Elasticity is the third EP by American metal singer Serj Tankian, released on 19 March 2021 by Alchemy Recordings and BMG.

Elasticity
EP by
ReleasedMarch 19, 2021 (2021-03-19)
GenreNu metal,[1] alternative metal
Length20:49
Label
  • Alchemy
  • BMG
ProducerSerj Tankian
Serj Tankian chronology
Orca Symphony No. 1
(2013)
Elasticity
(2021)
Perplex Cities
(2022)

Background

edit

The EP is made up of five songs Tankian had originally written several years earlier,[2] for a possible System of a Down reunion album that did not come to pass because the other members of the band did not see "eye-to-eye" on their suitability.[3][4] Tankian decided to record the tracks himself with engineers Vlado Meller and Dan Monti and release them under his own name,[5][6] expecting this action to allow the band to move forward.[7] It is Tankian's first album of original rock and heavy metal-based songs since Harakiri in 2012.[2]

The album was expected to be released in fall 2020, but was delayed due to renewed strife between Armenia and Azerbaijan;[8] Tankian instead spent that period engaged in international awareness efforts.[6] The album features some lyrics referencing the 2021 documentary film Truth to Power, which chronicles Tankian's efforts to gain international recognition for the Armenian Genocide.[9] The title track "Elasticity" was released as an advance single and features a music video directed by Vlad Kaptur.[10] The song "Rumi" is about Tankian's son and the Persian poet of the same name.[5][11]

Reception

edit

Kerrang! noted that the EP is "a fascinating insight into what a new album [by System of a Down] might have sounded like, through the lens of its most musically adventurous member",[4] while Metal Hammer also noted the creative deviations from that band's expected sounds.[12] In the words of Paste Magazine, the EP should mostly satisfy fans of System of a Down, but adds enough new elements to make it Tankian's own work.[13] Blabbermouth called the EP "tremendously eclectic" while praising Tankian as "an incredibly talented and brilliant creative force".[14] Loudwire called the album's title track "delightfully weird" with possible influences from surf rock and new wave.[15]

Track listing

edit

All tracks are written by Serj Tankian

No.TitleLength
1."Elasticity"4:01
2."Your Mom"3:19
3."How Many Times?"4:16
4."Rumi"5:28
5."Electric Yerevan"3:46
Total length:20:52

References

edit
  1. ^ "Serj Tankian Revels in Elasticity | Shutter 16 Magazine".
  2. ^ a b Graff, Gary (2021-03-17). "System of a Down's Serj Tankian has a new EP, 5 Things to Know". The Oakland Press. Archived from the original on 2021-03-17. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  3. ^ "Serj Tankian releases new solo EP Elasticity: Stream". Consequence. 2021-03-19. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  4. ^ a b "EP review: Serj Tankian – Elasticity". Kerrang!. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  5. ^ a b Kreps, Daniel (2021-02-05). "Serj Tankian Announces 'Elasticity' EP, Debuts Video for Title Track". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2021-02-05. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  6. ^ a b Schager, Nick (2021-02-18). "How System of a Down's Serj Tankian Helped Spark a Revolution". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  7. ^ "Serj Tankian releases music video for 'Elasticity', title track of new EP". NME. 2021-02-05. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  8. ^ Blabbermouth (2021-02-04). "SERJ TANKIAN's 'Elasticity' EP Gets Release Date; Artwork Unveiled". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  9. ^ "Serj Tankian on his film Truth to Power, the chaos around Toxicity, and the time he feared for his life". Consequence. 2021-02-19. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  10. ^ "Hear Serj Tankian's New Song "Elasticity" Originally Intended for System of a Down". Revolver. 2021-02-05. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  11. ^ "Serj Tankian on Activism, 'Elasticity', His Dream Supergroup and System of a Down". Spin. 2021-03-04. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  12. ^ February 2021, Metal Hammer08 (8 February 2021). "Serj Tankian's nutso new song Elasticity will fill the System Of A Down-shaped hole in your life". Metal Hammer Magazine. Retrieved 2021-06-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "Serj Tankian's Elasticity EP (Mostly) Scratches the SOAD Itch". pastemagazine.com. 2021-03-18. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  14. ^ Blabbermouth (2021-03-15). "Elasticity - SERJ TANKIAN". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  15. ^ DiVita, Joe (2021-02-05). "Serj Tankian's New Song Intended for SOAD Is So Delightfully Weird". Loudwire. Archived from the original on 2021-02-05. Retrieved 2021-06-07.