Vordan Karmir

Many have heard the serrated melodies of Vordan Karmir, but the 10-year journey of the Vanadzor based Armenian rock band is much less known to its listeners. This coming March, VK will add yet another triumph to their long list of successes with a performance at SXSW in Austin, Texas. The opportunity to present their music and country at the largest music festival in the world is not a small accomplishment for the members who are ready to collect the fruits of years of hard work in their modest Vanadzor studio.

The band that describes itself as “intent on forging their own rules in the contemporary metal game, hell-bent to have their voices heard,” was formed in 2005 by Vahan Poghosyan (vocals), Davit Grigoryan (guitar), and Davit Galstyan (bass) with the intention of generating a new form of art within the Armenian musical sphere. A year after its founding, the group had to take a 2 year hiatus due to the lead singer’s military service. Since their reunification, VK has performed in festivals across Armenia, as well Georgia, Ukraine, Germany, Spain, and the UK.

In 2010, drummer Payqar Chakhoyan joined the band and VK released its first album. The six-song Not an Album was released in 2012, followed by the release of A4 in 2013. Their lyrics are not about zero-content rhyme combination. Instead, their music is alive with an air of raging and wounded sadness, relished with entrancing cynicism. The themes of their songs range from corruption to social indifference. Most importantly, their music attempts to show people what can be achieved if they cross the border of their barb-wired world and liberate themselves from the trap of stereotypes.

The music of VK is an appeal to not waste life by remaining bound by classifications and categorizations, but to give way to inner freedom and protest. The band always stays true to the origins of its members and its sounds tell of the importance of staying faithful to one’s national identity. “A voice has tolled” from their first album is the hymn of the Armenian liberation movement against the Ottoman Empire in 1880s.

The name of the band also reflects its perpetually present balance between Armenian folk music and cutting-edge heavy metal. Vordan Karmir (literally translated to Cochineal Red) is an endangered Armenian insect, from which red carmine paint was produced since the 5th century AD. Due to infiltration of foreign species, Vordan Karmir’s numbers dramatically decreased. As stated by the band, “the ancient method has been forgotten, but the paint is prized for its unfading color and beauty – a legacy Vordan Karmir strives for in their music.”


Syuzanna Petrosyan - RepatArmenia

‘Vordan Karmir' Armenian rock band holds concert for protestors in Baghramyan Avenue
00:12, 26.06.2015
Region:Armenia
Theme: Politics, Society


YEREVAN. - ‘Vordan Karmir’ Armenian rock band held a concert in Yerevan’s Baghramyan Avenue on Thursday evening for the protestors staging a sit-in for already the fourth day over cancelling the decision on electricity tariff hike.

“This is neither the concert of Vordan Karmir, nor a rock concert; this is a demand. We are among you to express our demand together with you, so that these cameras can see and hear how many people are present here,” rock band vocalist Vahan Poghosyan told the excited protestors.

The protest in Baghramyan Avenue is continuing at the moment.

Following the use of force by the police Tuesday morning, people have gathered again and are continuing their sit-in in Baghramyan Avenue, their number rapidly increasing.

Despite the numerous protests over the electricity price hike, the new electricity tariff was approved at the session of Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission of Armenia (PSRC) on June 17. The electricity price has gone up by 6,93 AMD, reaching 48,78 AMD (previously 41,85 AMD) per 1 kWh. Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) CJSC had proposed to raise the electricity price by 17 AMD per 1 kWh. - NewsAm

01. HOW ALL STARTED?

1. It all started when two classmates, childhood friends Davit Grigoryan (lead guitar) and Vahan Poghosyan started to listen to rock music when they were in the 8th grade.
Sooner when they were inspired by the sounds of electric guitar, they decided to learn to play guitar. After learning a few basic chords they found out that they are too lazy to learn and cover their favorite songs, and it's high time to write their own. It was easier and more interesting. Vahan suggested to gather a band and name it Senexes.
It was already 2002 and hell knows what it means.
Senexes band had several gigs in their home town Vanadzor till 2005.
In 2005 Davit Galstyan (bass) and Vardan Paremuzyan (ex-drummer of VK) joined the band.
Vahan Poghosyan suggested to change the name of the band because he wanted the band name to sound Armenian and have meaning and philosophy.
Vahan suggested VORDAN KARMIR.

(Vordan Karmir is a name of red paint in Armenian. In the past it was very popular cochineal in the world. That color was used in paintings, king's clothing, medicine, carpets and in many other things. It was made of special endemic insect in Ararat valley, Armenia.
Now the secret of making that paint is lost. And VK members decided to refine the lost value in their music.)

So everything started when all 4 members said Yes to the new band name.
In 2010 Payqar Chakhoyan joined the band as a drummer.
During 10 years of existence VK had many concerts in Armenia, played gigs in Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, London, Germany and Spain, appeared in several local and international music festivals. Released one full-length album (A4) and two EPs.



02. HOW DO YOU DEFINE VORDAN KARMIR MUSIC?

We know that we are playing rock music, with elements of folk and metal. We think that it is not our business to define our music, it is up to critics.


03. WHAT´S YOUR INFLUENCES?

SOAD, Korn, RATM, Tool, Limp Bizkit, Led Zeppelin, Deftones, Metallica, Armenian folk, etc.


04. HOW´S THE ACTUAL LINE-UP?

Payqar Chakhoyan: Drums
Vahan Poghosyan: Vocals
Davit Grigoryan: Guitar
Davit Galstyan: Bass


05. DID YOU HAVE PLAYED MANY GIGS?

Not as much as we'd like to.



06. WHAT ARE YOUR INSPIRATIONS FOR THE YOUR LYRICS?

Mankind, Life, Society, Universe, God.


07. HOW MANY ALBUMS/CD´S HAVE YOU RELEASED?

A4 Album (full-length) 2013
Not An Album (EP) 2011
Vordan Karmir (EP) 2010


08. DO YOU HAVE ANY SIDE PROJECTS?

Vahan Poghosyan and Payqar Chakhoyan have a side project called Machine Aubergine.
Davit Galstyan has a side project named AVYUN


09. HOW´S ARMENIA UNDERGROUND SCENE?

Too small.



10. YOU ARE SATISFIED WITH THE RESULTS OF VORDAN KARMIR?

Not yet.


11. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE VORDAN KARMIR?

We hope only success!

12. THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT. ANY LAST COMMENTS?


Would like to play in Brazil.

Many thanks Agathus! - HELL´S FRIENDS ZINE