Serj Tankian - Elect the Dead Symphony (Serjical Strike/Reprise) ** (From Dorset Echo)

Serj Tankian - Elect the Dead Symphony (Serjical Strike/Reprise) **

1:30pm Friday 12th March 2010 in Music By Sam Rowe

THIS Edwardian affair sees the System of a Down frontman’s solo record reimagined live with the accompaniment of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, curating a beautiful clash of heavenly symphony and darkened lyrics.

Baby possesses all the attributes of a Tim Burton flick performed on a West End stage, while the second track (which I won’t name for fear of the sack) grabs you by the jugular and drags you into Serj’s surreal, world as he wants to “Find the little evil perpetrator/And feed him to the hungry alligator”.

But this dramatic cloak and dagger affair can become all too familiar at times, as the songs merge into epic tirades of terror which with each howling wail have the potential to lose their ferocious bite and your attention along with it.