“Down with the system” by Serj Tankian
Rating : 5/5
Genre: Memoir
‼️Please include trigger warnings, some of the first few pages were very disturbing (which is fine, but it might be a bit too much for some people)‼️
Please know this: I al very biased! SOAD is my first musical love.. I breathed the band as a teenager… I was overjoyed to learn about this.

I dislike memoirs, because they usually have a lot of drama and negativities… and knowing that, I inhaled this book. I loved learning little facts about the band and learning the backstory of some of the songs. There is a lot of DRAMA, but I was aware of most of them, and what do you expect to learn from a celebrity’s memoir?

It’s very hard to criticize the book. It’s a memoir! And Serj is an amazing songwriter, and not a book author. I really wished the story followed a more straight timeline, but then some stories would have been very hard to follow. All the stories were really easy to follow as it’s written, but I just got a bit annoyed when we went back a few years.

I am ashamed to say, as a person who was born in Iran, I learned about the Arminian genocide from Serj’s activism (mostly form 1915 movie) and I always admire how outspoken the band is. I am thankful for all Serj has done, and this book taught me a lot more. It’s very helpful when the information comes from people whose voices were so formative to me as a teenager.

Thanks for letting me review this book.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book before publication.

This was both a joyful and sorrowful reading experience. Learning about the Armenian genocide for the first time at 35 years old pissed me off. Not because of who I was learning it from, but because my own government has kept it hush hush. What happened and still happens today was and is absolutely heartbreaking.

Tankian’s robust vocabulary creates beautiful imagery where you can clearly see everything he’s talking about. While his story is fraught with trauma and war, he weaves it in such a way that we feel hopeful.

After reading this beautifully written book, there are so many things I want to say, but I’m finding myself quite speechless. With that being said, it took me a good amount of time to articulate my thoughts enough to write this review thoroughly.

In 2005, when System dropped their final (double) albums, Mezmerize and Hypnotize, I was only 10 years old- but by then I was already well aware of the band and it’s music. I had a brother 5 years older than me who exposed me to a variety of metal, rock, and alternative bands at a young age (SOAD being one of them, as well as Rise Against, Asking Alexandria, Slipknot, Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, Disturbed, Shinedown, Slayer, Metallica, ACDC, Godsmack, Bring Me The Horizon, and so MANY more). As the younger sister, I wanted to look “cool” for my brother and his friends so I’d often learn the music and the lyrics of many of the bands he listened to, so I could rock with him/them. Through my adolescent and teen years, did I truly understand what the lyrics, the cries, the growls meant? No. Did I know that the band was constructed by Armenian-American activists aiming to end multi-country Armenian Genocide denial? No. Did I even know what activism was at that age? Definitely not. All I knew is that I heavily jived with the chaotic, wild, head-banging music, so I kept listening. I’ve continued to re-listen to their albums throughout my teens and 20’s, singing along to the same lyrics of BYOB, Toxicity, Aerials, Sugar, Needles, Chop Suey, Lonely Day, and Question that I’ve known for 2 decades. Now at 30 years old, I finally understand, thanks to Serj and this book, what inspired this band and it’s music. I found it really interesting that some of the above bands/members that I grew up listening to had served as mentors, friends, and even business-partners at times to System over their decades in the music industry.

I have to admit, though, the extent of my knowledge of Serj Tankian and his band stopped at its music.
When I saw Serj on the cover of this book, I couldn’t read the blurb fast enough. I quickly realized how politically and historically heavy this read was going to be- and let me tell you, I am usually QUICK at passing up books containing either of those two subjects. But, after reading the blurb, I decided I was ready to understand the lyrics I’ve been chanting along to for twenty years- and in doing so, I would understand Serj’s childhood and family history, their immigration to the US, the history of SOAD as well as the history of his other bands and solo music, his ongoing pursuit for Armenian Genocide recognition, his personal life, etc. I cannot even express how enlightened I feel after reading this book.

Serj has lived a challenging, scary life full of adversity- one that could have easily destroyed his and/or his family’s spirit if they would have let it. He is tenacious and does not falter in loudly supporting his Armenian ancestors, or anything that he believes in for that matter. I think in his younger days, before he was a dad, he was a bit reckless in his activism and authoritarian issues. He put himself and the band in some less than ideal, dangerous situations just to have a platform to speak on and spread his activism. Then again, I guess that was the whole point behind SOAD in the first place. He created a platform for his activism and he used it for greater good- who can be mad at that? I am happy to hear that as a father and husband, he is not behaving as risky as he once was. But with that being said, I have a lot of respect for a man who has made it his life mission to bring awareness and acknowledgment to a greater cause, despite the danger to himself or the backlash he’s had to face. Serj makes shit happen and he gets it done, even if it puts him in an uncomfortable position. He doesn’t shy away from challenges; he embraces them (or better said, dives head first into them). I respect the fact that he stays true to his word and continues to fight for what he (and much of the rest of the world) feels is right day in and day out. Too many people in this world are happy to turn a blind eye to current and historical events because it’s easier to keep your opinion to yourself than to express it and face the consequences. Serj’s activism may have gotten himself into a few deep holes that he had to crawl back out of but he always did. And he always came back stronger, rather than discouraged. He celebrates the small wins, as we all should.

