Click HERE to listen to “Furies” (Feat. Iggy Pop)

On February 8th, the eclectic, experimental hard rock project Praxis will release the latest creation, a bone-crunching new album titled Profanation: Preparation for a Coming Darkness. The new album finds the trio once again collaborating with various musicians, this time with the spotlight clearly on lead vocalists. Among them are Iggy Pop, System Of A Down’s Serj Tankian, Mike Patton, RAMM:?LL:Z??, Doctor Israel, Wu-Tang protégé Killah Priest and Jamaica-born toaster Hawk.

The US release of Profanation comes with two live bonus tracks not included in the rare, Japan-only import. The album is also one of the last recordings to feature the gothic futurist RAMM:?LL:Z??, an incredibly multi-talented visual artist, hip hop icon, performance artist, and one of the most unique humans to patrol this planet.

Since 1992, the core members of Praxis – Buckethead (guitars), Bill Laswell (bass), and Brain (drums) – has churned out an eclectic series of albums rooted in aggressive avant-rock improv with slabs of hip-hop, psychedelic, funk thrown in. On top of that, a constantly morphing army of innovators including John Zorn, Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell, Yamantaka Eye(Boredoms), Grandmixer DXT, and scores more have contributed to past Praxis live and studio projects – each one a unique musical experiment.

This record features what Laswell and M.O.D. Technologies describe as the sequence of doom…

RAMM:?LL:Z?? starts it off with a digital metal notice of things to come. He steps aside (for a few tracks) for Hawk to voice his opinion. Dr Israel enters the hardcore fray with advice for the weary. The leader Iggy offers a more mythical based solution. Killah Priest, as always, looks to the distance stars for answers. The mighty Serj Tanikan gives advice for the weak. Mike Patton jumps to attention with a vocal assault to the brain. The return of RAMM and the book of revelations follows. Tatsuya Yoshida (Ruins) makes small pieces of big rocks. RAMM:?LL appears again, but a new style. The project goes back to space courtesy of Yoshihide Otomo (Ground Zero) and wrapped up at the end of times Buckethead style. This completes your journey started 48 minutes ago.

Click HERE to listen to “Furies” (Feat. Iggy Pop)

On January 25th, the eclectic, experimental hard rock project Praxis will release the latest creation, a bone-crunching new album titled Profanation: Preparation for a Coming Darkness. The new album finds the trio once again collaborating with various musicians, this time with the spotlight clearly on lead vocalists. Among them are Iggy Pop, System Of A Down’s Serj Tankian, Mike Patton, RAMM:?LL:Z??, Doctor Israel, Wu-Tang protégé Killah Priest and Jamaica-born toaster Hawk.

The US release of Profanation comes with two live bonus tracks not included in the rare, Japan-only import. The album is also one of the last recordings to feature the gothic futurist RAMM:?LL:Z??, an incredibly multi-talented visual artist, hip hop icon, performance artist, and one of the most unique humans to patrol this planet.

Click HERE to listen to the new track “Furies” (Feat. Iggy Pop) for a taste and please feel free to post and share the stream!

Since 1992, the core members of Praxis – Buckethead (guitars), Bill Laswell (bass), and Brain (drums) – has churned out an eclectic series of albums rooted in aggressive avant-rock improv with slabs of hip-hop, psychedelic, funk thrown in. On top of that, a constantly morphing army of innovators including John Zorn, Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell, Yamantaka Eye(Boredoms), Grandmixer DXT, and scores more have contributed to past Praxis live and studio projects – each one a unique musical experiment.

This record features what Laswell and M.O.D. Technologies describe as the sequence of doom…

RAMM:?LL:Z?? starts it off with a digital metal notice of things to come. He steps aside (for a few tracks) for Hawk to voice his opinion. Dr Israel enters the hardcore fray with advice for the weary. The leader Iggy offers a more mythical based solution. Killah Priest, as always, looks to the distance stars for answers. The mighty Serj Tanikan gives advice for the weak. Mike Patton jumps to attention with a vocal assault to the brain. The return of RAMM and the book of revelations follows. Tatsuya Yoshida (Ruins) makes small pieces of big rocks. RAMM:?LL appears again, but a new style. The project goes back to space courtesy of Yoshihide Otomo (Ground Zero) and wrapped up at the end of times Buckethead style. This completes your journey started 48 minutes ago.

