Last month, via a series of ranting Facebook posts, System of a Down's bassist revealed that he too was among the many metal fans not-so-patiently awaiting a new album from his own band. He's since deleted the posts and the band issued an official apology, but the damage was done: SOAD's internal rift was made public. Even worse: The band are currently on tour together. Awkward.

Now, frontman Serj Tankian is saying it could be years before a new System album drops. "I can't write a forced record," Tankian told ArtistDirect. "It's like romancing someone at a time you don't want to be romantic. It's not even a choice."

Speaking of romance and heartbreak, steel yourself for this troubling timetable. "A new record requires three years. It's not something I can do right now. When I can commit to a three-year album cycle, I'll be down to do it," Tankian said. "[But] you can't take orders. We're not making pizza."

In short, it'll probably be a lonnnng time before another album from the warped metal masterminds arrives.