I think everyone needs to read this book and educate themselves. Just because these events happened in the past, does not mean they don’t still carry resounding, crippling effects on current populations of people/countries. I’ve never been one to deny any genocide (or history in general) that’s occurred, and this book has shown me just how many people DO deny it all. I’ve learned how important it is to be an ongoing advocate for all of the people/ethnicities who were cleansed and wronged who aren’t here to do it themselves. If we don’t tell their story, who will? If the current world is not reminded of these past tragedies and failings, how will our future world ever prevent history from repeating itself? The worst thing that can come out of a tragedy as such, is that nothing is learned and nothing is changed.

If System ever does decide to tour again in the US, I will do my damnedest to purchase a ticket and show my support for Serj, his bandmates, Armenians as a whole, and all others who’ve been plagued by genocide or unfair treatment by settlers over the past centuries. The energy of their shows and supporting a part of something bigger is something I would love to experience for myself now that I am old enough to understand.

One thing I’ve always said about System, or Serj more specifically, is that he has the major advantage of having one of the most unique and widest-ranged voices I’ve ever heard. He sings gently, he sings powerfully, he belts and screams, he growls, he yells, and he makes completely random noises that catch you off guard- but I always know it’s Serj and he always makes it work. I feel honored to know, now, which exact life events and moments of struggle largely contributed to and shaped Serj’s lyrical and musical inspiration while in System. I really liked that he picked out popular lyrics from many different hit songs, and explained the reasoning behind them and his scribbled words in his journal. Listening to his song, Soil, and the degree of pain and anger in which he sings regarding his friend’s suicide really hit home for me and what I’ve experienced with my friend committing suicide in the same manner 12 years ago. An event like that rocks your entire life and changes your perspective on it and all that is precious in this world and in our short lives. In the song, you can hear the pain and desperation in his voice as he says, “Why the fuck did you take him away from us you motherfucker?” His desperate need to place the blame and anger on SOMEBODY (anybody that wasn’t his poor, dead friend) is a feeling I can strongly relate to. The emotions of pain, anger, regret, sadness, and desperation are overwhelming.

After reading this book, I’ve made it a mission of mine to listen to all of Serj’s music (outside of SOAD) as I am interested in hearing what else he has to say. His words are purposeful and powerful. I know he has continued his activism through different bands and solo music as well.

To end my review, I want to say that I never truly realized how talented Serj Tankian is, as an artist or as an activist. This man manages to portray painful, but serious important messages through many different genres of music and charity events. He plays multiple instruments, he has a beautiful voice, he’s a composer, he’s a symphony director, and he knows how to make people hang on to every last word he says. Not only that, but he is now a devoted husband and father. Your fans are so happy and proud of you Serj.

I wish every band/artist I grew up listening to that shaped my view of the world through their music would write a book just like this. As an artist, I know that you know how important those initial role models are in your life, and how they shape who you become and what you stand for. This book was, for lack of better words, eye-opening. Thank you Serj for doing the hard stuff. Maybe if there were more brave people like you on this earth, our world would be a fairer place.

Thank you SO INCREDIBLY MUCH to NetGalley and Hachette Books publishing for providing me the ARC edition of this book. It was an absolute honor to read and review.

I always struggle with giving memoirs a rating.

Serj Tankian has been one of my favorite musicians for most of my life, and getting to dive into not only SOADs history but HIS history was truly magnificent.

I throughly enjoyed every aspect. I loved getting to know bits and pieces and I also loved being able to feel the humor come off the page.

Would absolutely recommend this read. I learned a lot.

#NetGalley #DownWithTheSystem
I would like to thank Net Galley and the publisher for letting me read this in exchange for my honest review. I went into this book as a fan of System of a Down with some knowledge about Serj. I love the insight into Serj's life and how he's spent his whole life fighting for what he believes in and standing up for Justice.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

I went into this as a casual fan of System of a Down with the knowledge that Serj Tankian was a bit of a political activist. What I came away with was an education in Armenian history and an even greater respect for this artist. Serj has spent his whole life following his beliefs, standing up for justice, and trying to find where his heart truly lives. This is a fantastic memoir.

I have always loved this band since highschool, and found this incredibly interesting! Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this!

An excellent memoir that combines Serj's humanitarian efforts and the musical history, that reaches an intertwined climax when System played in Armenia.

I think Daron comes across looking awful, which I don't think is Serj's intention, but his full accounting of his shortcomings and differing of opinions with the band is on display, and yet it's still Daron who comes across like a brat.

Highly recommended for System or Serj fans.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Books for this ARC!

I enjoyed this book and learned more about Armenian Genocide through author's family history. This book would be great for any readers that are unfamiliar with this atrocity. This is much less of a story of lead singer of a rock band, and much more that of an activist. So, if the expectation is to just read about System of a down, this book might not scratch the itch enough.

One nitpick: I’ve read other memoirs and autobiographies before, most of which were quite remarkable and unusual compared to your average person's life. But it never felt like those authors reveled in their specialness. This book had a bit of “not like other girls” vibe in the first third.

I appreciate Tankian's take on 9/11 - that US actions were "contributing to the mass suffering there." Take it from a grandchild of 4 survivors of the Armenian Genocide. Reading this had a real resonance today.