During an appearance on Action Figures, System of a Down drummer John Dolmayan talked about the band's current state, saying that the 15-year creative hiatus was a huge mistake in his eyes.

SOAD has two new tracks out titled \"Protect the Land\" and \"Genocidal Humanoidz.\" According to the press release, the band was \"motivated by the recently-erupted conflict between Artsakh and Azerbaijan, the latter aided by Turkey and accountable for the greatest violence the region has endured in 26 years.\"

The press release adds that \"last month, profoundly affected by the unwarranted surprise attacks and bombings of civilians perpetrated by Azerbaijan and Turkey (Turkey was responsible for the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 as well as over 100 years of denial), [drummer John] Dolmayan texted his three bandmates.\"

You can check out the first two new SOAD tracks in 15 years here via Amazon.

Discussing the fact that the group hasn't recorded anything until the two fresh songs since 2005's \"Hypnotize,\" Dolmayan said:

\"I never wanted System to take a hiatus. I think it was a disastrous move for us because we never reached our peak.

\"I still feel like we have a lot of music in us, and as big as the band is - we're a massive draw internationally and here in the U.S. - I think we could have been the biggest band in the world.

\"Why not achieve that if you have the potential?

\"So I feel like - yes, System is a great band, we have a great live show and I'm very proud of what we have achieved, but we got to here [points to a spot]. and we could have gotten to here [points to another spot further away].

\"It doesn't mean we still can't, but it's unlikely because if you can't put your ego aside... You've gotta take that cloak off, your ego, and put it here, and get in a room and work together, and do what's best for the band.

\"And if everybody isn't thinking of what's best for the band, the band has no choice. The definition of a band is the selflessness - that's what a society is, isn't it? We're all thinking - together we make something great. Alone, we might not even survive.

\"So for me, there's a lot of sadness associated with it, because [guitarist Daron Malakian's solo project] Scars on Broadway is fine, Serj's [Tankian, vocals] solo projects are fine, but they're nothing compared to System.

\"When we stopped - one more album, you're talking about a different conversation.

\"At the end of the day, we achieved quite a bit. So our epitaphs are already written. My kids' kids will be able to say, 'That was my grandfather. He was in this band. And look what they did.' And they'll be able to listen to that for as long as humanity exists, I guess.

\"Anytime you don't reach your potential, it's a sadness - and by the way, our potential could have been to sell 10 albums. But if that was it, and we reached it, you can walk away saying, 'I did everything I could.'

\"That way, you can spend the rest of your life happy. The worst thing is to be 50 years old, sitting in a room, doing something you're miserable doing, and knowing it's because of you - because you didn't have the balls to pursue it, you didn't have the balls to put everything into it.\"

Read more: SOAD Guitarist Addresses 'Hate' Relationship With Bandmates, Recalls Conditions in Which He Wrote Huge Hit 'Chop Suey'

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