A comeback roar after nine years away from Europe! Nine years during which fans of System of a Down never lost hope of seeing their favourite band live in France. It’s finally at the Stade de France, on the doorstep of Paris, that Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian, Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan have decided to lay down roots as part of their new European tour. A first for this landmark of alternative metal, which until now had never played at this mythic stadium in Seine-Saint-Denis.
On Thursday, July 2, 2026, for the first of two Parisian shows by the American outfit inside the Île-de-France venue, the crowd was clearly in the starting blocks. Since 2001 and the worldwide breakthrough of the sophomore album, "Toxicity", fans have grown up and aged. Yet the enthusiasm and anticipation of seeing this essential alt-metal act live in Paris were plainly palpable. SOAD t-shirts were abundant in the stands and the pit that Thursday night.
But before headbanging and moshing to System of a Down, the Stade de France crowd was treated to two opening acts—quite exceptional, if you ask me—with the first being Acid Bath. Little known to younger audiences, Acid Bath has recently reformed after the sludge-metal outfit folded in 1997 following the road accident that claimed bassist Audie Pitre. This year they’re back in the spotlight, notably at Hellfest, and also as the opening act for SOAD.
It wasn’t easy to kick off the evening, but the Louisiana quintet pulled it off brilliantly. After an opening built around the iconic Black Sabbath riff, which blasted at 6:30 p.m., Acid Bath delivered five of their old cuts, including the much-loved Tranquilized and Bleed Me an Ocean. The distinctive voice of their frontman Dax Riggs sent shivers down our spines, as the mix of doom metal, blues, and gothic rock quickly charmed the crowd. There’s no doubt this American combo did well to reform and take the stage again 27 years after their split.
Another vibe, another band with the Queens of the Stone Age. The American outfit fronted by the magnetic Josh Homme bursts onto the Stade de France stage at 7:30 p.m. for a tight 60-minute set, powered by some of their biggest anthems. "Little Sister", "Go With the Flow", "Sick, Sick, Sick", but also "No One Knows", sung along by a large portion of the crowd, or "Run, Pig, Run"—a song the group hadn’t played live since 2008... Giving rise to the first circle pits of the night, QOTSA indisputably delighted the eyes and ears of the Stade de France audience, and us too!
We’re just minutes from the start of System of a Down’s concert, and the crowd is heating up in waves of chants. In the pit, a fan dressed as Where’s Waldo? climbs onto a friend’s shoulders and leads a giant clapping session! A few Armenian flags—a nod to the band members’ roots—also billow in the breeze. At 9:10 p.m., the lights finally go out and the American quartet storms onto the stage to a thunderous round of applause.
It's with the track "X", taken from the album "Toxicity", that SOAD chooses to open the show. Hat on and sunglasses pinned to his nose, Daron Malakian wastes no time letting out a cathartic scream. It quickly becomes clear that the Armenian-American multi-instrumentalist and vocalist is in top form, as are his bandmates Serj Tankian, Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan. SOAD wastes no moment and tears in with the thunderous "Prison Song", sparking a flurry of pogos in the pit. Up next are the powerhouse tracks "Violent Pornography" and "Mr. Jack", where Serj Tankian starts at the keyboard before switching to guitar in hand.
Dressed head to toe in black, except for Shavo Odadjian who this evening is rocking bright yellow knee-high socks, the members of SOAD look thrilled to be back in Paris after so many years. On several occasions, you’ll catch Serj Tankian flashing a smile. The crowd is buzzing with energy as the show just kicks off. In the pit, shoes and T-shirts soar above the heads. Down in the lower tiers, people remain on their feet, bodies and heads moving frenetically to the guitar riffs and pounding drums.
The energy climbs another notch with "I-E-A-I-A-I-O". The crowd is buzzing, shaking with the swaggering lyrics delivered by Serj Tankian. Next up is the track "Soldier Side - Intro". "Welcome to the soldier side, where there's no one here but me. People all grow up to die, there is no one here but me", Daron Malakian proclaims. The duo keeps the momentum going with the famous "B.Y.O.B." and its aggressive riffs. The audience jumps and roars, while lines are projected on four ultra-thin, long vertical screens suspended above the stage. "No Coverage, no Shelter, no Future", one can read there.
From there on, the energy stays at peak and the songs flow one after another with the same ferocity and enthusiasm: Soil, Deer Dance, Radio/Video, or Bubbles with its intricate rhythms, the indispensable Hypnotize, and the irresistible Needles.
Serj Tankian isn’t the type to keep jumping around or sprinting from one side of the stage to the other. No. Rather low-key, the SOAD frontman occasionally closes his eyes and keeps time with his left arm. His strength is his voice. On this Thursday night, the artist treats us to an impressive showcase of his vocal talents. There’s nothing to fault! On their end, Shavo Odadjian pulls faces and taps out little steps, while Daron Malakian seems unstoppable, delivering an astonishing performance. Genuine stage truehorses, these two make a formidable pair and their energy is incredibly infectious. In the crowd, several circle pits break out simultaneously as a spectator unveils a smoke bomb to everyone’s surprise.
The evening tilts even more toward euphoria as the opening notes of the worldwide hit "Chop Suey!" ring out, followed by "Lonely Day". Not surprisingly, phones glow throughout the Francilienne venue during this track, less frantic than the previous ones, but just as exhilarating.
The bodies look tired, but the night isn’t over yet. The crowd roars for "Lost in Hollywood", their raised arms swaying from side to side. The band takes a moment to catch their breath, taking in this scene as they survey a sea of fans in France’s largest stadium. The fan dressed as "Where’s Charlie?" even makes a return on his friend’s shoulders. Shavo Odadjian notices him and pretends to snap a photo. System of a Down is met with a long, thunderous ovation. The band seems barely able to believe it.
System of a Down, who have long promoted pacifism and spoken out against wars, also uses the evening to dedicate a song to the people of Gaza, the protesters in Iran, and the Lebanese. The band then moves on with "Aerials", one of the hits fans had been hoping to hear on this tour. On the central giant screen, images of trapeze artists mid‑performance are projected.
Daron Malakian and Serj Tankian treat us to a tender moment during the track "Roulette." The latter even leans in to kiss the former on the head, as the crowd’s emotion runs high. After all these years, System of a Down feels tighter and more unified than ever. Tonight, the band clearly showcased their great chemistry and their joy at returning to Europe.
But that’s not all. SOAD still has plenty left in the tank, and the crowd does too. The evidence is the hit "Toxicity," which this year marks 25 years and gave its name to the band's most famous album. Unsurprisingly, phones shoot up in droves and the fans boil with energy in the pit! Riding the high, the band brings onstage the drummer’s daughter, who is celebrating her birthday. Quick as a flash, the crowd doesn’t miss a beat and belts out a unison "Happy Birthday" for her.
Back to the music, and it’s with "Sugar" that System of a Down decides to wrap up this roughly 1 hour and 45 minute set in style. The four members of SOAD look genuinely elated, embracing one another before saluting the crowd and tossing drumsticks and picks into the pit.
While the Stade de France has hosted grand scenographies in recent weeks, such as David Guetta's, System of a Down has chosen to lean into simplicity. No monumental stage set for this tour, not even pyrotechnics, but only a giant screen at the back of the stage and ultra-polished lights. In truth, System of a Down doesn’t need artifices to shine. Their timeless songs, their riffs that never go out of style, and the powerhouse voices of Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian are enough to make us swoon and travel. Because yes, System of a Down pulled off their bet: to take us back in time and relive our youth. This era of carefree days that we were pleased to rediscover this Thursday night purely through the power of music!
