Elasticity (EP)
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Elasticity
| type = EP
| artist = Serj Tankian
| cover = STankian Elasticity.jpg
| released = {{Start date|2021|3|19}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Nu metal,{{cite web | url=http://www.shutter16.com/serj-tankian-revels-in-elasticity/ | title=Serj Tankian Revels in Elasticity | Shutter 16 Magazine }} alternative metal
| length = {{Duration|m=20|s=49}}
| label =
- Alchemy
- BMG
| producer = Serj Tankian
| prev_title = Orca Symphony No. 1
| prev_year = 2013
| next_title = Perplex Cities
| next_year = 2022
}}
Elasticity is the third EP by American metal singer Serj Tankian, released on 19 March 2021 by Alchemy Recordings and BMG.
Background
The EP is made up of five songs Tankian had originally written several years earlier,{{Cite web|last=Graff|first=Gary|date=2021-03-17|title=System of a Down's Serj Tankian has a new EP, 5 Things to Know|url=https://www.theoaklandpress.com/entertainment/system-of-a-downs-serj-tankian-has-a-new-ep-5-things-to-know/article_b96fd98a-8668-11eb-8d0b-1f5e72513f9a.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-07|website=The Oakland Press|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317220722/https://www.theoaklandpress.com/entertainment/system-of-a-downs-serj-tankian-has-a-new-ep-5-things-to-know/article_b96fd98a-8668-11eb-8d0b-1f5e72513f9a.html |archive-date=2021-03-17 }} for a possible System of a Down reunion album that did not come to pass because the other members of the band did not see "eye-to-eye" on their suitability.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-19|title=Serj Tankian releases new solo EP Elasticity: Stream|url=https://consequence.net/2021/03/serj-tankian-new-solo-ep-elasticity-stream/|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Consequence|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=EP review: Serj Tankian – Elasticity|url=https://www.kerrang.com/reviews/ep-review-serj-tankian-elasticity/|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Kerrang!|date=18 March 2021 }} Tankian decided to record the tracks himself with engineers Vlado Meller and Dan Monti and release them under his own name,{{Cite magazine|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=2021-02-05|title=Serj Tankian Announces 'Elasticity' EP, Debuts Video for Title Track|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/serj-tankian-elasticity-ep-video-1124170/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-07|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205135146/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/serj-tankian-elasticity-ep-video-1124170/ |archive-date=2021-02-05 }}{{Cite news|last=Schager|first=Nick|date=2021-02-18|title=How System of a Down's Serj Tankian Helped Spark a Revolution|language=en|work=The Daily Beast|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-system-of-a-downs-serj-tankian-helped-spark-a-revolution|access-date=2021-06-07}} expecting this action to allow the band to move forward.{{Cite web|date=2021-02-05|title=Serj Tankian releases music video for 'Elasticity', title track of new EP|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/serj-tankian-announces-elasticity-ep-release-date-2873058|access-date=2021-06-07|website=NME|language=en-GB}} It is Tankian's first album of original rock and heavy metal-based songs since Harakiri in 2012.
The album was expected to be released in fall 2020, but was delayed due to renewed strife between Armenia and Azerbaijan;{{Cite web|last=Blabbermouth|date=2021-02-04|title=SERJ TANKIAN's 'Elasticity' EP Gets Release Date; Artwork Unveiled|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/serj-tankians-elasticity-ep-gets-release-date-artwork-unveiled/|access-date=2021-06-07|website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET}} Tankian instead spent that period engaged in international awareness efforts. The album features some lyrics referencing the 2021 documentary film Truth to Power, which chronicles Tankian's efforts to gain international recognition for the Armenian Genocide.{{Cite web|date=2021-02-19|title=Serj Tankian on his film Truth to Power, the chaos around Toxicity, and the time he feared for his life|url=https://consequence.net/2021/02/serj-tankian-truth-to-power-interview/|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Consequence|language=en-US}} The title track "Elasticity" was released as an advance single and features a music video directed by Vlad Kaptur.{{Cite web|date=2021-02-05|title=Hear Serj Tankian's New Song "Elasticity" Originally Intended for System of a Down|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/hear-serj-tankians-new-song-elasticity-originally-intended-system-down|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Revolver|language=en}} The song "Rumi" is about Tankian's son and the Persian poet of the same name.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-04|title=Serj Tankian on Activism, 'Elasticity', His Dream Supergroup and System of a Down|url=https://www.spin.com/2021/03/serj-tankian-elasticity-interview/|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Spin}}
Reception
Kerrang! noted that the EP is "a fascinating insight into what a new album [by System of a Down] might have sounded like, through the lens of its most musically adventurous member", while Metal Hammer also noted the creative deviations from that band's expected sounds.{{Cite web|last=February 2021|first=Metal Hammer08|title=Serj Tankian's nutso new song Elasticity will fill the System Of A Down-shaped hole in your life|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/serj-tankians-nutso-new-song-elasticity-will-fill-the-system-of-a-down-shaped-hole-in-your-life|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Metal Hammer Magazine|date=8 February 2021 |language=en}} In the words of Paste Magazine, the EP should mostly satisfy fans of System of a Down, but adds enough new elements to make it Tankian's own work.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-18|title=Serj Tankian's Elasticity EP (Mostly) Scratches the SOAD Itch|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/serj-tankian/elasticity-ep-review/|access-date=2021-06-07|website=pastemagazine.com|language=en}} Blabbermouth called the EP "tremendously eclectic" while praising Tankian as "an incredibly talented and brilliant creative force".{{Cite web|last=Blabbermouth|date=2021-03-15|title=Elasticity - SERJ TANKIAN|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/cdreviews/elasticity/|access-date=2021-06-07|website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET}} Loudwire called the album's title track "delightfully weird" with possible influences from surf rock and new wave.{{Cite web|last=DiVita|first=Joe|date=2021-02-05|title=Serj Tankian's New Song Intended for SOAD Is So Delightfully Weird|url=https://loudwire.com/serj-tankian-elasticity-lyrics-ep-details/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Loudwire|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205130334/https://loudwire.com/serj-tankian-elasticity-lyrics-ep-details/ |archive-date=2021-02-05 }}
Track listing
{{Track listing
|all_writing = Serj Tankian
|title1 = Elasticity
|length1 = 4:01
|title2 = Your Mom
|length2 = 3:19
|title3 = How Many Times?
|length3 = 4:16
|title4 = Rumi
|length4 = 5:28
|title5 = Electric Yerevan
|length5 = 3:46
| total_length = 20:52
}}