Categories : Hard Rock + Metal, Music Reviews.
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Rating: 3/5 Released: October 23, 2007 Reviewer: Suzanne Goldman |
When Serj Tankian of rock-metal band System of a Down announced he would release a solo album, people were skeptical of the direction he would choose – would he take his metal-infused political musings to the next level, upping the ante with louder instruments and grinding vocals, or would he tone it down and unveil a lighter side to fans?
Elect the Dead turned out to be a very listenable collection of smooth melodies and clear focus that largely retained System of a Down’s now classic sound – though there is evidence of Tankian moving in a more mature direction, complimented by a softer edge.
Fans of Tankian’s band will still find the distinct, trademark changes from ultra-heavy rage and passion to moments that are delicate and mournful, infused with political rantings on oil, war and “the unthinking majority.†But for those who find System’s speed overwhelming, this disc offers a more manageable pace.
Tankian even dishes up a little self-righteousness by declaring himself a “warrior for truth†in a dramatic statement found in the liner notes – but this is exactly the sort of thing we have come to expect from the opinionated frontman.
The only downfall is that Tankian’s voice becomes grating after a few tracks and the songs begin to feel tiresome, stretched out unnecessarily amid a flood of repetitive and often unsophisticated lyrics. This type of music has a solid home in rock clubs, radio and mix collections – but 12 tracks of Tankian’s wails and speeding rants are likely to wear out your interest.
