Fascinating collaboration from Serj Tankian (from System of a Down) and Arto Boyaciyan. An experimental mix that includes Middle Eastern beats, spoken words, metal, programming, even a hint of jazz. There’s a DVD (which I haven’t watched). The songs are hard to describe because they change tempo & sounds so often. Great stuff, though…one star each track.

1. Short intro for keyboards.
2. Screaming metal, mid-eastern beats, a hint of Japan.
3. Afro percussion/electric guitars. Driving.
4. Jazz-influenced, more low key, atmospheric.
5. Spare chanting, gongs, flute, strings. Then more melodic.
6. Short w/percussion & sound bite about fight. Goes into 7.
7. Rock at heart, w/tempo changes & weird vocals.
8. Combat sounds, slow male chant w/a Native American feel
9. Choppy tempos rock interposed w/folk.
10. Instrumental for guitars. Mid-tempo…too short.
11. Nature sounds, flutes. Spoken word.
12. Starts slow, gets into an electronic groove.
13. Fast percussion/vocals. Wow.
14. Eventually a driving mix of rock w/Arabic beats.
15. Fast layers of wailing vocals chanting in counter-point.
16. Great percussion. Chorus Afro-influenced, mid-tempo.
8/2003