System first came from Shavo – the riffs, the movements originated with Shavo.”
The drummer concluded by explaining how the current approach affects band dynamics and relationships.
“So we’ve got a lot of strength there that if we just allow everyone to have their time and not at the last part, ‘We’ve already got 30 songs. Bring in your five, and it’s the last thing we do.’ Well, that belittles that person’s contribution, and then they feel that way after the fact,” Dolmayan said. “That’s why I’m saying it’s after the fact that the ill feelings come into play. And that would be my suggestion – just bring yours last. Yours are gonna be great.”
Dolmayan’s comments come at a time when the band’s future remains uncertain. This uncertainty persists despite ongoing fan demand for new material.
Los Angeles Times reported that Malakian reflected in early 2025 that the prospect of a new System of a Down album feels distant and uncertain for him. He expressed he is “not at the same place I was maybe 10 years ago.” This sentiment highlights the creative tensions that Dolmayan’s proposed approach aims to address.
The band remains active despite these challenges. Consequence of Sound noted that they are touring extensively in 2025 to strong fan demand. Some view this as testing the waters for future projects. The continued success of their live performances demonstrates the enduring appeal of their music nearly two decades after their last studio release.
Dolmayan has also laid out a more detailed vision for the album’s creation timeline. Consequence of Sound revealed that he proposed that after planned tours, the band could spend six months in 2027 working on new material. This would involve no limits on song quantity or time, rotating the order in which members present their ideas—Serj first, then Shavo, then Daron. The aim would be fostering collaboration and reducing tensions.
The band has not released a studio album since 2005’s “Hypnotize.” This makes any potential new release highly anticipated among their dedicated fanbase. Dolmayan’s strategic approach represents a potential solution to the creative impasse that has prevented new System of a Down material for nearly two decades.
