Shavo Odadjian’s Seven Hours After Violet Drops New Single "Cry"; VIDEO

Shavo Odadjian is back with his new project—SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET—and they’ve just dropped the music video for their latest single, “Cry.” Far from being a System of a Down copycat, this track goes straight into anguish, longing, and all the good ol’ despair you’d expect from a song called “Cry.” It’s part of the band’s self-titled debut album (give it a listen below), released through Sumerian Records and 1336 Records.

If you’re wondering what “Cry” is all about, brace yourself: it’s the classic struggle of holding onto something that’s already halfway down the drain. The lyrics explore the familiar feeling of clinging to a sinking ship while trying to keep your head above water. Yeah, if you’re in the mood for a song that’ll dredge up all those repressed emotions, this one’s for you. The band describes it as capturing the agony of trying to salvage something broken, while every effort just drags you deeper into an emotional black hole. How charming.

The band itself is a bit of an eclectic mix. Shavo’s brought along Taylor Barber from Left to Suffer to handle vocals—because, of course, you need some growls with that sadness. Morgoth Beatz is on guitar, who’s worked with everyone from Travis Barker to Lil Xan—because nothing says metal quite like hip-hop collaborations, right? Then there’s Alejandro Aranda (aka Scarypoolparty) from American Idol, playing guitar and backing vocals, and Josh Johnson from Winds of Plague rounding things out on drums. This band has more genres than a Spotify playlist.

As for how Shavo ended up forming this crew, it’s got one of those cosmic backstories: on February 22, 2022 (because Shavo’s obsessed with the number 22—hence his brand 22Red), he was doing a live show on KROQ when he met Morgoth Beatz at a party. One song led to another, and soon they had a whole album on their hands. What started as a one-off track to be sold to another artist turned into a full band, because, apparently, Morgoth convinced Shavo to do a full record. And after decades in the business, why not?

Unlike his other projects, where Shavo usually writes at home and then brings his ideas to the band, this one had a different vibe. He’s been writing on the fly, in the studio, letting the music spill out in real time, and recording it all. No rules, no boundaries—just pure, organic flow. The kind of artsy talk that gets bandmates all tingly, but Shavo claims that’s what makes SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET special.

The band name? A sneaky acronym. Morgoth wanted it to be called SHAV or Shavo to make sure people knew it was Shavo’s baby. But Shavo wanted it to feel like a band, not a solo project, so they settled on SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET, which conveniently spells out SHAV anyway. And as for what Violet means? Shavo isn’t telling. He’s leaving it open to interpretation—could be a person, a color, a feeling, a life crisis. Or, you know, just a random name they threw in because it sounded deep.

When it comes to the band members, Shavo is full of praise. Taylor Barber is described as the “new wonder of the world” for his deathcore growls and singing abilities, which apparently range from canary-like to monstrous. Alejandro Aranda? He’s a “musical genius”—though you wouldn’t know it from his time on American Idol, where Shavo didn’t realize he needed him until he joined. And Josh Johnson? Yeah, he’s just “talented as hell.”

The band made its live debut in Los Angeles at the SiriusXM Garage on October 7. And for those who need more, they’re gearing up for Mayhem Festival on October 12 at Glen Helen Amphitheatre. Expect some other U.S. dates, because Shavo isn’t doing just one show for all this effort. They’ve even got some international plans brewing.

If this all sounds a bit sudden, it is. Shavo admits the project started as something small but grew into his passion project. He even started his own label, 1336 Records, partnered with Sumerian for global distribution, and is already plotting a second album. Thirty years in the industry, and Shavo is still pulling strings behind the scenes like a pro.

But don’t expect too much fanfare about what any of it means. Shavo has made it clear—he’s not explaining the band name anytime soon. SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET is here, it’s mysterious, and it’s exactly how Shavo wants it.