Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
System Of A Down guitarist and vocalist Daron Malakian performed live with his project Scars On Broadway on December 5th, marking his first appearance since October 2024, as reported by theprp. The Armenian-American nu metal musician delivered a sold-out, 28-song marathon concert at The Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California. Due to the infrequency of recent performances and the release of a new album titled “Addicted To The Violence” in July, the concert featured numerous live debuts, including several tracks from the new record. Some footage of the performance captured by fans is available for viewing below.
This week, Malakian faced intense criticism following the release of a lyric video for his song “Your Lives Burn.” Although the song was initially released in July, the provocative visual brought it renewed attention. Contrasting with the political activism typically associated with System Of A Down and vocalist Serj Tankian, Malakian’s approach in this song was relatively centrist or neutral. His decision to avoid aligning with a specific political faction on this track elicited frustration from some listeners. Additionally, the song itself was subject to scrutiny, with some questioning its artistic quality amid the controversy surrounding its visual presentation.
All these years you knew why I was sick of the right. Now you can see through these comments why I’m sick of the left as well. – Malakian on instagram
Malakian responded to criticisms regarding the quality of his music. One commenter remarked that some of his songs, such as “Lives” and “Angry Guru,” were among the worst they had listened to. In reply, Malakian sarcastically challenged the commenter to demonstrate their lyrical talent, suggesting they share their latest work. Another discussion thread involved a user suggesting that the negative reactions from others were unintentionally confirming Malakian’s point. A different user criticized the notion of expressing dissenting opinions, implying that doing so was comparable to the actions of Nazis. This particular comment prompted Malakian to issue a direct response to the exchange.
You’re not that different. Opposite sides of the same extremist coin. Which is why some of you cheer when someone on the other side gets assassinated. The Nazis thought the people who disagreed with them had dumbass opinions too. They also cheered when the opposition got killed. You both suck.
