AYAS
Rock Band
The band's history began in May 1986 when Arthur Mitinyan to leave Asparez, a group he had been part of since 1983. It was during this time that he first experimented with compositions blending the ancient Armenian tetrachord system with global influences, a concept he was passionate about. However, his vision was disrupted when the other band members shifted their focus to pure heavy metal, a direction Arthur did not align with.
The formation of a new group took approximately a year. It all initiated when drummer Egishe Marutyan, seeking a keyboardist, approached Mitinyan for collaboration. At that time, Arthur was composing music for theater and needed a lineup for live performances, so he invited Egishe to join him, to which agreed.
Alongside Arthur (keyboards) and Egishe (drums), Torosyan (guitar) and Armen Egiazaryan (bass) became part of the band. However, Arthur's theater work never materialized. During their initial rehearsals, new compositions emerged that echoed the style of Arthur's previous band, with the main lyrics penned by his long-time friend Ara Shipaktsyan. Among these were “Citizen of the Twentieth Century” (Mitinyan – Shipaktsyan), “At the Turn of the Century” (Mitinyan – Shipaktsyan), and "You Can Never" (Egiazaryan).
A vocalist soon emerged: Arthur Areskin, a cycling coach with no prior singing experience. However, his deep passion for rock music, combined with determination and hard work, allowed him to develop a voice that spanned from bass to falsetto, becoming a defining feature of the band during that time.
The group was established in 1986, and rehearsals commenced that same year, although the name was not yet known. Their initial compositions and performances were presented to an audience. By March 1987, the core members of the group were formed, leading the recording of the album "Heaven and Earth."
The original lineup included Arthur Areskin (vocals), Grigory Pribylsky (guitar), Arthurinyan (keyboards), Armen Egiazan (bass), and Sergey Avanesyan (drums). later adopted the name AYAS, inspired by the city in Western Armenia (now in Turkey) and the first Armenian ships built there.
In 1988, the lineup shifted with the addition of talented guitarist Armen Karapetyan, known as Jimik, in homage to Jimi Hendrix. Samvel "Dziuk" Manvelyan replaced Sergey Avanesyan on drums, and this new formation recorded their debut album, "Heaven and Earth."
The music uniquely blended Eastern influences with various rock styles. Arthur Mitinyan, a graduate of the Komitas Yerevan Conservatory, composed most songs, while lyrics addressing war, violence, and social issues were contributed by Armenian poet Ara Shipaktsyan and Armen Egiazaryan. AYAS style was recognized by international critics as Oriental, merging heavy rock with Eastern musical elements. In 1989, four tracks from an unreleased album, "Cruel Rock," were recorded, followed by the music video "The Cruel Fate" in 1991. After several lineup changes, Mitinyan formed a new group in 1993, on the album "Gausch Urvan," which centered on themes from Zarathustric mythology. The band's sound evolved to emphasize Eastern musical scales, with Mitinyan's unique vocal techniques becoming a defining characteristic.
In 1995, they created a piece titled "Vaedemna," but the group disbanded after Mitinyan's departure. AYAS officially reformed on April 18, 2008, with performances including "Vaedemna at "MetalFest." The core members were reestablished as Arthurinyan (vocals, keyboards), Areg Nazaryan (bass), Hovhannes Kuloglyan (guitar), Harout Keshishian (drums).
On October 30, 2010, AYAS performed with Armenian symphonic orchestra, playing the entire "Heaven and Earth" album and half of "Gaushuvan." The group is currently planning a new album and aims to with symphonic orchestras worldwide.
In 1995, they created a piece titled "Vaedemna," but the group disbanded after Mitinyan's departure. AYAS officially reformed on April 18, 2008, with performances including "Vaedemna at "MetalFest." The core members were reestablished as Arthur Mitinyan (vocals, keyboards), Areg Nazaryan (bass), Hovhannes Kuloglyan (guitar), Harout Keshishian (drums). On October 30, 2010, AYAS performed with Armenian symphonic orchestra, playing the entire "Heaven and Earth" album and half of "Gaushuvan." The group is currently planning a new album and aims to with symphonic orchestras worldwide.