SYSTEM OF A DOWN Guitarist Says New Album Represents A Musical 'Growth'

SYSTEM OF A DOWN guitarist Daron Malakian and bassist Shavo Odadjian recently spoke to MTV.com about the group's upcoming ambitious double album, "Mezmerize/Hypnotize".

"You will hear a difference, you will hear a growth, but you will always hear us," Malakian said. "All my favorite bands tend to have those kinds of careers. They kind of re-create themselves, but they re-create themselves, they don't re-create into somebody else."

SYSTEM OF A DOWN's first new music since 2002's "Steal This Album!", which was mostly leftovers from 2001's "Toxicity", will blend familiar elements (skittery riffs, Middle Eastern-influenced rhythms, harmonized vocals) with new, mostly sonic, touches.

"I personally came in very focused with how I wanted everything to sound on this record opposed to our other records," said Malakian, who wrote the music and most of the lyrics and also sings more than ever on the albums. "I think our guitars were a little muddy on our other records. On this record I think it's a lot more crisp. We've got the best drum tone that we've ever had on any of our records. And the performances, each individual musician, everybody is performing much better than we used to. We've all stepped up and grown up with what we do, so that's definitely reflected in the songs."

One of those songs, "Cigaro", was recently leaked online and became an instant hit on KROQ-FM in Los Angeles as well as other stations. Another song, "B.Y.O.B.", will actually be the first single. SYSTEM will shoot the video later this month before the track hits the airwaves in March.

"I don't know if I'll direct it by myself, but I would love to have some kind of influence on it," Odadjian, who co-directed the "Toxicity" and "Aerials" videos, said. "I would love to collaborate with someone else. I love doing that." Read more.