The solo project born from the hiatus of a metal giant
In short: When System of a Down went on hiatus in 2006, guitarist Daron Malakian didn't stop writing. He launched Scars on Broadway, a project that would oscillate between sudden bursts of creativity and decade-long silences, driven by a vision that moved away from 'frazzled metal' toward classic rock.
Originally established as a solo venture, Scars on Broadway began taking shape in 2007. Daron Malakian, known for his work as the guitarist and vocalist of System of a Down, used the project to explore musical directions that differed from his primary band. While he maintained a similar thematic territory, he sought a more song-based approach, drawing inspiration from artists like David Bowie, Neil Young, and Roxy Music rather than the 'mosh-pit' energy of his previous work.
The band's history is marked by significant periods of inactivity. After releasing their self-titled debut in July 2008, which reached number 17 on the Billboard charts, Malakian entered a hiatus due to a lack of enthusiasm for touring. Though the group reformed in 2010 and 2012 with various lineups—including drummer John Dolmayan and musicians like Franky Perez and Dominic Cifarelli—the project faced several stops and starts. By 2013, further announcements had ceased, only to be interrupted by the release of the second album, Dictator, in July 2018.
The project's identity has evolved alongside its name. In 2018, the group was rebranded as Daron Malakian and Scars on Broadway to reflect Malakian's intent that the lineup would revolve around his writing and change from album to album. After years of sporadic activity, the band returned to the stage in California in late 2024. This period also saw the release of their third album, Addicted to the Violence, on July 18, 2025, following the June 2025 release of the single 'Killing Spree'.
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