"I love you, man," Serj Tankian beams, hugging Daron Malakian tightly to a sea of cheers from over 60,000 delirious, onlooking System Of A Down fans. The last time this writer saw the Armenian-American metal heavyweights share a stage - at Download festival 2017 - they looked like they all wanted to be anywhere else, shoulders slumped, static poses and practically ignoring each other. It was a depressing visual for one of millennial metal's most creative and idiosyncratic bands.
Today, the vibes couldn't be more different: singer Serj can barely stop smiling; guitarist Daron's stage banter is playfully eccentric rather than grumpily off-kilter; bassist Shavo Odadjian looks like he's having the time of his life. Even powerhouse drummer John Dolmayan's trademark intensity is broken by the occasional grin. One 40-something fan sat near us remarks in disbelief as he takes in the spectacle: "Are System Of A Down back?!"