Online Kick-Off Set in Weeks Leading to September 21st Debut of Tankian’s “Imperfect Harmonies” Album Featuring Song Dedicated to Victims of All Genocides

Burbank, CA – Grammy-winning multi-platinum singer/song writer Serj Tankian has teamed with the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) in calling on President Obama to honor his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide and to take decisive action to end the genocide in Darfur, with the September 9th launch of the “Yes, It’s Genocide” campaign.

The effort, named in honor of the song of the same name to be released on September 21st on Tankian’s “Imperfect Harmonies” album, encourages Tankian fans and anti-genocide activists to visit http://www.anca.org/yesitsgenocide and send a free ANCA Webmail to President Obama to take immediate action.

“We are honored to team up with Serj and the AYF once again to expand Armenian Genocide education and anti-genocide activism through this innovative ‘Yes, It’s Genocide’ campaign,” stated ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “No doubt, President Obama’s actions to date on the Armenian and Darfur Genocides have fallen far short of his own commitments and, more importantly, of the core American values that should guide our nation’s policies. Together, through continued vigilance, increased outreach and broad grassroots activism, we must, as citizens, create the political will necessary to compel our government to deal truthfully and justly with all genocides.”

AYF Western U.S. Chairman Arek Santikian concurred, stating “As activists and concerned citizens, it is our duty to struggle against crimes against humanity at every turn. Serj’s recording of this powerful new song provides us with yet another opportunity to raise awareness and inspire the youth to take action. We commend his long track-record of standing up for social justice and look forward to this opportunity to work together.”

AYF “Yes, It’s Genocide” Video Contest Urges Youth to Speak Truth to Power
In conjunction with the “Yes, It’s Genocide” action campaign, the AYF has launched a video contest, calling on youth across the United States to submit their video explaining why it is vital to speak honestly about the Armenian Genocide and take action to end the cycle of genocide. The top video submissions will be featured on the Serjical Strike, ANCA and AYF websites, with the winners receiving free tickets to an upcoming Tankian concert and the opportunity to meet Tankian back stage. Contest details and submission information are posted at http://www.ayfwest.org/yesitsgenocide.

“Imperfect Harmonies” to Be Released on September 21st – Armenian Independence Day

Serj Tankian’s newest solo album will be released on Serjical Strike/Reprise Records on September 21, 2010, coinciding with Armenian Independence Day. “Imperfect Harmonies” is his second solo studio release, following up his critically acclaimed 2007 solo debut “Elect the Dead”.

“Where Elect the Dead was essentially a rock record with progressive melodic elements,” Tankian says, “’Imperfect Harmonies’ could be classified as rock because it is punchy with many peaks throughout, but the instrumentation is somewhat different. Though there are live drums, bass, and some guitars, the driving aspects are electronic and orchestral. It’s quite unique in its sound palette. This is, in essence, music that has sat in the vat and matured to a ripe sensation and is now ready to serve.”

“Imperfect Harmonies” eighth track, “Yes, It’s Genocide,” is a moving tribute to the victims of genocide, with its haunting music and Armenian lyrics inspired by the fear, terror, life and ultimate death of 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide and a century of genocides to follow. Portions of the melody were first featured in Tankian’s 2009 video entreaty to President Obama titled “As President I will Recognize the Armenian Genocide,” which included remarks by fellow artists and anti-genocide activists Tom Morello, Boots Riley and Congressional Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA). The video, which has over 237,000 views, was launched during the ANCA’s “Fierce Urgency of Now” campaign in the weeks leading up to April 24th, the international day of recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The video can viewed at:

“Imperfect Harmonies” is available for pre-order online at http://www.serjtankian.com/preorder/

President Obama: A Failed Record on Genocide
As a Senator and presidential candidate, President Obama pledged repeatedly to recognize the Armenian Genocide and promised “unstinting resolve” to end the Darfur Genocide, stating, “America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that President.”

