The main complaint against Serj Tankian’s first solo album, “Elect the Dead,” was that it sounded like a watered down version of his original band, System of a Down.

With a new System of a Down album seeming less likely in the near future, Tankian needed to find a way to separate himself from his previous gig.

“Imperfect Harmonies” is a step in the right direction, at least in regard to Tankian setting himself apart. The vocalist and occasional guitarist worked on a symphonic version of his debut album with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra out of New Zealand. He apparently liked the sound because the symphonic influence is noticeable on the new album.

The opening numbers, “Disowned Inc.” and “Borders Are,” incorporate orchestral strings, and even on the tracks that are less directly symphonic, the use of more mainstream rock instruments has been toned down. The first single, “Left of Center,” is still plenty heavy, but Tankian uses the rest of the album to perform his assault on the senses in a more quiet manner.

Tankian claimed to be taking a more “philosophical” approach to the lyrical content of the album, as opposed to his normal political approach. The album is less political, but for the ever-rebellious Tankian, that’s not exactly saying much. Song titles like “Reconstructive Demonstrations” and “Peace Be Revenged” suggest how far Tankian has distanced himself from politics. “Yes, It’s Genocide” approaches the singer’s favorite topic, the Armenian genocide, and the song is performed in Armenian.

Tankian distances himself from his previous band, but there is little doubt that a new System of a Down album would be a more effective way for him to flex his musical muscle.