The Wall of News

Is rap-rock primed for a return? No? Good then! System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian and legendary Wu-Tang Clan producer/spiritual center the RZA himself insist their new collaboration Achozen (which also includes Killarmy's renamed Kinetic 9 and newcomer Reverend William Burke) and their summer debut album (via Odadjian's own online digital label, urSESSION) will definitely not be a rap-metal hybrid as most would expect. Yet, strangely they still insist on describing themselves as "heavy hip-hop."

"The music is dark, the sound, the arrangements, we used a lot of minor notes, groove oriented beats, it's very bass heavy," explains Odadjian. "Achozen's music is emotional, and some of the lyrics give me chills! We are speaking about real things, we speak against wickedness and we speak for benevolence, we speak about how hard it is to remain benevolent or righteous and how easy it is to turn the other way."

In another surprise for those familiar with metal and hip-hop archetypes, Odadjian avoided the almost token Parental Advisory sticker. "One thing I've asked everyone who's come and done vocals on the album is to not cuss," he says. "We want kids to be able to hear this. I asked everyone to try and teach something with their lyrics, maybe something they learned from their grandma or uncle, maybe an experience in their life that could help someone else, maybe answer a question about an issue."

As for whether any notable elements from the foursome's more well-known projects would be retained in Achozen's music, Odadjian says that, "From System of a Down, song arrangement is definitely a major part of Achozen. Most hip-hop songs just have a beat or sample that runs throughout the track, and that's it. The Achozen songs have lots of changes, middle breakdowns, bridges, diversity in vocal styles. I've been a DJ for the past 10, 12 years as DJ Tactics, so lots that I've learned as a DJ is incorporated into Achozen songs: hard breaks, hard house, hard bass lines, heavy techno, no trance. Real different sounds and effects."

A final tracklist for the LP and tour dates are exepected to be announced, but a preview track, "Deuces," will premiere on www.urSESSION.com April 22. And don't forget to pick up RZA's latest offering as Bobby Digital, Digi Snacks, July 1 via Koch and catch him on a solo summer jaunt as well.


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