System Of A Down’s John Dolmayan Reckons He’s Found The “Secret Sauce” To Get A New Album Made

If you can believe it, it’s been nearly two decades since System Of A Down dropped a proper album and honestly, it’s looked grim for fans holding out for more.

But in typical John Dolmayan fashion, the drummer’s gone and thrown a spanner in the works with a surprisingly reasonable idea that could finally crack the code. I mean, whether it will actually happen though is another story entirely.

Chatting on the But That 1% podcast, Dolmayan said he told guitarist Daron Malakian that if he really wanted to see another SOAD album get made, he should consider doing the unthinkable and bring his songs in last. Historically, Daron has been the main architect in the studio, walking in with the most complete songs. But Dolmayan thinks it’s time for a shake-up. He reckons letting Serj Tankian and Shavo Odadjian go first would be the olive branch this fractured unit needs.

According to Dolmayan, it’s not about ego or hierarchy. It’s about giving each member space to contribute without being boxed in or made to feel like an afterthought. And while the idea sounds almost utopian, he’s clear that it’s the only way forward. He needs a process with no rules, six months blocked off, writing at one of their houses, no deadlines, no egos, just raw creativity.

Of course, it’s not the first time someone in SOAD has made hopeful noises. Shavo’s talked up a hundred riffs sitting on ice, Serj’s teased the idea of a “fresh start”, and Daron’s mulled over the lost potential of the band’s post-Hypnotize evolution. But with every glimmer of hope comes another slap of reality. Even Dolmayan admits the band dynamic gets messy fast and that making an album could wreck the good vibes they’ve only just rebuilt on tour.

So yeah, the “secret sauce” is on the table. But I mean whether anyone’s hungry enough to use it is a whole other question.