Band:	Aria
Album:	Мания Величия
Style:	Heavy metal
Release date:	1985

01. Это Рок
02. Тореро
03. Волонтер
04. Бивни Черных Скал
05. Мания Величия
06. Жизнь Задаром
07. Мечт
08. Позади Америка

I really love this album. Yes, it's not one of the best albums, but to me it's very worthy, and even underrated to some extent. It doesn't have a single bad song, although it has a lot of average ones. But overall, Мания Величия is a really good effort, especially for a debut record. This album has its own atmosphere, its own soul: very Russian, thoughtful and beautiful in the sense that the music here is very melodic and harmonious.

Every song here makes you think about life, makes you penetrate into an alternative reality, imbued with a slight coldness that gives you pleasant goosebumps. That's why I love Aria, because despite some similarities with other metal bands of that era, they have an absolutely unique atmosphere and background, thanks to which all songs feel one hundred percent complete. But the peculiarity of these eight songs is that in my opinion they most of all reflect this Arian mixture of traditional heavy metal with traditional melancholic and thoughtful Russian melodism, which is so close to the Russian listener.

Also it would be a crime not to talk about the incredible talent of this lineup, because all the songs, despite some musical clichés, turned out to be quite complex and original, and the lyrics written by Margarita Pushkina are incredibly poetic and beautiful. Also, of course I couldn't not mention the then-already brilliant vocalist Valery Kipelov, my favorite member of the band, and my favorite and (in my opinion) best vocalist in the world.

Song rating:
01. "Это Рок" ("This Is Doom") - 8/10
02. "Тореро" ("Torero") - 9/10
03. "Волонтер" ("Volunteer") - 9/10
04. "Бивни Черных Скал" ("Ridges Of Black Cliffs") - 9/10
05. "Мания Величия" ("Megalomania") - 7/10
06. "Жизнь Задаром" ("Life For Free") - 8/10
07. "Мечт" ("Dreams") - 8.5/10
08. "Позади Америка" ("America Is Behind") - 8/10