Armenian rock is a conditional genre of rock music performed by persons of a nationality based on the name. In most cases, the compositions are endowed with folklore elements of their country. Armenians flashed this genre in the second half of the 20th century.
A brief history since 1960
The date of the emergence of heavy music of Armenians falls on the mid-1960s in the Soviet Socialist Republic. Armenian rock bands, completely turning a blind eye to state bans, begin to show themselves at various festivals.
At that time, such groups as “Dreamers”, “Glare”, “Arakyalner” and “1 + 2” were popular.
In the 1980s, the work of Armenian groups went beyond the borders of the Soviet Union. The pioneers are Ayas and Asparez. In 1982, the Bambir team received a prize as the best folk rock band at the Belarusian festival of international level.
In 1986, one of the most respected and revered groups of Armenia was created - Vostan Hayots ("Vostan Hayots").
2010s
In 2012, the activity of Armenian rock bands is revived with a new wave. An important role in this event was played by such bands as Kill them all (in the style of thrash metal), Werewolf (in the style of punk), NaqhshBand (indie), Acid trace of suicide (deathcore), Pantheon of Despair (black metal), Creeptown (grunge). The groups described above were able to present completely new genres that had not previously sounded Armenian creativity.
In addition to the debut teams, the musicians of the old school also shone on the stage: InComa, VooDoo, Rahvira, Nairi and others.
List of representatives: "Arakyalner"
The Armenian rock band "Arakyalner" was formed by Arthur Meschyan in 1967. A distinctive feature of the team was the fact that the group became the first in the USSR to perform compositions in their native language. In addition to Arthur, the composition also included drummer Grigor Nalbandian and guitarist Levon Melikyan. The activities of the group aroused interest, and subsequently the musicians gained popularity, however, after 9 years (1976), the group broke up.
Arthur Meschyan continued to create and released three albums, where each composition can be considered a small masterpiece, combining the art of poetry, music and performance.
In 1995, Arthur reaches the peak when he writes the work "Communion", which has no analogues and copies in world culture.
After 10 years, Meschyan creates a release from a concert in the Aram Khachatryan Hall of Yerevan. After a year, he does the same, but with a new performance. In the albums, restored and differently recorded old compositions sounded.
In 2009 he toured the countries of the USA, Armenia and Russia.
Since Arthur is not only a musician, but also an architect, he is now working on the reconstruction of the Matenadaran Old Building.
System of a Down Group
Perhaps the most popular Armenian group at the moment is a group called System of a Down.
The team was organized in 1992 in America thanks to two musicians - Daron Malakyan and Serge Tankyan. At that time, the team was called Soil. Only after 3 years the group took on the form that it has now.
The whole team has Armenian roots: Serj Tankian, Daron Malakyan, John Dolmayan and Shavo Odadzhyan.
From 1998 to 2005, the team released 5 albums, each of which was awarded platinum status. The most successful work was Toxicity's studio recording, which sold over 12 million copies.
The music of the Armenian band System of a Down is often mistaken for alternative metal, art and hard rock, heavy and new metal, progressive metal and rock.
The vocalist Serge Tankyan has a very powerful and huge range of voice, which is a hallmark of this team, recognized around the world.
The group addresses sensitive political issues (e.g. genocide).
Ayas Group
The team was formed in 1987 by a graduate of the conservatories of Moscow and Yerevan, Arthur Mitinyan.
In 1988, their debut work Yerkinq u Yerkir was released. The success was impressive: the team was included in the top ten best groups of the USSR.
In 1991, the soloist Arthur leaves the group and leaves for Moscow, where he creates the world's first rock ballet, The Beatles Forever. However, in an interview from 2007, he said that he wants to again establish contacts with the staff. In 2008, the team reunited.
The main genre of the Armenian rock band is oriental metal. The team specializes and attracts the attention of critics in that it mixes hard rock with Armenian sacred music.
Empyray Team
The date of creation of the Empyray group is in 1994. The idea of the creation of the band was born by the soloist Sargis Manukyan and guitarist Karen Arzumanyan.
Since the beginning and until 1997, the group managed to hold about 50 concerts, however, it gained wide popularity when it recorded its debut work Sev u Spitak. For the album, the team received the national music award "Best Rock Band". Sev u Spitak included 13 singles.
In 2009, the second work was released, for which the group also received the Best Award in Armenia.
In 2011, the third album, Մեկընդմիշտ, was released, which means “Once and For All”.
The Armenian rock band plays in the oriental metal and hard rock directions.
Other representatives
In addition to the above teams, there are also such:
- Vordan Karmir (hard rock crossed with alternative metal and Armenian folk);
- G / f;
- "Bambir" (Armenian folk, arrangements of Komitas songs);
- VooDoo Armeninan Rock Band (progressive, alternative new metal).