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Sono ormai due anni che gli armeni System Of A Down sono in "pausa indefinita", e l'ex vocalist Serj Tankian ha partorito "Elect the Dead", tutto sommato un bel lavoro, il quale palesava il suo approccio mistico e riflessivo alla musica. Immaginate lo stile degli ultimi due album (o del doppio album, che dir si voglia) dei SOAD, "Mezmerize" e "Hypnotize", parzialmente spogliato dall'approccio del loro cantante, e avrete trovato quasi tutte le differenze tra loro e gli Scars On Broadway, nuova band di Daron Malakian (chitarra e voce), in cui milita anche l'amico John Dolmayan, già alla batteria nei System.
Peccato per la presentazione "visiva" dell'album, la copertina fa proprio un po' schifo... By the way.....
Fin dall'energica opening "Serious", si nota la tendenza a mescolare nu-metal, rock '70-'80 e tribalità, altalenando momenti più heavy (e variazioni delle stesse) a espressivi e malinconici inserti melodici. Su gran parte dell'album, infatti, Daron tira fuori il lato più "sdolcinato" della sua voce e gioca con vocalizzi simili a quelli dell'ex-compagno Serj, tessendo interessantissime linee vocali. Ne sono esempi tangibili la tribaleggiante "Funny", "3005" o "Babylon", la cui introduzione vi ricorderà "Soadiani" episodi come "Holy Mountain" o "Soldier Side", "Outro", salvo poi trasformarsi in un pezzo più sostenuto, con un inserto "folkloristico" e ballabile. Questa traccia è quella più simile, nello stile, a "Elect The Dead". Peccato che alcuni pezzi si somiglino un po' troppo tra loro o siano spesso ripetitivi: ne è un esempio l'esagerata linearità di "Kill Each Other/Live Forever".
Durante il resto dell'album, invece, la band presenta anche il suo lato più delirante e sguaiato: il duo "Exploding/Reloading", molto rock e dalle tastiere '70s, e "Stoner Hate", ricorda in parte momenti del passato dell'artista ("Cigaro", "Bounce"). Particolare attenzione va data ai testi, assolutamente nonsense nel tipico stile di Malakian (ad esempio, lo "scioglilingua" "Supercalafragalistcexpealadocious is a word to me, just like a Mamma Mia" di "Stoner Hate").
Un piglio più 'dancy' è stato dato a "Chemicals" e "Enemy" in particolare al basso e alla batteria della seconda tra queste, che sostengono ritmicamente il pezzo. Su "Enemy" fa capolino uno degli intro che Daron utilizzava nei primi live dei System, ai tempi denominato "Drugs", che effettivamente non è che stia proprio bene lì dov'è... Serve solo a spezzare un altrimenti ripetitivissimo pezzo.
La malinconica "Whoring Street" merita nozione a parte, in quanto le cupe seconde voci riportano alla mente i duetti con Tankian, capaci di smuovere qualcosa di profondo nelle menti e nei cuori dei fan dei SOAD.
Con questa traccia sembra chiudersi l'album, peccato faccia capolino ancora un pezzo, il punkettoso "They Say", scelta come primo singolo ma senza dubbio la canzone più noiosa e meno ispirata di tutto l'album, che appare quasi una forzatura messa lì dov'è, dopo quella che sarebbe stata una degna conclusione.
Se proprio dobbiamo cercare altri punti di paragone col Tankian, possiamo porre attenzione sui testi, che, ad esclusione degli episodi nonsense dell'opera, tentano un approccio "socialmente impegnato" tanto caro a Serj: nel caso di Daron, però, sono spesso frasi più scontate (e condite di "fuck" e "fucking" che fanno tanto bambino ribelle) e molto meno poetiche di quelle dell'ex-compagno, nonostante calzino perfettamente sulla musica su cui sono cantate. Il batterista è lo stesso, e quindi questo si riflette sulle ritmiche, sostenute, dettagliate, originali e tribali anch'esse, come quelle dei SOAD, appunto.
L'intero album pecca forse di eccessiva ripetitività, nonostante faccia di tutto per variare appena può, con stratagemmi (nemmeno troppo geniali, in definitiva) tipici del genere, come crescendo heavy (vedi doppio pedale e tentativi di screaming su "Cute Machines") o assoli, tema su cui Daron non ha mai spiccato per fantasia. Non convince nemmeno gran parte delle chiusure dei pezzi, che appaiono quasi come troncati all'improvviso...
Ma tutto sommato, l'intero lavoro scorre via piacevolmente, sono pochi i pezzi ad invocare uno "skip" alla traccia successiva e la durata totale è quella giusta: nonostante presenti qualche interessante elemento di evoluzione e distacco dal loro stile (e non sia un capolavoro di quelli "senza tempo"), questo è evidentemente il futuro album mancato dei SOAD.
Elenco tracce testi e video
01 Serious (02:07)
All, its all or nothin with your ego tripping
Everybody's looking for a sunday mission
Ain't nobody searching for a second chance
I'm just looking for a new romancin'
All, its all or nothin with your ego tripping
Everybody's looking for a sunday mission
Ain't nobody searching for a second chance
I'm just looking for a new romance
Because you're too serious
You're gonna make me delirious
Because you're too serious for
Losey, losey, losin and I'm feelin lucid.
