There has been much chatter in the recent weeks about System Of A Down, with the band recently teasing “something” on their Twitter account. Many fans speculated, incredibly optimistically, that the quartet would be releasing new music. Turns out it was a countdown to an announcement of very limited tour dates. There is some good news, though, for fans of the members’ side projects. Guitarist Daron Malakian is back with new music with his band Scars On Broadway. 

Recorded in sessions dating back to 2012, Malakian on Monday released the video for a new song called “Lives.” With the heavy driving riff leading the charge in his new track, Malakian stamps his signature sound that we’ve missed in the last decade. As a fan of System Of A Down, and with no new music from them coming in the near future, one can’t help but wonder, “Why shouldn’t this be an SOAD song?” Regardless, Scars On Broadway stands on its own two feet and Malakian’s ability to write incredible songs will make the upcoming album Dictator a much anticipated record. Malakian also revealed that he is working with his band and will record another record very soon. 

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Malakian describes the song’s meaning and also joins in the speculating upon the fate of System Of A Down. 

I recorded the album and then around that time System started playing live again. So every time we’d play live, there’d be conversations like, ‘Maybe we’ll do an album.’ So being the guy who wrote the majority of almost all the System songs in the past, I was like, ‘Alright, let me see what’s happening with it. Let me hold onto these songs and let me see how this develops.’ We talked about it and we weren’t all on the same page. Not everybody was into the idea. But every time we played live, it kept coming up.

I just got to the point now where a lot of people were asking about the Scars album – I hear it all the time – so I was like, ‘I’m gonna put this album out.’ Not knowing what’s happening with System has kept me from putting my own stuff out. Too much time has passed, and I’m really excited to finally get some music out finally.

So, that’s the reason why the Scars On Broadway website has been the same for several years, teasing an EP and an album that are finally coming! Dictator will be available on July 20. The new single is about the Armenian genocide and its survivors. The video features beautifully choreographed Armenian folk dancing, perfectly in tune and appropriate for the song. Watch the video for “Lives” below: