Serj Tankian (System Of A Down) Launches His New Gibson Signature Guitar and Tour Experience


Iconic instrument brand, Gibson, has partnered with System Of A Down frontman, Serj Tankian, to release the limited Serj Tankian “Foundations” Les Paul Modern guitar and tour experience package. It was inspired by Tankian’s new EP,  Foundations EP, which came out last Fall on Gibson Records. This continues the Gibson Custom collaborations with legendary Gibson artists. Keep reading below for more information.
Continue reading


Serj Tankian Partners with Gibson for Signature Guitar – Launch Event Incoming


System Of A Down frontman, Serj Tankian, is getting ready to launch his new Gibson signature guitar, the “Foundations” Les Paul Modern. On Thursday, April 17, the iconic instrument brand will host a special event with Tankian in Los Angeles to present the guitar. It takes place at the singer’s Kavat Café/Eye For Sound coffee shop/art gallery, 1638 Colorado Blvd, LA, CA 90041) from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Find out more below.
Continue reading


Serj Tankian (System Of A Down) Releases New Single and Video “Life’s Revengeful Son” – New EP Out Now


Singer, poet, songwriter, visual artist, film producer, activist and author Serj Tankian, lead singer and lyricist for the GRAMMY© Award-winning rock band System Of A Down has debuted the new video for the song ”Life’s Revengeful Son.” The song is the fourth single and video off 5-Song EP of new music titled Foundations, which is available worldwide via Gibson Records. “Life’s Revengeful Son” incorporates a variety of instrumentation, including acoustic and electric guitars and dramatic orchestration, into an epic closer with unmatched imagery: “The final revolution will occur when the arms of the clock fall,” Tankian sings. “Jesus seen in the streets, dragging a car axel instead of the cross.” Watch/share the new video for “Life’s Revengeful Son!”Continue reading


Serj Tankian of System Of A Down to Release His New EP “Foundations” This Fall


Singer, poet, songwriter, visual artist, film producer, activist and author Serj Tankian, lead singer and lyricist for the GRAMMY© Award-winning rock band System Of A Down is gearing up for the release of Foundations, his EP of new music, out worldwide September 27 on Gibson Records, pre-order at the link below. Foundations mines music and lyrics from previous decades and reframes them in a hard-hitting, intensely focused collection. Like all of Tankian’s work, the five songs that comprise Foundations encompass a wide range of sounds and styles. It is music that traverses multiple eras and vast swaths of emotions. It is also very much a rock album – “music of rebellion,” as Tankian puts it.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Therion – Leviathan III


Symphonic Metal master Christofer Johnsson assembles and commands the latest Therion line-up for Leviathan III (Napalm Records), another epic, bombastic concept album that will have fans of this kind of thing rocking in the aisles, or whatever it is opera fans tend to do in similar circumstances (frocking in the aisles?!). 

 Non-aficionados will admire the abundant technical excellence but might find themselves worn down by the too sweet, lightweight method and approach, the continuous faux-classical bombardment and the sometimes awkward melding of scatter-gun references and influences (not least in the lyrics).

 The strategic mix of the metal and the classic, throughout history, can often be problematic, even jarring. But the long-running Therion, following up directly here on Leviathan I and II (2021 and 2022, respectively), succeed in a more-or-less comfortable marriage of the bright fairytale lights and the darker doom, the beauty and the beast. 

Much of the musical glue that holds it all together comes from Johnsson’s keyboards, but it’s the guitars (Christian Vidal) and the main man’s ambition in composition that really shine through.

Vocals range from Viking-style war chants to soaring female operatics (Lori Lewis), with geetar sounds veering from acoustic filigrees (“Ruler Of Tamag”) to electric chugalongs, melodic lead breaks and energetic riff riots (see “An Unsung Lament” and “Ayahuasca”, for example). 

 There’s also pop among the pomp, singalong and chantalong bits with strong hooks as Swede Johnsson sprinkles in echoes of the spectacularly successful, smooth and satisfying Abba-metal of countrymen Ghost as well as more straight-ahead power metal and melodic prog. 

