Peace and tranquility of sound and ambience was definitely not what front man Daron Malakian of the band Scars on Broadway was hoping to present to his listening audience world wide.’ A relatively new project, Scars on Broadway, also the name their self titled debut, is an offshoot of the world renowned Los Angeles based System of a Down.’ With the heavy metal persona blaring full force out of any set of working speakers, the album gives off the aura of striking a powerful, yet fragile chord.
Full of high strung political messages and humanitarian yearnings, Scars on Broadway succeeds at transporting the listener to a future point in time where synthesized music mixed with hard rock could possibly redefine’ the traditional rock ‘n’ roll sound.’ Fellow System of a Down member, John Dolmayan, plays drums on the album with Malakian leading on vocals, guitars, keyboards, organs, and melotrons.
With a wide artillery of range in sound, the album is a surefire method to wake up our complacent beliefs and ‘clap our hands for the president / and Jesus Christ, and did I mention Charlie Manson and everyone else who was / Nice,’ as Malakian eerily indicates in ‘3005.” He continues, ‘Let’s do high five, for the genocide, and / the Internet, and all the communication / Skills that are / Lost when we are dead.”
Malakian’s sympathy with humanity lucidly shines through on ‘World Long Gone’ as he talks about being unaware of ‘how many people are starving.” With the synthesized instrument sounding reminiscent of a xylophone on the song, a sensitive ear and spirit could lend itself to feeling something of sad lullaby in the tune.
Although the album will obviously not appeal to all audience members, perhaps, because of its deliberate overall pessimistic message, if you’re looking for refreshing hard rock combined with basic, yet intelligible lyrics, the album could suit you.
According to Malakian, as quoted on the bands official website ‘Whether it’s a heavier song or a more moody song, one thing that brings them all together is a sense of attitude and a bit of frustration in the lyrics and the vocals.’
The album could not have been summarized more concisely than Malakian’s own interpretation.’ Questioning conventional modes of being and thinking are always acceptable forms for enticing foundations of change, and Scars on Broadway certainly knew how to deliver that first flame to the fire.
