System Of A Down’s Shavo Odadjian talks Seven Hours After Violet

System Of A Down bassist Shavo Odadjian has spoken to NME about his new band Seven Hours After Violet‘s debut album, acting at Obtain 2025 and the place issues at present stand with System.

Seven Hours After Violet – a play on Shavo’s title – includes vocalist Taylor Barber, guitarists Alejando Aranda and Morgoth Beatz, Odadjian on bass and Josh Johnson on drums. The venture’s a markedly drastic flip from the music that System Of A Down followers are used to from Odadjian; it’s a lot heavier, at instances leaning principally into the stylings of metalcore.

Earlier this month, the band have been introduced to carry out at Obtain 2025 – one thing Odadjian is especially excited and “so grateful” for. Nevertheless, Seven Hours After Violet’s existence doesn’t imply the top for System Of A Down. In actual fact, Odadjian informed NME that the legendary band have been “at all times speaking” and would seemingly “by no means break up”.

When requested if the often-political group had convened to debate the state of the world, Odadjian stated that outdoors of various political beliefs (drummer John Dolmayan has been a vocal supporter of Donald Trump), System Of A Down are often in sync: “We consider in free speech, we don’t decide one another. We agree on 90 per cent of issues, however nobody’s ever going to agree on issues 100 per cent.”

He additionally spoke of bandmate Serj Tankian‘s current feedback that potential new materials from System could be a “contemporary begin” for the band, and what it could take for them to document new music – take a look at NME‘s full chat with Odadjian under.

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NME: Hey Shavo. Congratulations on Seven Hours After Violet’s debut document. What made you wish to faucet into such an excessive sound? 

Shavo Odadjian: “I’ve by no means accomplished this earlier than: dropping a full rock or heavy metallic document away from System Of A Down. I’ve at all times been a fan of the actually heavy stuff. Now, if you happen to have a look at the System albums and also you see my final title on a monitor, you’ll perceive which components I wrote.”

How totally different has the inventive course of been with Seven Hours in comparison with SOAD? 

“With System, I’d write all my riffs at dwelling and ship it throughout to the remaining, and Daron [Malakian, guitarist] or Serj would come again with concepts about it. That is extra of me and another person within the studio collectively and I’m writing in keeping with what he’s doing, and we’re bouncing off one another. It was all taking place on the spot, dwell.”

You’ve stated that the setting with Seven Hours is much more constructive than you’re used to…

“No more constructive, per se. It was a joke that was form of flipped and changed into a tabloidy factor. System’s nice, I really like these guys. Many instances, it’s essentially the most constructive it’s been in my life. After we’re onstage collectively, it’s like we’re finest associates, household and every little thing’s simply taking place naturally. We’re like literal brothers as a result of we’ve been collectively for 30 years.

“However with Seven Hours, it’s new and thrilling as a result of I’m working with younger artists who love one another and are so excited in regards to the alternative, so that they’re actually supportive of one another. They respect one another so it’s actually enjoyable to be a fly on the wall and observe them generally.”

Seven Hours have already got a second document within the works…

“The songs that have been left off the primary document we'd work into the second. But it surely’s thrilling now as a result of once I was writing the primary album, I didn’t know who the singer was going to be and we now know the form of band we're. Now once I’m writing an enormous refrain, I do know what it’ll sound like. So it’s going to be actually enjoyable to work on it. When it comes to what the document will sound like, it’s going to be totally different however heavier; we’re going to do extra excessive stuff but additionally extra melodic stuff too.”

You’re engaged on a comic book ebook that’s going to inform the story of Seven Hours and the that means behind ‘Violet’. What are you able to inform us about it? 

“It’s so humorous you’re asking this as a result of simply yesterday, I noticed the complete story for the primary challenge and it’s so cool. We don’t have a launch date but, however I wish to have just a few points already accomplished for once we announce it. I don’t like when one thing comes out after which folks wait three months for one more challenge. So we’re going to drop the primary challenge on this date, after which on that date each month, we’re going to drop one other challenge. I don’t know what number of components it’ll have however I used to be considering seven. We’ll see.”

Subsequent 12 months you’re taking part in Obtain together with your new band. Do you are feeling such as you’ve nonetheless obtained one thing to show?

“No, it’s nearly giving youthful artists a platform. I’ve obtained nothing I have to show, that’s the great thing about this venture. I’m not proving something to anybody. I’m simply making artwork and I take pleasure in doing it a lot. It’s made me a happier individual, like I’m far more comfortable in life after I began doing this venture.

“And I’m so grateful and comfortable that we’re attending to play Obtain. It’s such a legendary competition to me – I used to go as a child again within the ‘80s when it was Monsters Of Rock, earlier than it grew to become Citadel Donington. After which I obtained to play Obtain with System and that was legendary, so I’m simply glad I’m attending to do it once more 25 years later. Not many individuals are in a position to try this this late into their careers.”

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Do you will have something particular deliberate for Obtain? 

“Not likely, or a minimum of not but. I believe possibly we’ll play the complete document. I don’t know the way lengthy our set is but, however that’d be actually cool. I’d additionally like to play a facet stage quite than the primary stage, simply so we’re nearer to the folks.”

Each as a band, and as people, System have at all times been huge on politics and ethics. Given every little thing that’s been taking place within the US, have you ever guys had an opportunity to debate the state of the world and politics? 

“We’re at all times speaking. All people desires the perfect for the nation. Individuals really feel in a different way about sure issues but it surely’s not a damaging factor in any respect, and nobody within the band journeys on one another for his or her beliefs. Everybody respects one another. We consider in free speech, we don’t decide one another. ‘Imagine no matter you need, I nonetheless love you to loss of life’.

“We agree on 90 per cent of issues, however nobody’s ever going to agree on issues 100 per cent. However our conversations are civil and stuffed with respect. We’ve been by all of it for 30 years, I believe we’re in a extremely good place in the mean time. We’re all cool with one another so I’m hoping extra issues occur with us. We’re that band that can by no means break up, I don’t assume. We’ll take day off however we at all times come again collectively.”

You’ve stated your door is at all times open for brand new System materials, Serj has just about stated the identical. Because it stands proper now, what would it not take for the band to document new music collectively?

“If I knew, I’d make it occur. If it occurs, we’ll all be on the proper place, on the proper time, in the precise temper, on the proper juncture in life.”

Serj has stated a brand new System document could be a “contemporary begin in a model new means”…

“I don’t know what he means by that. We’ve accomplished issues a sure means in our profession the place it’s at all times moving into a brand new path. Each time we do one thing new, it’s in a path you don’t anticipate. Course of-wise, we’ll need to see once we get collectively. If it goes in a means that works for one individual however not the others, we received’t do it. It has to work for all 4 of us.

“As soon as that particular time comes once we’re all in sync, we’ll determine a technique to do it. I’m not saying that it’s going to occur for positive – I don’t need folks to show this into clickbait like ‘Shavo says there’s a brand new document coming!’ I’m simply saying if one thing occurs, it should be in a means that every one 4 of us are comfy with.”

Seven Hours After Violet’s self-titled debut album is out now. Obtain 2025 is occurring subsequent June 13-15 at Donington Park, Leicestershire. You may get tickets here.