Just like the "Rage" topic at ML, this is made to present a band you probably never heard of before. However, while "Rage" had generally good feedback, suggesting this band to you guys is much harder and requires a leap of faith on your side, as they sing in russian.

The band is called "Aria". Several members left it in the early 2000's to form a band called "Kipelov" which had a slighly more modernized approach to music. I will post a few video of both, because I think they're almost the same performance-wise. The style is hard rock and heavy metal with classical influences. Here are the most definitive songs (most in live performances)...

MUST SEE:

Playing With Fire (go here for the symphonic orchestra version)

Torero

Without You

The Calm

Blood for Blood

I am Free

If you couldn't go past the foreign language barrier, there really is no point to see any of the following videos...

OPTIONAL (contains more of the 'modernized' songs that I spoke of)

Hero of the Speedway (oldschool song)

Time of Distempers (modrn heavy metal song, excellent performance)

Shard of Ice (official videoclip)

All that Was (couldn't find a pure video, you'll have to bare with some anime sound interfering from time to time)

On the Crossroad (catchy to sing along, I hope)

I am Here

Obsession (the intro to the solo is just... amazing)

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Aug 13 2009, 3:11 pm by JaFF.

I saw you listening to these guys in "What the HECK are you listening too" and I checked out "Topepo". I love it.

I don't think the Russian will be a big issue for most people.

Then you'll probably like the other songs too. Tell me what you thought when you listen to them.

I hope so. For me, it's a bit frustrating when you don't know exactly what they sing.

Well I find that Rammstien is fairly popular, but no one knows what they're saying.

Speaking of lyrics: the grandaughter of the greatest poet in russian history is writing lyrics for Aria.

Yay for Aria. Not my favorite band, but they come close.

I have no problem with not understanding what they're saying. Most death metal I like is unintelligible.

I like these guys. The lead singer reminds me of a Russian Dave Mustaine (from Megadeth), which is just comical.

I fail to see the connection between him and Mustane. The first thing I compare in singers are their voices; Kipelov's voice (that's the singer's name) is one of the best voices in metal, IMO.

I dunno, had that sort of classic metal feel to it. Something about it just reminded me of Megadeth.

Another awesome song I found:

Night is Shorter than Day

Megadeth is hardly classic metal. ;o Metal started in like the 60s and 70s... Megadeth is from the 80s.

I'm listening to some of the songs. They are pretty good. ;o

I'm using the term "classic" as an example of something that is "exemplary of a particular style." Another example would be hearing some new song by Eric Clapton and saying, "Man, that sure does sound like classic Clapton. Reminds me of his Cream days." Specifically in that post I'm saying Aria reminds me of old metal (yes, in this case from the 80's) and that old metal sound.

As a side note:
Aside from Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Motorhead, and very few others, I tend to feel like metal really picked up in the 80's. The roots are in the 60's and 70's, sure, but I generally think that metal found it's sound in the late 70's and early 80's. Similarly, metal found a new sound in the 90's. I'm no expert, and I'm certain others will disagree, but that's just always how I've felt. I think I've just been so influenced by modern metal that it seems odd to classify bands like Led Zeppelin and The Who as early metal.

Check out this awesome acoustic version of "Torero":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5GpOt65z2w