"Unquestionably the most extreme entity that Shavo has put his name to". System Of A Down bassist ditches quirky nu metal for brutal, blistering deathcore with Seven Hours After Violet

Almost 20 years since his last ful-length album, Shavo Odadjian is roaring back with his heaviest band to date

By Stephen Hill ( Metal Hammer ) published 10 October 2024

(Image: © Press/Sumerian)

You can trust Louder Our experienced team has worked for some of the biggest brands in music. From testing headphones to reviewing albums, our experts aim to create reviews you can trust. Find out more about how we review.

With their band on a frustrating hiatus, most of the members of System Of A Down have remained busy with other projects: Serj Tankian’s solo material, Daron Malakian resurrected Scars on Broadway and John Dolmayan… well… let’s not get into that. What of bassist Shavo Odadjian, though?

A couple of quick projects here and there, a bit of DJing, but nothing that has really captured the imagination. That may well change now, as his latest band’s debut album is certainly a striking and immediate listen. Roping in former members of deathcore bands Winds Of Plague and Left To Suffer, Seven Hours After Violet is unquestionably the most extreme entity that Shavo has put his name to.

Opener Paradise certainly would be a shock to listeners who have never delved into music any heavier than SOAD, as a juddering tech-metal groove and snarling, guttural belch from vocalist Taylor Barber slaps you round the chops. There are hints of Shavo’s previous work in the stop-start rhythms of Sunrise, but that’s soon trampled by another chainsaw riff that drags it back into brutal metal territory.

You may like

Although the inclusion of Shavo will get most of the attention here, the clear man of the match is Taylor. The vocalist puts in a dexterous performance that ranges from delicate, whispered falsetto highs all the way up to throat ripping screams. Making the amalgam of US radio rock and something far heavier on a song like Float is very impressive.

All of these elements in isolation should make a fantastic debut album, but sadly, unlike Shavo’s day job, SHAV currently lacks enough distinct personality to fully stand out in a crowded genre. Plus, whilst songs like Radiance, Alive and Glink are bangers, around half of the album feels like filler. Iron out those kinks and Seven Hours After Violet could be a very good band indeed.

Seven Hours After Violet is out October 11 via Sumerian

- YouTube

Watch On

Since blagging his way onto the Hammer team a decade ago, Stephen has written countless features and reviews for the magazine, usually specialising in punk, hardcore and 90s metal, and still holds out the faint hope of one day getting his beloved U2 into the pages of the mag. He also regularly spouts his opinions on the Metal Hammer Podcast.