AWS (pronounced ah-vi-esh) is a Hungarian post-hardcore band formed in early November 2006 by Örs Siklósi (September 4, 1991 – February 5, 2021), Bence Brucker, Dániel Kökényes, Soma Schiszler and Áron Veress. Their music is characterized by diversity, powerful performances, and sudden changes, which utilizes metal, psychedelic rock, alternative and post-rock styles. Up to now, they have released five studio albums, two live albums and fourteen video clips. Their music videos often have juxtapositions of images of violence and celebrities in order to bring light to problems that the world faces, exhibiting what they call being "anti-celebrity". They represented Hungary at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Portugal with the song "Viszlát nyár".AWS – Viszlát Nyár – Hungary – Official Music Video – Eurovision 2018 . Official Eurovision Song Contest on YouTube. Published 9 March 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
Career
The band played Sziget Festival in 2010 and have toured across Europe, in Austria, England, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovenia, and Spain. They won the MTV Brand award for New Winning Band. They have toured with Blind Myself.
At the beginning of 2017, Soma Schiszler joined the team. On 6 December 2017, it was announced that AWS would compete in A Dal 2018, the Hungarian national selection process for the Eurovision Song Contest 2018. Their song "Viszlát Nyár" (Goodbye Summer) won the competition and as a result, represented Hungary in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018. They qualified from the 2nd semifinal, and ended in 21st place in the final with 93 points.
During their stint at Eurovision Song Contest it was announced that AWS were invited to play at Wacken Open Air in August 2018.Frank Jaeger: Powermetal.de: AWS wird in Wacken spielen und heute Abend im TV – mitwählen! (German)Jan Feddersen: Taz.de: 63. Eurovision Song Contest in Lissabon – Engtanz und Extensions (German) In October the same year AWS released their fourth full-length studio record called Fekete Részem which charted at no. 2 at Hungarian Albums Charts a week later.
Lead singer Örs Siklósi died on 5 February 2021 from leukaemia at the age of 29. The band announced his death on Instagram the following day.
On 16 January 2023, the band introduced the new vocalist, Tamás Stefán.
Musical style According to an interview with the German-language Hungarian newspaper Budapester Zeitung the musicians came in contact with rock and metal music during their childhoods. Bands like Nirvana, Metallica and several Hungarian metal bands were the first ones they listened to. The musicians named Linkin Park, Pantera, System of a Down, and Korn, as well as Hungarian acts Superbutt, Subscribe and Isten Háta Mögött as their personal musical influences.
The band's lyrics on their debut record Fata Morgana were mostly written in English but they decided to write song lyrics in Hungarian for future songs. For Fata Morgana, the band wrote the lyrics in Hungarian first and later translated them into English. The lyrical themes deal with personal experiences as well as societal and economic themes.
Their sound has been described as having catchy melodies, a clear Hungarian character, vocal harmonies and a decent groove. Some songs were described to be mass appealing, modern metal.
Discography
Studio albums Year Title(Details) Peak positionsCharts: HUN Sales Certifications HUN 2011 Fata Morgana* Label: EDGE Records* Released: 25 April 2011* Format: CD, DL 27 (1 w) 2014 Égésföld* Label: EDGE Records* Released: 7 April 2014* Format: CD, DL 6 (2 w) 2016 Kint a vízből* Label: EDGE Records* Released: 5 September 2016* Format: CD, DL 7 (2 w) 2018 Fekete részem* Label: EDGE Records* Released: 1 October 2018* Format: CD, DL 2(3 w) HUN: 12,000 MAHASZ: 3× Platinum 2024 Innen szép nyerni * Label: Zeneműkiadó Kft.* Released: 10 May 2024 * Format: CD, DL 3(4 w)
Live albums Year Title(Details) Peak positionsCharts: HUN HUN 2018 Madách* Label: EDGE Records* Released: 24 December 2018* Format: CD, DVD, DL 9
Extended plays Title Details Világposztolás Released: 2012 Label: EDGE Records Format: Digital download, CD
Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Album HUN Takard el 2011 — Fata Morgana Válaszút2012 —Égésföld Világposztolás — Ha nem tűnsz el 2013 — Nem fáj 2014 — Te is félsz 2015 —Kint a vízből Hajnali járat 2016 — Viszlát nyár 2017 1 Fekete Részem Hol voltál? 2018 30 X/0 — Fekete Részem — Még Lélegzem2019 —rowspan="4" Engedd el(feat. Cloud 9+) — Emlékszem(Hivatalos videó) 2021 — Útvesztő 2022 — Odaát2023 —Innen szép nyerni 2359 — Ketten képzeletben — Fények nélkül2024 — Nincs Árnyék — Senki nincs már ébren — Pillanatom2026 –Non-album single
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