Everybody's losing and there's no one choosin.
Ain't nobody searching for a second chance
I'm just looking for a new romance
Because you're too serious
You're gonna make me delirious
Because you're too serious for me
Because you're too serious
You're gonna make me delirious
Because you're too serious
You're gonna make me delirious
Because you're too serious for me
03 Exploding/Reloading (02:15)
I like, I like suicide mixed with Jesus Christ, yeah
I like, I like Jesus Christ mixed with suicide, yeah
I am, I am genocide mixed with Turkish lies, yeah
I like, I like Jesus Christ mixed with suicide, yeah
Exploding...
Reloading...
Exploding...
You live, you live on your knees, spread like a disease yeah
You live, you live on your knees, spread like a disease yeah
I like, I like suicide mixed with Jesus Christ, yeah
I like, I like Jesus Christ mixed with suicide, yeah
Exploding...
Reloading...
Exploding...
Exploding...
Reloading...
Exploding...
Well I like, I like genocide mixed with suicide
mixed with suicide
I like, I like Jesus Christ mixed with suicide
mixed with genocide
04 Stoner-Hate (02:00)
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Is a word to me
Mamma mia!
Losing all my patience
In the hall of fabrications
It's so easy to say
Easy to say
When you sing lalalalala
Stoner hate has got your back
California has been invaded
By a hippy psychopath
When you sing lalalalala
Stoner hate has got your back
California has been invaded
By a hippy psychopath
And I'm rude (rude)
Obnoxious (obnoxious)
With an intent to kill
Rude (rude)
Obnoxious (obnoxious)
With an intent to kill
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Is a word to me
Mamma mia!
Losing all my patience
In the hall of fabrications
It's so easy to say
Easy to say
When you sing lalalalala
Stoner hate has got your back
California has been invaded
By a hippy psychopath
When you sing lalalalala
Stoner hate has got your back
California has been invaded
By a hippy psychopath
And I'm rude (rude)
Obnoxious (obnoxious)
With an intent to kill
Rude (rude)
Obnoxious (obnoxious)
With an intent to kill
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Is a word to me
Mamma mia!
Losing all my patience
In the hall of fabrications
It's so easy to say
Easy to say
When you sing lalalalala
Stoner hate has got your back
California has been invaded
By a hippy psychopath
When you sing lalalalala
Stoner hate has got your back
California has been invaded
By a hippy psychopath
05 Insane (03:07)
So many ways to hide
I see the trouble deep inside
Let's go insane again
Bring back the pain again
Let's go insane again
Bring back the pain again
Run, run baby run
You'll see the things to overcome
Let's go insane again
Bring back the pain again
Let's go insane again
Bring back the pain again
Dream, dream your broken dream
You'll see the things I've never seen
Let's go insane again
Bring back the pain again
Let's go insane again
Bring back the pain again
Let's go insane again
Bring back the pain again
Let's go insane again
Bring back the pain again
06 World Long Gone (03:16)
Sometimes! I said sometimes!
I go crazy! Like I'm crazy!
It takes patience! Lots of patience!
Then it's over, fucking over!
I look at the sky, faded,
I reach, the stars
Maybe I don't know
How many people are starving
In this world long gone
Sometimes! I said sometimes!
I go crazy! Like I'm crazy!
It takes patience! Lots of patience!
Then it's over, fucking over!
I look at the sky, faded,
I reach, the stars
Maybe I don't know
How many people are starving
Maybe I don't know
How many people are starving
In this world long gone
I look at the sky, faded,
I reach, the stars
Maybe I don't know
How many people are starving
Maybe I don't know
How many people are starving
In this world long gone
08 Babylon (03:56)
Running to Babylon
Run all the way to Babylon
Meet you there in Babylon
Meet you there in Babylon
Running to Babylon
Run all the way to Babylon
Meet you there in Babylon
Meet you there in Babylon
Marooned again, you were the one that threw me into life
Marooned again, you were the one that looked through sadder light.
I liked the way we slept on rooftops in the summertime
If we were all marooned again, I'd give my soul to save you
Marooned again, you were the one that put me in defense
Marooned again, you were the one that took my confidence
I liked the way we slept on rooftops in the summertime
If we were all marooned again, I'd give my soul to save your life
Oooooooooohhhhhhhhh.....
Oooooooooohhhhhhhhh.....
Running to Babylon
Run all the way to Babylon
Meet you there in Babylon
Meet you there in Babylon...
Babylon...
09 Chemicals (03:13)
I smack your face
You fell in love
When I said fuck your mom
I looked at you
And said itâ??s all oveerrrr
You turn around
And walk away
And you just grab my arm
I looked at you
And said I canâ??t stay sobeerrrr
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals
Madness!
Feelinâ?? scared!
Lookinâ?? around and nobody there!
When I say fuck the world
As you ready to rock
I piss on your face while you suck on my cock!
Madness!
Nobody cares!
Lookinâ?? around and nobody there!
