Kipelov

Kipelov (Russian: ) is a Russian heavy metal band from Moscow.

In 2002, dissidents in the heavy metal band Aria lead Valery Kipelov (vocals), Sergey Terentyev (guitar), and Alexander Maniakin (drums) to leave the band and join Sergey Mavrin and bassist Alexey Harkov of Mavrik to form Kipelov>. The group is then named after the name of Valery Kipelov. Kipelov being, for members, a new version of Aria, they immediately start playing. At the end of 2002, Kipelov embarked on a tour of Russia, the Ukraine, and Belarus, during which they played, among other things, in Moscow at the legendary Gorbunov Palace of Culture. In May 2003, after a short break from touring, the band performed outdoors at the Voel Amphitheater in Tel Aviv, Israel.

On May 24, 2003, during an event celebrating 300 years of St. Petersburg, the group played a concert at Saint Petersburg Stadium. Audio and video versions of this concert are then released. On October 4, 2003, Kipelov plays at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow. Sergey Terentyev leaves the group soon after, and forms his own band Arteriya. He is replaced by former Strike and Legion guitarist Andrey Golovanov. This new formation is launched immediately on tour. In December 2003, an album featuring Babylon songs, Time of Troubles, and live and studio versions of I am Free is released on the Moroz Records label.

On March 6, 2004, the band participated in a concert at the Gorbunov Palace of Culture. In September 2004, Kipelov published a Babylon clip directed by Vitaly Mukhametzyanov, also a director of music videos of other artists such as Linda and T.O.T.A.L. The video is broadcast on the MTV Russia channel, and the group is awarded the prize of "most promising group of 2004" at the Russian Music Awards>. In October 2004 Kipelov still goes on tour in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, after the departure of Sergey Mavrin for a solo career. He is replaced by Victor Smolski of the German group Rage>. The group then decides to work on a new studio album, Rivers of Time . They work from winter 2004 until summer 2005, then the album is mastered at Gernhart Studios in Germany. The group publishes, in December 2005, Rivers of Time on CD-Maximum Records. Kipelov turns again, this time for the promotion of the album. The ballad Ya Zdes is significantly broadcast on the radio.