Fresh off a successful stadium tour of South America with System Of A Down, guitarist and songwriter Daron Malakian has announced Addicted to the Violence, the third studio album from his celebrated project Daron Malakian and Scars On Broadway. The album, the first from the band since 2018’s Dictator, is set for release on July 18.
The announcement arrives today (June 6) with the premiere of the album’s provocative first single and music video, “Killing Spree,” which you can watch down below.
In a statement, Malakian explained that the song directly confronts the modern phenomenon of school sh**tings and what he perceives as a desensitized and detached younger generation.
“It’s a taboo topic people might be afraid to talk about,” Malakian says of the track. “I’m not glamorizing or advocating it. I’m just saying, ‘The kids are on a f**king killing spree.’ It’s what I see in front of me.” He broadened the theme beyond sh**tings, adding, “You’ll see a lady who’s getting beaten up on the subway and people around her aren’t even helping; they’re f**king recording on their iPhones… We now have a generation that is so detached and desensitized. They’re totally unemotional and unempathetic. There’s no respect for life.”
For Addicted to the Violence, Malakian once again served as the primary creative force, composing, producing, and performing the material with contributions from longtime bandmates Orbel Babayan (guitar) and Roman Lomtadze (drums).
“I’m always writing songs, because it’s the only way I know how to live. It’s my purpose,” Malakian says of his creative process. “When I write, I try to stay honest. I don’t put myself in a box, which is why you have both heavy and mid-tempo material. It takes you through different feelings, and that’s what I’ve always done. If I was a painter, I wouldn’t tell myself, ‘I can’t use these colors.’ So, all the colors are available to me.”
While best known for his iconic work with System Of A Down, Malakian expressed his deep connection to his other musical outlet. “I’m just as proud of Scars as I am of SOAD,” he stated. “This is another musical outlet for me. I think it’s some of the best stuff I have to offer. I’m blessed that I can still do this and write songs every day.”
The cover art for Addicted to the Violence was created by Vartan Malakian, Daron‘s father.
Addicted to the Violence Track Listing:
- “Killing Spree”
- “Satan Hussein”
- “Done Me Wrong”
- “The Shame Game”
- “Destroy The Power”
- “Your Lives Burn”
- “Imposter”
- “You Destroy You”
- “Watch That Girl”
- “Addicted To The Violence”
