This past week, System of a Down have played back-to-back shows in East Rutherford, NJ (August 27 & 28) and Chicago, IL (August 31 & September 1), with Korn and Avenged Sevenfold as co-headliners respectively. In between sets, images of characters and a familiar swirl logo have been displayed on the stage screens. These illustrations can be traced back to the Las Vegas-based music festival Sick New World, which has celebrated and showcased some of nu metals biggest acts in past iterations.
First announced in 2022, the inaugural lineup for the May 8, 2023 date was headlined by nu metal legends System of a Down, Korn, Deftones, and Incubus, but also included many other nu metal and adjacent bands on the bill. The following year in 2024, the aforementioned SOAD headlined yet again, this time being joined in the top spot by Slipknot. However, after the 2025 lineup was released, with headliners Metallica and Linkin Park, it had been announced that this years offering had been cancelled due to financial reasons.
Shortly after, SOAD drummer John Dolmayan expressed his sadness over the cancellation in a now-deleted Instagram post, with the caption telling fans that the beloved festival will be back in the future, and that the band would love to play again if that's what the fans want.
The fact that System of a Down headlined the only two Sick New World festivals to occur and proved to be a big draw, then was left off of the 2025 lineup, which didn't do well financially and caused it's cancellation, cannot be ignored. There is clearly a demand for System of a Down, as their summer stadium shows sold out immediately and second dates had to be added.
So far, nothing has been officially said in regards to a Sick New World revival, or if System of a Down would be on a potential future lineup, but all signs are pointing that direction. The last of their stadium mini-tour takes place in Toronto, Canada on September 3rd and September 5th, so maybe we will get more teases or even an official announcement on the last night?
Check out this video showing the devil that is shown in the Sick New World cancellation picture above in the top right corner:
@cahrluhhh_ In between sets there were some graphics from the cancelled Sick New World festival. Is this a possible teaser that it may return? Maybe have it on the east coast? #systemofadown #soad #korn #metal #fyp
♬ Chop Suey! - System Of A Down
