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.
