Serj Tankian releases his third solo studio album Harakiri. Follow-up to the symphonic rock album Imperfect Harmoniesout in 2010.

Harakiri is not a concept album. The starting point is the unexplained death of birds and fish in early 2011 in Arkansas where there were around 25000 blackbirds falling from the sky , as well as the multitude of animal deaths all over the globe.  A harbinger of change to come that Serj Tankian is trying to decipher through the album.

A disaster that affected him and led him to question about the world we live in from different angles :  political, social, environmental, personal stories, in an unique humorous (Figure it Out) or serious way . Each song has its own meaning :

The Cornucopia of love/hate affairs with Gaia have made us scream “Figure It Out! CEOs are the disease.” Where abusive capitalism’s only fate is human/environmental devastation. The Ching Chime, diminutive drama of a gangsta Butterfly revealed that humanity’s tears actually outweigh yearly rainfall on the planet.

We have witnessed Harakiri on a grand scale tearing out the Occupied Tears of victims preyed on by victims turned aggressors creating a Deafening Silence through which we hear a voice plead, “Forget Me Knot, my child.”

Reality TV has become the searing indictment of a society best described as the Uneducated Democracy. The daughters of the evolution Weave On with blood dripping down their guilty hands onto the flag as the word republic is replaced by empire.” – Serj Tankian

What’s better than Rock N Roll to express all the intensity and scope of lyrics and messages, giving them their full meaning through heavy rock sounds , both crazy and energetic, galloping and powerful riffs and bass (Cornucopia, Figure It Out), upbeat and memorable melodies blending with eastern influences (Reality TV, Ching Chime). Harakiri is the mirror of this multi-instrumentalist artist, in which each song brings the listener in their universe.  A brilliant songwriter that leads us to ask ourselves about the issues. My favorites are Reality TV because it is so true , Ching Chime for the blend of oriental and rock sounds, and Deafening silence.

Harakiri is another excellent solo album that stands out among the others on music scene. An unique masterpiece from a genius who never ceases to amaze us.  It should appeal to music lovers, System of A Down and Serj Tankian Fans.

The album reaches another level of creative and emotional paroxysm that makes music you want to hear … always more.