"These fans are singing every song word for word, and the album isn't even out yet," Malakian says. "They're going off of the little things they're seeing on YouTube and stuff like that. It's a great reaction."

The positive response should come as no surprise. Scars on Broadway, led by Malakian and System drummer John Dolmayan, has already laid the groundwork in recent months with a handful of high-profile shows, including the Coachella festival in southern California and a benefit concert with Metallica at a Hollywood theater.

Scars, whose lineup is rounded out by guitarist Franky Perez, keyboardist Danny Shamoun, and bass player Dominic Cifarelli, will return to Europe later this summer, and is up for a possible support slot on Metallica's fall tour.

The concept for Scars on Broadway was born after System of a Down's chart-topping 2005 releases "Mezmerize" and "Hypnotize," says Malakian, the bands' chief songwriter. Before the four-piece announced its hiatus in 2006 to focus on solo projects, its five albums had sold about 10 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. With his new band, Malakian has been given the freedom to write songs without considering his other bandmates.

"When I'd write a System song, I'd have (lead singer Serj Tankian) in mind," Malakian says. "He's very interested in politics and political issues, so I'd try to bring in material that was kind of like that. In this case, I didn't really have him in mind . . . so the subjects that came out are mainly my interests."

He adds that songs on Scars on Broadway's new album have "evolved from the System sound. I think you can tell (the new songs have) been written by the same person," says Malakian, who self-produced and helped finance the new album. "But at the same time I didn't try to repeat anything I did in System."

The musician says that System fans will likely gravitate toward the schizophrenic guitar thumper "Stoner Hate," where Malakian screams, "California's been invaded by a hippie psychopath." But he adds that new songs like "World Long Gone" and "Kill Each Other/Live Forever" draw influence less from metal and more from early punk bands, along with heroes like David Bowie and the Beatles.

Additionally, in contrast to System's wacky time signatures and topic-driven lyrics, Scars on Broadway has a more straightforward rock-driven sound. "I feel more comfortable being more laid-back in the style of simple rhythms and letting the vocal carry the song, as opposed to mathematics," Malakian says.

While having two members of SOAD certainly helps raise the new band's profile, "we're building a brand with Scars on Broadway," according to Interscope head of marketing Robbie Snow.

But leading up to the album's release, Malakian is still nervous. "I have 100% confidence in the songs but people tend to get fixated on name brands," he says. "And because the System name brand isn't on these songs, I hope they aren't viewed any less, because I haven't given any less of myself to these songs."

 

Reuters/Billboard

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