Aria is one of the oldest and most famous russian metal bands that plays classical heavy metal in the vein of NWOBHM.
Aria was founded in 1985 in Moscow, USSR by Vladimir Holstinin (guitar), Alik Granovsky (bass) and Valery Kipelov (vocal). Since 1986 the band (produced by Victor Vekshtein) started playing in small clubs and festivals. In 1985 and 1986 they recorded two debut albums “Mania Velichia” (Megalomania) and “S Kem Ty?” (Who Are You With?), released on tape. |In 1987 more than half of the members, including Granovsky and Andrey Bolshakov, left Aria and founded Master to play thrash metal. New Aria, though, became more successful. With Vitaly Dubinin (bass), Sergey Mavrin (guitar) and Maxim Udalov (drums) they recorded their new album Geroy Asfalta (Hero of the Speedway), the first album released by the state publishing monopoly “Melodia”. This album marked the rise of Aria’s popularity, and they even went to Germany on tour.|In 1989 the band dismissed their manager, Victor Vekshtein. Also Maxim Udalov was replaced by Alexander Maniakin. Aria released their next two albums Igra s Ogneom (Playing With Fire) and Krov za Krov (Blood For Blood), where their lyrics (all written by poetess Margarita Pushkina) shifted from social problems to mysticism and history. In 1994 the band found its own studio, “ARIA records”, and the two debut albums were remastered and re-released. After the European tour in 1994, Mavrin and Kipelov declared that they were leaving the band, but label producers convinced Valery to stay. Mavrin was replaced by Sergey Terentiev. In 1995, the new lineup recorded Noch Koroche Dnia (Night is Shorter than Day), and in 1998 - Generator Zla (Generator of Evil). In the same year the biker-centered EP “Harley-Davidson Tribute” which contained covers on Manowar and Golden Earring was also made. In 2001 Aria’s ballad Потерянный Рай (Lost Paradise), recorded featuring Russian President’s Orchestra, became the first metal song in Russia that reached number one of radio charts. The following album, “Himera” (Chimaera), was the band’s best-selling work. |In 2002 the band nearly broke up when Kipelov rowed again with Dubinin and Holstinin, and Aria was claimed to disband. After the farewell tour “Classical Aria”, (finished by a stadium gig “Judgement Day” at August 31, 2002 in Luzhniki, Moscow); Kipelov, Terentyev and Maniakin left the band and started Кипелов - a project named after their leader. Aria continued with Arthur Berkut (vocals), Sergey Popov (guitar) and Maxim Udalov back on drums. With this lineup, Aria recorded Kreshenie Ogneom (Christening by Fire; 2003) and “Armageddon” (2006).
In 2003 Rammstein released a a cover version of Aria’s hit Штиль (The Calm)
Related Links:|Official website|MySpace page|Aria on MetalStorm |
