| "Protect the Land" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single bySystem of a Down | ||||
| A-side | "Genocidal Humanoidz"[1] | |||
| Released | November 6, 2020 (2020-11-6) | |||
| Recorded | October 2020 | |||
| Genre | Alternative metal | |||
| Length | 5:07 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | Daron Malakian | |||
| Producer(s) |
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| System of a Down singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Protect the Land" onYouTube | ||||
"Protect the Land" is a song recorded by Americanheavy metal bandSystem of a Down. It was released as adouble A-side single with "Genocidal Humanoidz" on November 6, 2020, throughAmerican Recordings andColumbia Records, to raise awareness and funds forArmenia and the unrecognisedRepublic of Artsakh amid theSecond Nagorno-Karabakh War.[2] It is the band's first release in 15 years since their fifth studio albumHypnotize (2005),[3] their first single in 14 years since "Vicinity of Obscenity" (2006), and their first two singles to not feature their long-time producerRick Rubin. The two singles have raised over $600,000 that was donated to theArmenia Fund to help those who have been affected by the war.[4][5]
We as System Of A Down have just released new music for the first time in 15 years. The time to do this is now, as together, the four of us have something extremely important to say as a unified voice. These two songs, "Protect The Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz" both speak of a dire and serious war being perpetrated upon our cultural homelands ofArtsakh andArmenia.
"Protect the Land" was written by the band's guitarist and second singerDaron Malakian in 2018 along with another song about tensions involving the unrecognisedArtsakh, called "Lives", for the secondScars on Broadway album,Dictator.[6] In late September 2020, aftera new war broke out between Armenia, Artsakh and Azerbaijan in the disputedNagorno-Karabakh region, the band members started using their platforms to raise awareness of the issue. The band's lead singerSerj Tankian, whose grandfather survived the 1915Armenian genocide, toldThe Fader that he sees a "high probability of genocide of Armenians" in Artsakh being carried out by Azerbaijan with the support of Turkey.[7] Tankian donated $250,000 to theArmenia Fund and also participated in an online fundraising concert called "Rock for Artsakh" in October.[8][9]
Within a few days of deciding to record, each musician started arranging his own part. Tankian developed his harmonies for "Protect the Land" while still inNew Zealand, where he lives part-time, and he later flew toLos Angeles on October 11 to join everyone in the studio. They finished tracking the cuts that week.[6] BassistShavo Odadjian said that "it was such a pleasure for us to be together in the studio again, very comforting and natural, like no time had passed at all".[3] On November 6, 2020, "Protect the Land" was released along with "Genocidal Humanoidz" digitally as a double A-side single.[10] The artwork of the track features theflag of Armenia with the zig-zag chevron pattern of theflag of the Republic of Artsakh superimposed and theWe Are Our Mountains monument in its capitalStepanakert.[6] It is the first release of the band in 15 years since their chart topping fifth studio albumHypnotize from 2005. In an official statement released on their website after the singles' premiere, the band said they hoped their fans would listen to the songs and "be inspired to speak out about the horrific injustices and human rights violations occurring there now".[11]
In a positive review forLouder magazine, Merlin Alderslade wrote that the track is "built around a massive, groovy, swaying Daron Malakian riff that recalls a little ofSteal This Album! banger "Mr Jack". It sounds huge – a reminder of the guitarist's impeccable knack for a big hook – but really it's the vocals that steal the show here. Daron and lead vocalist Serj Tankian remain metal's greatest singing duo, and hearing their voices wrapped around each other in perfect harmony again doesn't so much pull on the heartstrings as slap them like a double bass".[12] Kory Grow fromRolling Stone wrote: "The track opens with a slow-churning guitar riff and Malakian and Tankian harmonizing lyrics that ask listeners what they would do if someone tried to push them from their homes. "Would you stay and take a stand?" they ask mournfully. "Would you stay with gun in hand? They protect the land". To drive it home, when they repeat those questions later, Malakian runs his hands up his guitar neck, imitating the sound of bombs falling".[6]
Themusic video for "Protect the Land" - directed by Shavo Odadjian and Ara Soudjian, and produced by Lara Aslanian - was uploaded to the band'sYouTube channel on November 6, 2020.[11] It features footage of Armenian soldiers on the frontlines, as well as shots of the band with projections of some of the footage Odadjian shot superimposed over their faces, similar to the band's “Toxicity” video.[6]
While talking about the concept of the video, Odadjian said: "I brought in everyone from every age. We have babies, my two sons, the high priest of L.A. [Los Angeles], doctors, cab drivers, and soldiers in the video. At the same time, we have people in Armenia in Artsakh filming on the frontlines of the war going on. So the message is, 'I know we're thousands of miles away, but we stand with our troops and we stand for this one common cause as Armenians.'"[6]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
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| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | November 6, 2020 | [10][1] |
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| Singles | |
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