While System Of A Down‘s landmark 2001 sophomore album, Toxicity, stands as one of the most influential metal records of its era, a misconception about its closing hidden track has persisted for 25 years.
The unlisted final track is widely recognized by fans and official streaming platforms as “Arto“. The title stems from the guest appearance of avant-garde Armenian-American musician Arto Tunçboyaciyan, who later collaborated directly with System Of A Down vocalist Serj Tankian to form the musical project Serart.
However, in observance of Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day on April 24, guitarist and vocalist Daron Malakian took to social media to set the record straight regarding the composition’s true origins and its deep cultural significance.
To clear up the ongoing confusion and highlight the historical weight of the piece, Malakian issued the following statement:
“There is a hidden track at the end of the Toxicity album that fans call ‘Arto.’ However, the composition is actually a spiritual Armenian hymn called ‘Der Voghormia‘ (‘Lord Have Mercy‘).”
“The piece is often used to commemorate the Armenian Genocide, like in this video depicting priests performing Der Voghormia at the Genocide Memorial in Armenia, over a century later.”
“When we, as System Of A Down, perform the song live, we do it to remember the 1.5 million souls who lost their lives in 1915.”
System Of A Down will return to the stage tonight, April 25, to headline the Sick New World festival in Las Vegas, Nevada. The group has also scheduled a highly anticipated run of international stadium dates for later this year.
System Of A Down 2026 Tour Dates:
Sick New World Festival:
- 25 Apr – Las Vegas, NV – Las Vegas Festival Grounds
With IDLES:
- 27 May – Mexico City, MEX – Estadio GNP Seguros
- 28 May – Mexico City, MEX – Estadio GNP Seguros
With Queens Of The Stone Age and Acid Bath:
- 29 Jun – Stockholm, SWE – Strawberry Arena
- 02 Jul – Paris, FRA – Stade de France
- 04 Jul – Paris, FRA – Stade de France
- 06 Jul – Milan, ITA – Ippodromo Snai la Maura
- 08 Jul – Berlin, GER – Olympiastadion
- 10 Jul – Dusseldorf, GER – Open Air Park Dusseldorf
- 13 Jul – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- 15 Jul – London, UK – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- 18 Jul – Warsaw, POL – PGE Narodowy
- 19 Jul – Warsaw, POL – PGE Narodowy
Sick New World Festival:
- 24 Oct – Fort Worth, TX – Sick New World
