The formation of the band System Of A Down in 1993 marked a point in Serj Tankian's life that would surge the Lebanese born Armenian-American into a decade and a half of incomparable successes as a musician, poet, activist, songwriter and musical producer. Tankian is much in demand particularly in the US where apart from releasing five albums of his own, his inherent musical genius has seen him working in a variety of forms with names like Limp Bizkit, Metallica, Deftones, Foo Fighters and Wyclef Jean. Like some sort of bionic musical super-hero the musicianship of Dave Grohl and Kurt Cobain with Bono the activist and the wordsmith qualities of Pete Doherty shine through. A fine blend indeed!
'Elect The Dead', previously to be called Flying Cunts Of Chaos, is Tankian's very first solo album. Renowned for his strong political opinions, tracks within the album allow the out spoken activist with the man's overwhelmingly democratic shiny exterior, to shine through. So narked at the USA's policies in Iraq, Tankian is currently seeking residency in New Zealand, about as far away as you can get from the Middle East.
Originally he began to ooze tracks with all the traditional classical and operatic qualities he wanted to reflect upon his public but soon found the end result to be quite, quite different. Bristling from beginning to end with charged, electrifying vibrancy, injections of beautifully orchestrated piano, acoustic and string arrangements dramatise an already smouldering taper. Opening track 'Empty Walls' set the albums tone from the outset, with close, stark reference to coffins, burning bodies and death it's a prominent reminder aimed at those in power of the grave situation of war.
The 'Unthinking Majority' deals with a veritable smorgasbord of issues from personal painful experiences to Iraq again and the world thirst for black gold. On the back of such a depressing subject matter, the chorus: 'Anti depressants, controlling tools of your system, making life more tolerable, making life more tolerable' certainly lightens the mood bleated across the tracks upbeat, rhythmatic nature. On the back of a series of mesmerising and powerfully emotive tracks, 'Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition' sends the corners of your mouth skyward as a rapping Tankian, possessed by the spirit of Shakira rants on again about, you've guest it....war and god. A melancholic rainbow of politically charged tracks.....maybe send Mr Bush a copy.
