Armenian youth orchestra plays tribute to System of a Down

KTAR – System of a Down might be categorized as anything from nu metal to hard rock to progressive rock. Whatever the case, the genre is far from the type played by an orchestral ensemble.

But that doesn’t mean SOAD’s music can’t cross over to such things.

Armenian students at the Naregatsi Art Institute took System of a Down’s “Aerials” from their very successful Toxicity album and created an orchestral arrangement. While the song as a rock tune plays into that well, the result is still wildly beautiful.

Watch Naregatsi perform Aerials on youtube here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7n4O5bqrVA

For comparison’s sake, here is the original version of “Aerials.”

So how did an American band find the ears of an art school in eastern Europe?

Well, it seems SOAD is well-liked in the region. System of a Down lead singer Serj Tankian was awarded a Memorial Order medal from the country’s prime minister, Tigran Sargsyan, while touring there in 2011 thanks to the artist’s “recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the advancement of music,” according to a local newspaper.