System Of A Down Raise Over $600,000 For The Armenia Fund From New Songs

---

System of A Down released their first new music in 15 years last week. The band have now revealed that the two song they released have helped raise over $600,000 (£454,000) for the Armenia Fund.

Speaking about what’s happening over in Artsakh, the band last week said “On September 27, the combined forces of Azerbaijan and Turkey (along with Isis terrorists from Syria) attacked the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, which we as Armenians call Artsakh. For over the past month, civilians young and old have been awakened day and night by the frightful sights and sounds of rocket attacks, falling bombs, missiles, drones and terrorist attacks. They’ve had to find sanctuary in makeshift shelters, trying to avoid the fallout of outlawed cluster bombs raining down on their streets and homes, hospitals and places of worship. Their attackers have set their forests and endangered wildlife ablaze using white phosphorus, another banned weapon.”

“And Why? Because over 30 years ago in 1988, the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh (which at the time was an Autonomous Oblast within the USSR), were tired of being treated as second class citizens and decided to declare their rightful independence from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic whose borders engulfed their own. This ultimately led to a war of self determination by Armenians in Karabakh against Azerbaijan that ended in a cease fire in 1994, with Armenians retaining control of their ancestral homelands and maintaining their independence to the present day. Our people have lived there for millennia, and for most families there, it’s the only home they and their forefathers and mothers have ever known. They just want to live in peace as they have for centuries.”

“The current corrupt regimes of Aliyev in Azerbaijan and Erdogan in Turkey now want to not only claim these lands as their own, but are committing genocidal acts with impunity on humanity and wildlife to achieve their mission. They are banking on the world being too distracted with COVID, elections and civil unrest to call out their atrocities. They have the bankroll, the resources and have recruited massive public relations firms to spin the truth and conceal their barbaric objective of genocide. This is not the time to turn a blind eye.”

In a new interview with the band, called ‘Speaking Out For Artsakh’, the band explained why they released the songs in support of their ancestral home Armenia and neighbouring Artsakh.

John Dolmayan said that the band are hoping “that what happened in 1915 [the Armenian Genocide] and what’s happened so many times in history doesn’t repeat itself”

Frontman Serj Tankian said the conflicts are “an injustice that we want people to pay attention to, and that’s why we’re doing this. So that they can, in turn, inform their own government bodies, who can respond properly.”

He added “As System Of A Down, this has been an incredible occasion for us to come together, and put everything aside and speak out for our nation, as one.”

The band also released a statement alongside the interview that said “We are overwhelmed with gratitude for your incredible support of our campaign for the people of Artsakh, and for helping us raise over $600K so far in donations to provide for those in dire need via the Armenia Fund.”

“Because of you, we will be able to help displaced civilians, young and old, who are affected by the hideous war crimes inflicted upon Artsakh by Azerbaijan and Turkey. Please watch this full interview to get a more intimate look and understanding into why we came together to release ‘Protect The Land’ and ‘Genocidal Humanoidz’.”

“To the four of us, it’s extremely important to share these truths with you. It is for our ancestors, our culture, and our nation. Help us spread the message.”