But despite moments of genuine doom and some death growling, Leviathan III can, at times, be too mild and mellow, saccharine and schmaltzy, tunes fit for backing Disney animation rather than proper Wagnerian guts, glory and apocalyptic passion (the images in my head of Elmer Fudd squalling “Kill the wabbit!” in Chuck Jones’ Warner cartoon classic What’s Opera Doc? are surely not what Johnsson had in mind).

 The accompanying lyrics are something of a classical, mythological and religious ragbag, referring to generic chaos, the abyss, Babylon, “children of both wrath and all revenge of the deep”, not to mention brother killing brother, Latin warblings, Bacchus, Freja, Thor and Odin, spiritual revelations and a “nightingale in the shadow of your mind”. Profound or what? 

 The vocals (Thomas Vikström is the lead male singer) that open “Maleficium” recall System Of A Down – echoes of the superior voice of Serj Tankian are cast up several times throughout the album – before mellowing out like most of the rest of the material. “Maleficium”, though, is still one of the album’s signature highlights, along with the aforementioned “Ayahuasca” (the longest track at almost eight minutes). 

 “What Was Lost Shall Be Lost No More” achieves a certain intensity that several of the other songs lack, while “Duende” opens acoustically and atmospherically, the flamenco-style intro a welcome diversion. Then the operatic, neo-classical assault takes over once again.

 Climactic Norse-fest “Twilight Of The Gods” opens with a Tony Iommi-esque droning riff, promising much, but then delivers more of the same formula and a martial, marching beat leads the way to the drum-driven finale (Sami Karppinen on the skins). 

Performed live, with full orchestra and choir, Leviathan III might be a different and more impressive beast, but that remains to be seen, and heard.

 The old Symphonic Metal lark obviously takes some courage, such are the potential pitfalls, not to mention logistical demands, and Johnsson is to be congratulated again for significantly adding to Therion’s already 35-year legacy. If his reach exceeds his grasp, on this evidence, it’s certainly not for want of trying.

Buy the album here:

https://www.napalmrecordsamerica.com/therion

7 / 10
CALLUM REID


EP REVIEW: Serj Tankian – Perplex Cities


 

Respect where it is due. Heavy metal titan, political activist hero and System Of A Down frontman Serj Tankian has yet to offer up a project or product unworthy of the intense and continued attention of those who love music, love the world around them and care deeply about the overt inadequacies of those entrusted with its protection and future. 

Continue reading


The Top Ten Stories at Ghost Cult This Week 9-23-22


In a new feature here, we recap the biggest stories of the week here at Ghost Cult! We went to 12, because fuck it, it’s our list! This week we have new reviews from Slipknot (one week early) the comeback from Razor, news about Guns N Roses, Serj Tankian of SOAD, Disturbed, vinyl from QOTSA, a major fest gets canned, our interview with Long Distance Calling, a review of Heilung, and the new video from Casket Robbery!

Continue reading


Serj Tankian Shares a New Single and AR Video for “Pop Imperialism” – New EP Coming Soon


System of a Down’s artist and activist Serj Tankian, will release a new five song EP titled Perplex Cities on Oct. 21 via his own Serjical Strike label. Perplex Cities is his second EP in the last couple of years, following his 2021 release of the hard-hitting Elasticity EP. Before reaching the music streaming platforms next month, each track off the EP will be made available via a free augmented reality experience featuring Tankian presenting the five tracks himself in an intimate fashion. Via the app he will be appearing in the same space as the listener-viewer to explain the music and listen along. The first such immersive experience is available now, with the release of “Pop Imperialism” via the Arloopa app. Check it out here.

Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Ibaraki – Rashomon


Ibaraki is the new solo project from Trivium’s Matt Heafy, and Rashomon is released through Nuclear Blast, having been over a decade in the making. The name translates as “Wild Trees”, but is also taken from a terrifying Japanese demon of feudal legend, and the concept is a profound affirmation of Heafy’s Japanese-American heritage, incorporating a number of different musical styles. Although the main inspiration clearly sits within the black etal genre, taking influence from the experience of Emperor’s Ihsahn, who co-produced, and whose quirkier ideas from his solo work are peppered throughout the release. Continue reading