Ayas (band)
AYAS | |
|---|---|
| Ayas Band 250 Ayas' 2014. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Yerevan, Armenia |
| Genres | heavy metal(early), oriental metal |
| Members | Arthur Mitinyan,
David Nersisyan, Armen Karapetyan, Tigran Atanesyan, Derenik Vardumyan |
Ayas is an Armenian oriental metal band, formed in 1986.
History
The group was created in 1986. In the same year the first rehearsals had begun, though the name of the group was unknown, and the first compositions had been created and performed to the audience. In March 1987 the backbone of the group was formed and the album “Heaven and Earth” had been created.
The group consisted of following musicians – Arthur Areskin (vocal), Grigory Pribylsky (guitar), Arthur Mitinyan (keyboards), Armen Egiazaryan (bass), Sergey Avanesyan (drums). Then the group took the name AYAS. It was the name of the medieval city in Western Armenia (now it is on the territory of Turkey). Also the first Armenian ships, which were built in this city were called AYAS. In 1988 masterly guitarist Armen Karapetyan (his nickname is Jimik, in honor of legendary Jimi Hendrix) joined the group. Samvel "Dziuk” Manvelyan (drummer) took the place of Sergey Avanesyan, and this staff had recorded the first album “Heaven and Earth”.
Style and Lyrics
The style of the group had incorporated all the rich palette of east music along with the best canons of world rock. The author of the compositions became Arthur Mitinyan, who by then had ended the Yerevan conservatory named after Komitas on a speciality the composer.
The lyrics of compositions in the Armenian language belonged to the Armenian poet Ara Shipaktsyan and Armen Egiazaryan. The album “Heaven and Earth” includes lyrics against wars, violence, drugs and etc. Throughout the history of the group since 1986 have been developed principles of crossing many canons of a heavy rock (hard, heavy, trash, black) with east frets that has allowed many foreign musical critics to christen the style of AYAS as Oriental (Melody and Rhythmus, Noes Leben, Germany 1989, AIM USA1992).
In 1989 four compositions were recorded from a non-realized album “Cruel Rock”. In 1991 the clip “The Cruel Fate” was made. In 1992 the updated staff began the rehearsals for the album “Island of the Candles”. In 1993 all members left the group because of many reasons.
In the same year Arthur Mitinyan gathered the new staff and began work on the album ”Gausch Urvan“ (The Spirit of the Bull, translation from Aryan, on themes of Zarathustric mythology) together with bass player Areg Nazaryan (bass, background vocal). If in the first album east frets were used in equal proportions with European, then, beginning from the album ”Gausch Urvan“, a basis of musical language of the group entirely has made east frets (tetrachords) which are the base in ancient music of the Middle East, in particular Armenia, Iran, India. The music and the lyrics written by Arthur Mitinyan.
The Technic of Singing
Arthur Mitinyan uses a unique vocal technic singing, which became one of the new logos of the group. It is based on breath involving inside, creating thus a boomerang effect. And the same concerns to back singing falsetto. That’s why a special microphone adjustment was required, as the striking power goes inside. This method had been used by ancient priests of the East during prayers. Having written a header composition “Vaedemna” in 1995, the group has been broken up for 13 years, because of Arthur Mitinyan’s departure.
Official date of the revival of AYAS is considered to be on 18th of April 2008. Then Arthur Mitinyan and Areg Nazaryan together with the young musicians played “Vaedemnа” from the album ”Gausch Urvan“ on “MetallFest”. Later some concerts had been spent and the basic backbone of the group was formed: Arthur Mitinyan (vocal, keyboard), David Nersisyan (rhythm guitar), Armen Karapetyan (lead guitar), Tigran Atanesyan (bass), Derenik Vardumyan (drums).
In 2010 on October 30th AYAS with a symphonic orchestra of Armenia under the direction of Edward Topchyan gave a concert. The program was made by entirely played album “Heaven and Earth” and half of compositions from ”Gausch Urvan“.
Now the group plans to record a new album and take part in several projects together with symphonic orchestras in abroad.
Current members
- Arthur Mitinyan – keyboards (1986–present), lead vocals (1994–present)
- David Nersisyan – rhythm guitars (2014–present)
- Armen Karapetyan – lead guitars (1987–present)
- Tigran Atanesyan – bass guitar (2014–present)
- Derenik Vardumyan – drums, percussion (2008, 2014-present)
- Lilith Stepanyan – backing vocals (2014–present)
- Yana Movsisyan – backing vocals (2014-present)
Discography
- Heaven and Earth – (1988)
- The Cruel Fate – (1991)
- Gaush Urvan – (2015–recording)
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