However, since his election to office, President Obama has missed repeated opportunities to honor his pledge – resorting to euphemistic language to refer to the annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians from 1915-1923 by the Ottoman Turkish Government and running what New York Times columnist Nick Kristoff has called a “failed policy in Sudan.”

Special Los Angeles Screening with Serj Tankian in Attendance on October 23rd to Benefit Axis Of Justice

OCTOBER 18, 2007 – Burbank, CA – Earlier this year, Serj Tankian – the visionary frontman for multi-platinum rock band System Of A Down – asked a collection of video and film directors, painters, and digital artists to each create a video for one of the 12 tracks on his forthcoming solo debut album, “Elect the Dead,” which will be released on Serjical Strike/Reprise Records on October 23rd.

The directors involved in the video project include a prestigious array of artists whom Tankian has befriended over the last decade. They include music video director Tony Petrossian (Taking Back Sunday, Slipknot, Avenged Sevenfold), who shot the video for “Empty Walls,” the first single from “Elect The Dead,” photographer/video director Greg Watermann (Mudvayne, Lamb of God, Howie Day), Oscar-nominated Puerto Rican playwright and screenwriter Jose Rivera (“The Motorcycle Diaries”), digital artist Roger Kupelian (“The Lord of the Rings,” “Flags of Our Fathers”), documentary director Sevag Vrej (System Of A Down, Fair To Midland), short film/music video director Adam Egypt Mortimer (Against Me!, Idiot Pilot) and Beirut-born filmmaker Gariné Torossian (Sparklehorse), among others.

“I asked each of the directors for their visual interpretation of my work,” Tankian explains. “They were asked not to write treatments and that they could make whatever they liked. The results have been overwhelmingly amazing!”

Among the videos posted on Tankian’s website www.serjtankian.com
is an animated clip for the song “The Unthinking Majority” by filmmaker/video director Tawd Dorenfeld. Also available for viewing on the website are the videos for “Empty Walls” and “Saving Us”.

To celebrate the artistic collaboration of the music and visual interpretations of Serj Tankian’s solo album, Reprise Records and Serjical Strike, in conjunction with digital cinema/music marketing company D&E Entertainment (www.DandEentertainment.com), will screen the videos of “Elect The Dead” back-to-back, accompanied by an introduction by Tankian at movie theaters across the nation at 8pm on Monday, October 22nd. This unique experience on the eve of album release offers fans a preview of “Elect The Dead” in a premium listening and visual environment. A special screening event on the October 23rd album release date will take place in Los Angeles with Tankian in attendance.

Special screenings of “Elect The Dead – The Short Films” will be held at 8pm on Monday, October 22nd at the following locations:
Long Island, NY: Herricks Cinema
Parsippany, NJ: Parsippany Cinema
San Francisco, CA: Embarcadero Center Cinema
San Diego, CA: Ultrastar Theatres Mission Valley
Boston, MA: Kendall Square Cinema
Chicago, IL: Century Centre Cinema
Detroit, MI: Emagine Novi
Philadelphia, PA: Clearview’s Anthony Wayne Cinema
Seattle, WA: Metro Cinemas
Houston, TX: The River Oaks
Minneapolis, MN: Lagoon Cinema
Phoenix, AZ: Harkins Tempe Marketplace
To usher in the release date on Tuesday, October 23rd, Serj Tankian will attend a 9pm screening that evening of “Elect The Dead – The Short Films” in Los Angeles at the Vista Theater (4473 Sunset Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027). Starting at 7:30pm on October 23rd, the first 300 people in line at the box office to buy tickets for the 9pm showing will be able to have their CDs autographed by Serj after the show. Lining up at the Vista Theatre before is 7:30pm is prohibited. Copies of “Elect The Dead” will be available for sale at the Vista Theater that night, along with a free poster for every CD purchased. Tickets will be sold for $10 a the box office, with all net proceeds donated to Axis Of Justice (www.axisofjustice.org), an organization founded by Tankian and Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine.

