Harakiri, Reprise Records ***

Serj Tankian may be best known as frontman of metal band System of a Down, but the 44-year-old has utilised the freedom of his solo career to broaden his palette, previously experimenting with jazz, electronica and symphonic sounds. While future releases will explore those genres further, Harakiri is largely a return to Tankian's frenetic rock roots. As a songwriter with a political conscience, it's inevitable that several songs (Uneducated Democracy, Figure It Out) are a little heavy-handed lyrically, many of them doused in political paranoia. Musically, the invigorating chug of Butterfly and Occupied Tears' chic interlude are thoroughly enjoyable, neatly taking in Tankian's trademark twists and tempo variations and packaging them into songs that get both the blood pumping and the brain ticking. Disregard the title: this is certainly no career hara kiri. serjtankian.com

Download tracks: Butterfly, Occupied Tears