Aria

A Soviet and Russian heavy metal band formed in Moscow in 1985 by guitarist Vladimir Holstinin and bassist Alik Granovsky, both former members of the VIA "Singing Hearts". The band's manager and producer was Viktor Vekshtein, who provided the studio for recording. The name "Aria" was suggested by Holstinin to contrast the operatic term with the band's heavy sound. The official founding date is considered to be October 31, 1985, when work on their debut album "Megalomania" was completed. The album, inspired by bands like Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath, was recorded in a traditional heavy metal style. Vocalist Valery Kipelov joined the band, followed by guitarist Andrey Bolshakov and drummer Igor Molchanov. Their first concert took place on February 5, 1986, at the MAI Palace of Culture. That same year, Aria participated in the "Lituanika-86" and "Rock Panorama-86" festivals, receiving acclaim and awards for professionalism and anti-war compositions. In 1987, they released the album "Hero of Asphalt" on the "Melodiya" label, which brought them widespread recognition. Despite internal conflicts and lineup changes, Aria continued to release successful albums, including "Playing with Fire" (1989), "Blood for Blood" (1991), "Generator of Evil" (1998), and "Curse of the Seas" (2018). Their lyrics, often based on historical and mythological themes, were primarily written by poet Margarita Pushkina. The band significantly influenced the development of Russian heavy metal, and former members went on to form groups like "Master", "Kipelov", "Mavrin", and "Arteria", collectively known as the "Aria Family". In 2007, Aria received the Fuzz award for Best Live Band. Despite lineup changes, the band continues active creative work, releasing new albums and touring.