SOAD’s Serj Tankian Releasing Solo Record ‘Harakiri’ In 2012

System of A Down frontman and all round adjective magnet Serj Tankian has nearly completed his new solo record Harakiri.

According to NJ Underground Tankian wrote, recorded and self-produced Harakiri with the help of his touring band the F.C.C and plans to release the album via his own labels, Serjical Strike Records and Reprise Records.

Harakiri was primarily written during 2011, a busy year for Tankian, which saw the multi-talented artist compose the score for Diane Paulus’ musical recreation of Prometheus Bound, the first Greek play ever enacted. Tankian also released his second book of poetry Glaring Through Oblivion, released Imperfect Remixes (a remix of his 2010 solo record Imperfect Harmonies) and toured around the world with System Of A Down.

Noise 11 reported that Tankian understandably proclaimed 2011 to be “the busiest, most productive year of my life so far.”

In regards to the inspiration behind Harakiri, Consequence of Sound posted that Tankian was moved by environmental catastrophes…

“The year 2011 started with a fire. Some kids in Piha, NZ were setting off fireworks that landed on my neighbor’s property and lit the whole hill on fire. I knew it was going to be a hell of a year and it certainly was. Within 5 days of that, reports came out about birds and fish dying in massive numbers globally. The omen was not lost on me. Varied creatures on earth were committing massive hara-kiri (the Japanese term signifying ritualistic suicide.) Do they know something we don’t about the coming times or the sustainability of the environment? That is the day I started writing this record.”

Tankian has also been quoted as describing the sound of Harakiri as, “Much more driving and punk oriented with influences ranging from goth to electronic to 80′s vibes, dynamically heavy rock to epic melodic songs. Lyrically, it spans the gauntlet of themes from personal, political and philosophical to spiritual, humor and love.”

It is unknown at this juncture the precise release date, tracklisting or cover art of Harakiri, though one could surmise that Tankian will again use tree-free paper for the hardcopy, a process that actually delayed the release of his previous solo record – 2010’s Imperfect Harmonies.

Must Read