Genocidal Humanoidz

A frenetic call to action released after a 15-year silence to support war-torn Artsakh.

Genocidal Humanoidz is a heavy metal single by System of a Down, released on November 6, 2020, alongside "Protect the Land." Marking the band's first new music in 15 years since Hypnotize (2005), this double A-side was created to raise awareness and funds for Armenia and Artsakh during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. Produced by guitarist Daron Malakian rather than their long-time collaborator Rick Rubin, the track combines frantic riffs with urgent messaging. The release aimed to support those affected by the conflict, ultimately raising over $600,000 for the Armenia Fund.

Quick Facts

Artist: System of a Down
A-side: "Protect the Land"
Released: 6 November 2020
Recorded: October 2020
Studio: Dave's Room (North Hollywood)
Genre: Alternative metal
Label: American; Columbia
Writer: Daron Malakian

Lore & Background

The song originated from jam sessions between band members three or four years before its release. During these meetings, Daron Malakian wrote the track alongside several other songs, but plans for a full album were dropped when lead singer Serj Tankian did not commit to the project. The narrative took urgent shape in late September 2020 after war broke out between Armenia, Artsakh, and Azerbaijan. Tankian, whose grandfather survived the 1915 Armenian genocide, told The Fader he saw a "high probability of genocide" occurring then. While Malakian noted the original lyrics needed only slight changes to fit the new message, the term "humanoids" was inspired by wrestling manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, who once called audiences "a bunch of humanoids, like a bunch of idiots." This recontextualization transformed an old idea into a specific response to modern atrocities.

Reader's Guide

The track is characterized by its shorter runtime—half that of "Protect the Land"—and a shift toward System's "heavier and more scatty, frenetic side." Louder magazine reviewer Merlin Alderslade described the song as having "razor-sharp riffs" that peel off "frantic, hollering yelps from Serj at lightning pace," before leaping into a nu-metal stomp and exploding into an extreme metal meltdown. Drums are played with intense precision by John Dolmayan, who Alderslade noted sounded "tighter than a Khabib Nurmagomedov chokehold." The song was produced entirely by Daron Malakian, who also handled production on all previous albums except the debut, while mixing duties were taken by Rich Costey. Engineering and mastering were handled by Paul Fig and Vlado Meller respectively.

Did You Know?

This is System of a Down's first two singles to not feature producer Rick Rubin; Daron Malakian produced them instead.
The music video was directed by bassist Shavo Odadjian and Adam Mason, uploaded on January 31, 2021.