Country of origin:Armenia
Location:Yerevan
Status:Active

Formed in:2013
Genre:Atmospheric Black/Folk Metal
Lyrical themes:Nature, Armenian legends and folktales
Current label:Unsigned/independent
Years active:?-2013 (as Symphony of Silence), 2013-present

DISCOGRAPHY

Rituals in a Dungeon White Single 2014
2014 EP EP 2014 1 (98%)
A Symphony Carved in Stone Single 2015
Echoes From The Diaspora Live album 2017
A Symphony Carved in Stone Full-length 2019

current line up

Narek Avedyan Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards (2013-present)
See also: Andor, The Ugly Ducklings, Visht, ex-Symphony of Silence
Armen Manukyan Guitars (2016-present)

PAST MEMBERS

Ervin Martirosian Drums, Percussion (2013-2014)
Emin Khechoomian Guitars (2013-2014)

reviews

Avarayr - 2014 EP - 98%
MDL, June 16th, 2018
Avarayr is an Armenian band hailing from Yerevan that definitely presents a very interesting music. They complement traditional black metal sound, in a slow rhythm (similar to most bands which adopt that same sound and blend it with folk/pagan metal), with instruments and sonorous effects that resemble Persian and typically Middle Eastern music. However, they doesn't appear to pretend to exalt that latter vertent on their music, unlike another bands, that explore it in a more sumptuous way, such as Orphaned Land or Arkan, as Avarayr inserts folk music sonorous effects as a subtle accompaniment to the metallic instrumentation. Additionally, there is another characteristic that appears as proeminent in Avarayr's music: the presence of acoustic introductions and interludes, generally long ones, connected with symphonic and folk instruments/sounds, such as keyboards, flutes, acoustic guitars and even the drums' cymbals, elements that are progressively densified until they finally meet with the initial black metal parts. The epic symphonies are highlighted as a permanent mark on the music, following it consistently and acquiring different sonorities, corresponding with its progression. There are even entirely instrumental tracks.

We could affirm that Avarayr's music, sometimes, might be repetitive and monotonous, however, it never turns out to be boring, as if it was able to put the listener in a state of hypnosis, intending to keep him to appreciate the melody. In fact, that appears as a breath of fresh air to the listener, being capable of, effectively, creating a smooth and relaxing music. And along with those elements, acoustic passages are frequently played. It's like the music itself was able to invoke a specific ambient, associated with a bucolic or mountainous scenery, just as the album cover suggests and represents, in a very simple way. Additionally, it includes some passages in absolute silence, as if those were created to exponentiate such imaginary atmosphere.

As aforementioned, the drumming is often detached by the cymbals, as a sonorous effect densifier. The regular beating comes right as the typical black/pagan metal's standard drumming. The vocals are also pretty close to black metal's, appearing as a tremble and shallow screaming, whispering and even some serene clean vocals. Those latter are more proeminent in the cover of Burzum's "Dunkelheit", being less aggressive and distorted than the original version. The EP finishes with another Burzum's cover, the ambient track "Tomhet", a purely pacific and limpid song.

All this aggregation of metallic, folk and symphonic instrumentation appears as a conglomerate that emits a truly relaxing, fresh and contemplative musicality. There's an evident absence of technical complexity on the instrument's playing, which is compensated by the equilibrium they estabilish with each other, being on equal terms, which ensures a perfectly articulated music between the elements that compound it While a definitely unique band, Avarayr reminds me of more famous black/folk/pagan metal acts, such as Falkenbach or Empyrium, as I would absolutely recommend this EP to every fan of those latter bands or an admirer of pagan metal in general.