Let's talk about the Dictator album. You were teasing it back in 2012.
I recorded the album and then around that time System started playing live again. So every time we'd play live, there'd be conversations like, "Maybe we'll do an album." So being the guy who wrote the majority of almost all the System songs in the past, I was like, "All right, let me see what's happening with it. Let me hold onto these songs and let me see how this develops." We talked about it and we weren't all on the same page. Not everybody was into the idea. But every time we played live, it kept coming up.
I just got to the point now where a lot of people were asking about the Scars album – I hear it all the time – so I was like, "I'm gonna put this album out." Not knowing what's happening with System has kept me from putting my own stuff out. Too much time has passed, and I'm really excited to finally get some music out finally.
Is everything on the album from 2012?
Yeah. I played everything on it. I went into the studio and recorded an album in less than 10 days. I played all the instruments – the drums, everything – and I've just been sitting on it for six years [laughs].
Why did you want to record everything yourself? System drummer John Dolmayan was on your first album.
I realized it was better for me to just go off and get started on my own. John was not involved anymore when I recorded the album. It just seemed easier for me than to put together a group of musicians and teach them the parts.