Ayas was a heavy metal band established in 1987. Led by the Yerevan State Komitas Conservatory graduate Artur Mitinian, the band was the first in the history of Armenian heavy-music to play its works using also the scores. The result of their first-year efforts was so impressive that they were mentioned among ten best rock bands from the USSR in the popular GDR magazines Melodie und Rhythmus and Neues Leben in 1988 together with Asparez, another popular band of Armenian rock. In 1991 they would play a show with Megadeth, but as the vocalist Artur Areskin became piously Christian they did not make it. Oriental rock is their input into heavy-metal, which was developed towards successful commercial standards by the System of a Down.

In 2007 interview Mitinyan stated that he would most likely reunite Ayas and play a concert.

On April 18, 2008 Ayas officially reunited at the Metal Attack festival.

Source : Wikipedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayas_(band) )