Krematorij

Krematorij (Крематорий)
Armen Grigoryan at concert
Background information
Origin	Moscow, Russia
Genres	Blues rock, hard rock, rock and roll
Years active	1983–present
Labels	Melodia, Moroz, Soyuz etc.
Website	www.crematorium.ru
Members	Armen Grigoryan (vocal, guitar), Maksim Guselshchikov (violin, keyboards), Andrey Yermola (drums), Vladimir Kulikov (guitar), Nikolay Korshunov (bass)

Krematorij (Russian Крематорий - "Crematorium") is a Russian rock group. The group is considered one of the best concert performing teams in Russia, known for its masterly rock-n-roll. Formed in Moscow in 1983, Krematorij gained quick recognition, achieved the status of a “legend of Russian Rock-n-Roll” and after 30 years on stage continues to delight its audiences throughout the former Soviet Union, the Netherlands, Germany, Israel and the United States. The group’s front man (and main song writer) is Armen Grigoryan.

The group was formed by Armen Grigoryan and Viktor Troyegubov in 1983 when rock music in the USSR was censored and banned. After running through several names including "The Lady Killers" and "Black Sunday," the group finally decided on "Crematorium." They started playing at musical events called "kvartirniki", underground acoustic concerts held at private apartments. The group quickly grew in popularity in Moscow rock circles. The group was unique in its inclusion of violin as a lead instrument, on the same level as lead guitar, giving it a peculiar colorful sound. After the release of Illusionary World in 1985, the group gained a reputation throughout the Soviet Union and began to perform at concerts all over the country. In 1986 "Krematorij" entered into Moscow rock-laboratory. However, Troyegubov left the group due to discord with Grigoryan and formed a new project called Smoke. Krematorij continued to increase in popularity until several group members left again after the release of Coma in 1988. Coma became the fourth studio album by Krematorij. It was recorded at the Gorky Film Studio with producer Nikolay Shestov, and was awarded by the 1st diploma of "Avrora" magazine. Coma is considered the band's strongest effort of the period, and remains one of the most influential albums of the Soviet rock music. Grigoryan succeeded in drawing new musicians to the band although since 1980's the group sometimes plays with a 'reduced' (acoustic) lineup, including Armen Grigoryan, the violinist and the guitarist. The band has changed with times, "emerging in the words of Rodion Schedrin, as the original "Waltz-Rock" band, much different from its underground beginnings, but always true to its passion to create original music. The band's current repertoire covers a wide range of styles".