System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian’s 2007 solo debut,
Elect the Dead, was a harmless brain-dump, but the idea of
recording it live with an orchestra is another story. The Auckland
Philharmonia Orchestra gamely chase Tankian into a maze of
art-song, but where SoD might turn lyrics like “prophets all
destroying the Tao” into an apocalyptic blitz, surging symphonics
expose it as the doofy pomp it is. And asking classical musicians
to play a song called “Beethoven’s Cunt”? That’s just mean.

Rating:
1.5 Stars