When I say fuck the world
As you ready to rock
I piss on your face while you suck on my cock!
Oh baby, baby..
Wonâ??t you rape me?
Wonâ??t you fantasize?
About the time when we were loveerrrs?
I try to bone
You try to warn
But no compromise.
I grab your ass under the cover.
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals
Madness!
Feelinâ?? scared!
Lookinâ?? around and nobody there!
When I say fuck the world
As you ready to rock
I piss on your face while you suck on my cock!
Madness!
Nobody cares!
Lookinâ?? around and nobody there!
When I say fuck the world
As you ready to rock
I piss on your face while you suck on my cock!
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals!
Madness!
Feelinâ?? scared!
Lookinâ?? around and nobody there!
When I say fuck the world
As you ready to rock
I piss on your face while you suck on my cock!
Madness!
Nobody cares!
Lookinâ?? around and nobody there!
When I say fuck the world
As you ready to rock
I piss on your face while you suck on my cock!
Come eat some chemicals with MEE!
Come eat some chemicaaals!!
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals
Come eat some chemicals with me
Come eat some chemicals...
10 Enemy (03:03)
I know it's really hard to see,
That we are the enemies,
I know it's really hard to see,
That we are the enemy
Of the Earth,
They'll fuck you,
Then they'll fuck themselves,
They raise the flag that Jesus sells,
They'll fuck you,
Then they'll fuck themselves,
They raise the flag that Jesus sells,
I know it's really hard to see,
That we are the enemy,
I know it's really hard to see,
That we are the enemy
Of the Earth,
We're on drugs,
We're on drugs,
We're all on drugs,
We're on drugs,
We're on drugs,
Baby, we're all on drugs,
Do you like drugs?
I know it's really hard to see,
That we are the enemy,
I know it's really hard to see,
That we are the enemy
Of the Earth,
We are the enemy of the Earth,
We are the enemy of the earth!
12 3005 (02:54)
Let's clap our hands,
for the president
and Jesus Christ
and did I mention Charlie Manson and everybody else, who was nice.
Let's sing a song,
for the people scared..
searching in the air
If you search real hard you'll see that I'll be there.
Shooting up your world,
watching all the ressurection junkies losing ground
Yeah I'll be there,
shooting up your world
watching all the ressurection junkies losing ground
Let's do high five,
for a genocide,
and the internet
and all the communications skills that are lost, when we are dead.
You'll never survive 3005,
while you'll be sinking in the ocean
I'll be in my space ship still alive!
Shooting up your world,
watching all the ressurection junkies losing ground
Yeah I'll be there,
shooting up your world
watching all the ressurection junkies losing ground
Shooting up your world,
watching all the ressurection junkies losing ground
Yeah I'll be there,
shooting up your world
watching all the ressurection junkies losing ground
Let's clap our hands,
for the president
and Mickey Mouse
and every other motherfucker that's burning up in this house!
13 Cute Machines (03:03)
Cute machines,
That I love,
Cute machines,
I can't get enough,
Cute machines,
That I love,
Cute machines,
I can't get enough,
And go, go, go, go, go, go, go,
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go.
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go,
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go.
Cute machines,
That I love,
Cute machines,
I can't get enough,
Cute machines,
That I love,
Cute machines,
I can't get enough,
And go, go, go, go, go, go, go,
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go.
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go,
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go.
Cute machines,
That I love,
Cute machines,
I can't get enough,
Cute machines,
That I love!
Cute machines,
I can't get enough,
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
14 Whoring Streets (03:01)
Is there anybody here, who hears me crying. I'm dying.
Is there anybody here, when it's over, over, I'm just passing the time.
Wondering how you people will ever survive.
Whoring down your whoring streets, killing you while you're killing me.
It's time, to show all you people you will never survive
Whoring down your whoring streets, killing you while you're killing me.
Is there anybody here, who hears me crying, I'm dying.
Is there anybody here, when it's over, over, I'm just passing the time.
Wondering how you people will ever survive.
Whoring down you're whoring streets, killing you while you're killing me
It's time, to show all you people you will never survive.
Whoring down you're whoring streets, killing you while you're killing me.
Killing you while you're killing me.
Whoring down your whoring streets, killing you while you're killing me
Is there anybody here, who hears me crying, I'm fucking dying.
15 They Say (02:47)
I walk the line, the line I choose
I see the people in front of me
I climb the wall, the wall of news
I watch them show the tragedy
If you were me, could you defend
The given rights to all of men?
Let's fuck the world with all its trend
They say it's all about to end
They say it's all about to end
They say, they say
There's a prison that's gone, but the fear lives on
I watch you walking on the dotted line
Maybe you don't see what's in front of me
Maybe you won't stand the test of time
For we live in sin, for we will win
I watch the president kiss his family
For we live in sin, for we will win
I watch the president fuck society
If you were me, could you defend
The given rights to all of men?
Let's fuck the world with all its trend
They say it's all about to end
They say it's all about to end
They say, they say
I fall in love with the old times
I've never mentioned my own mind
Let's fuck the world with all its trend
Thank god it's all about to end
They say it's all about to end
They say, they say
They say, they say
They say it's all about to end
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