Serj Tankian - Elect The Dead cover

(1) Pre-order info

Pre-Order Serj Tankian’s ELECT THE DEAD at iTunes and get 3 bonus tracks (The Reverend King, Blue, and Falling Stars) and the video for “Lie Lie Lie”

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPreorder?id=265917405&s=143441

(2) Limited edition

Special Limited Edition

Linen wrapped hardbound book contains 4 bonus tracks, 48-page color booklet containing artwork & poetry, and unique code to unlock exclusive content.

Bonus CD Tracks

1.Blue

2. Empty Walls (acoustic)

3. Feed Us (acoustic)

4. Falling Stars

http://store.warnerbrosrecordsstore.com/prod.aspx?pfid=1548612&sys=WBR

In support of his debut solo album, Elect The Dead, which will be released on Serjical Strike/Reprise Records on October 23rd Serj has lined up a bunch of dates for a tour. Touring alongside of Serj will be Fair To Midland and Tom Morello. Check out the dates below:

SERJ TANKIAN US TOUR DATES:
10/12 – Chicago, IL – Vic Theatre
10/14 – Toronto, ONT – Guvernment
10/15 – Boston, MA – Paradise
10/17 – NYC – The Fillmore & Irving Plaza
10/18 – Philadelphia, PA – TLA
10/20 – Atlanta, GA – The Roxy
10/22 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theatre
10/25 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
10/27 – Los Angeles, CA – Avalon
10/28 – San Francisco, CA – Slims

VIDEO: “Empty Walls”:
Serj Tankian – Empty Walls

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Serj Tankian, the visionary frontman for multi-platinum rock band System Of A Down, has set a date to release his debut solo album, entitled Elect The Dead, which will be released on Serjical Strike/Reprise Records on October 23rd.

Known for his work with hard-rock agitators SOAD, Tankian says he had no clue he was about to make a rock record when he began to record at his home studio in Los Angeles last summer. “I was writing more traditional type songs on my piano and acoustic guitar, with a classical, almost operatic flavor; and lo and behold, it ended up being a rock record. Funny what happens when you add distorted guitars and drums,” he says. “There are political songs, funny songs, love songs, songs about painful experiences, vanity, and the environment. It has a deep melancholy that runs from the personal to the global, with a glimmer of hope in the solidarity of spirit.”

Tankian produced Elect The Dead himself and played most of the instruments, though the album does feature guest drummers John Dolmayan (SOAD) and Brian “Brain” Mantia (Guns n’ Roses, Primus). “The singularity of vision is strong when you work alone,” he says. “I was a bit skeptical about producing it myself, but I knew how I wanted it to sound. And as I kept going, I realized it was coming together really well so I just finished it on my own. But I had to be careful to push myself like an outside producer would until it was great. I had the same energy and enthusiasm making this album as I did making the first System record.”

Born in Beirut, Lebanon, to Armenian parents, Tankian is known as an outspoken political activist who puts his money where his mouth is. In 2006, he and Dolmayan met with members of Congress in Washington, D.C., to campaign for support for the Armenian Genocide Recognition Bill. Tankian is also the co-founder, along with Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, of Axis Of Justice, a non-profit dedicated to uniting musicians, music fans, and grassroots political organizations to fight for social justice.

With System Of A Down, which has released five best-selling albums, including two Number One’s in 2005 — the critically acclaimed Mezmerize and Hypnotize — Tankian helped the band earn a reputation for musically innovative, politically uncompromising rock. Through it all, Tankian, who has also published a collection of his poetry, has written his own songs, amassing an archive of material from many different genres. “I write all the time for no reason but to write,” he says. “I’m just doing what I’m told to do by my heart and nothing more. I just follow my vision and end up where it takes me.”