Serj Tankian - "Elect the Dead" cd review

Serj Tankian
"Elect the Dead"

When front man Serj Tankian and his band System of a Down, decided to take a hiatus it didn't take the band members long to get itching to be creative. Of the four, Serj is the first to release a solo album and in just one listen you can tell he hardly slowed down in his output of work as well as writing. Serj, who claims to write "all the time" (he has a book of poetry out as well) runs the gamut of emotions on the 12 tracks.

In the truest sense of the word (almost) Serj has a solo album. He wrote it, produced it in his home studio, and played most of the instruments himself. He does enlist John Dolmayan of System of a Down and Brian Mantia (Guns and Rose/Primus) as guest drummers but the bulk is Serj and where he may lack in virtuosity all but makes up for in competence. No one instrument really stands out on tracks, there are no extended guitar solos for example.

Tankian, known to be very outspoken on everything from politics to the environment channels his experiences. The lead off track "Empty Walls" opens with crunching guitars and drums followed by that subtle almost calming voice of Tankian before it opens back up again. New and old fans won't be confused as to who this is.
A slighter softer side of Tankian appears on the piano led "Honking Antelope". The song kicks in after the first verse, but fairs pretty well as a "quiet/loud" track. "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition" has some unique musical layers at the intro and Tankian delivers some incoherent banter until the song grows some, then Tankian unleashes lyrics at a machine gun pace. This particular track one could see Tankian being most proud of, as it really does some different things, yet remains a collectively strong track.

Tankian must not sleep as he has videos for each of the 12 tracks up on
You Tube, has been on the road promoting "Elect the Dead" for close to two weeks before the the October 23rd release date. The crowds have been ravenous and respectful of Tankians efforts, perhaps longing for a song from his currently on hiatus band, but Serj has a message to sell and its called "Elect the Dead".

If Serj was wrestling any demons while making this record he pinned them to the mat quickly and effectively. Fans of his prior work will not be turned off as what he does on Elect is not a far stretch, but its a satisfying listen to new and old fans.

His myspace page is here and the cd is out now so you can get it pretty much anywhere fine music is sold.