SYSTEM OF A DOWN's JOHN DOLMAYAN: 'It's Been Way Too Long Since We've Made An Album'

SYSTEM OF A DOWN drummer John Dolmayan says that he is "not really happy with where the band is right now" with respect to the group's creative process and admits that he and his bandmates still have "a lot of issues, things we just have to work out" before they can begin making a new studio album.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN last released new music in 2005 on the "Mezmerize" and "Hypnotize" albums, going on hiatus the following year.

The band reunited in 2011 for touring purposes and spent last summer on a European festival circuit, while performing only one North American show in 2013 at California's famed Hollywood Bowl.

Speaking to Loudwire, Dolmayan spoke candidly about his frustration over the fact that SYSTEM OF A DOWN has not yet begun making new music again. He said: "I feel like this band still has a lot of issues, things we just have to work out.

"I'm not really happy with where the band is right now. I think that it's been way too long since we've made an album and I've kind of had enough of the mentality of 'that's okay.' It's not okay."

He continued: "For me, there's no ego involved. I don't write songs, so I'm not worried about who's going to write the song. I'm just ready. You just give me the canvas so I can paint on it, that's how I look at it. So it's easier for me, but look, there's a lot of emotions involved with being an artist; there's a lot of emotions involved to being a songwriter; and there's a lot of fear involved with anything that you haven't done in a long time. To go in together and work together? We're different people. 2005 was the last time we were in the studio together. That's what, nine years ago?... We're turning into the fucking EAGLES now. 15 years are gonna go by before we make a new album. [Laughs] For me, it's irritating. But I do the best I can to understand that there's a lot to be worked through in order to make something great and if it isn't fantastic, there's no reason for us to do it."

Dolmayan also elaborated on his current relationship with his bandmates, saying: "There are still some mentalities that are irritating that we can't seem to get past or haven't been able to get past at this point. Hopefully with more communication, which we've been doing more and more, we'll be able to break down those barriers and get back to what we're supposed to be doing, which is making music… It always seems like it's on the cusp of happening, but there's also some personal reasons we haven't started yet. We could have started already, but we chose not to for personal reasons that I'm not at liberty to discuss right now. It's positive stuff, that's all I can say at the moment. We could have very easily have been in the studio as you and I are speaking right now, but for something very positive, we couldn't. Let's just leave it at that. Let people surmise what that means."

SYSTEM OF A DOWN singer Serj Tankian in 2012 had a message for the band's fans waiting for a new album: don't hold your breath. In an interview with Loudwire, Tankian explained, "We haven't made plans of recording the new record as of yet. When we do, everyone will know. We haven't really discussed another record as of now with any of the guys, really. It's something that, when it's the right time, we'll do it. Right now I'm busy with my own stuff and that's gonna take me a bit, but when it's the right time, everyone will know. I don't even want to say there's [a new SYSTEM album] coming because we haven't really talked about it."

Tankian told Loudwire that SYSTEM's recent tours have been a "blast," adding, "I think we've played better because of it. There was new excitement in playing together and all of the shows have been really great. Everyone's told us that we sound better than we did in 2006 when we left off, so I think it's great."