Armand Melnbardis (7-string electric violins, keyboards), Tracy Shell (drums) & Tom McDyne (bass)
Influences
Such "Violinists" ;) as Joe Satriani, Chris Impellitteri, Steve Vai, Zakk Wylde, Roy Z, Yngwie Malmsteen, Randy Rhoads, Billy Gibbons, Vito Bratta, Jennifer Batten, Toni Iommi & Eddie Van Halen ... I guess you get the idea ... well, also Tampa Bay Lightning and ANY LATVIAN who plays HOCKEY IN NHL :)
Sounds Like
Electric 7-string rock violin can sound like anything you want it to sound like, but most guitar players are blown away by its range and unlimited possibilities. It produces the meanest distortion you can imagine, and the next moment it sounds like the most beautiful and romantic violin you have ever heard. It sounds like “Vio7”. There is nothing like that out there.
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VIO 7 is a rock group that is venturing in uncharted territories of rock music by using 7-string electric rock violin as a lead instrument, instead of guitar.
ARMAND MELNBARDIS
(7-string heavy rock violins, piano, keyboards)
Multi-Instrumentalist, Producer, Audio Engineer, Composer & Clinician with touring experience in USA & Europe.
Leader of the group, well known for his immaculate playing skills as classical player, has clearly proven his ability to challenge any guitar player with his driving rock riffs and soaring solos. His violin playing possesses power and range far beyond the capabilities of a tradition rock/metal guitar.
TRACY SHELL
(Drums)
Joined the Minnesota hard rock band Gemini in 1993 touring the Midwest and playing on their heavy and experimental third record The Spiritual Dimensions of Music before opening for original Quiet Riot line-up in 1998.
He left Gemini and Minnesota to become a long-time touring member for the Voice of Melodic Metal: Rob Rock, sharing the stage with such heavy-hitters as Thin Lizzy, Ratt, Dokken, TNT, Dio, UDO, Overkill, Twisted Sister, Jackyl, Skid Row, Axel Rudi Pell, Kamelot, and Savatage at shows throughout the US, Europe and Japan. In September of 2008, Tracy performed with Rob Rock at the annual Prog Power USA Festival in Atlanta Georgia, which was recorded and filmed for a CD and DVD to be released in 2009.
In addition, Tracy performed and recorded with The WTKS Philips Phile radio show-formed band ODDO playing major promotions and festivals in the Central Florida area, opening for bands including Offspring, Puddle of Mudd and Damage Plan. Releasing one CD Never Odd or Even, recorded at J. Stanley Productions Inc. (Matchbox20) produced by Marty Ogden (Motley Crue).
Having toured with ZAK STEVENS and JON OLIVA of SAVATAGE fame throughout Norway, Spain, Holland, Greece, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Czech Republic, Hungry, Romania, Serbia, Finland, Turkey, The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Italy and the United States, you can be sure to see Tom with VIO7 just about anywhere very soon!
Tom's stage experience (all MAIN stage) includes: Sweden Rock Festival (135,000 in attendance), Graspop Metal Meeting Festival (135,000 in attendance), Bang Your Head Festival (15,000 in attendance), Rock Hard Festival - MAIN stage (8,000 in attendance), Karmageddon Festival (5,000 in attendance), Tuska Festival (5,000 in attendance), Athens Open Air Festival (10,000 in attendance), Rock The Nations Festival (5,000 in attendance), Metal Dayz Festival (5,000 in attendance), Rockin Transylvania Festival (5,000 in attendance), Queens Of Metal Festival (5,000 in attendance), MetalWay Festival (5,000 in attendance), ProgPower Festival (1,500 in attendance. Tom has also played most "A circuit" clubs all throughout Europe and the United States.
Tom is - OFFICIALLY - endorsed by ArtistRelations.com, CHARVEL.com guitars, DIEZELamplification.com, DrStrings.com, D-Tuna.com, FloydUpgrades.com, InTuneGP.com plectrums, SeymourDuncan.com pickups, ScottDixonInc.com cases, SOLDANO.com amplification, STRINGLIFE (a division of DR Strings), Tremol-No.com tremolo accessory and VintechAudio.com microphone pre-amplifiers. Most endorsements are verifiable on the respective manufacturers website. Some companies are behind on updating their artist rosters and can be verified by phone. More endorsements to be announced soon!
Watch videos of Tom from all over the world at MySpace.com/TomMcDyne
Since the duties of electric guitar are replaced with a rock violin, Tom McDyne often faces an additional task to double as a „rhythm guitarist“, while maintaining his solid yet elaborate bass lines.
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VIO 7 has received a lot of positive feedback and numerous CD reviews throughout the USA and even from foreign rock/metal webzines. The highly respected German ROCKTIMES calls Armand „The devil violinist who sets off fireworks with his unbelievable violin performance“, CLICK HERE!
The honorable webzine METAL MONTHLY and it's founder Omar Rayna nominated Armand Melnbardis as FEATURED ARTIST.
Please listen to the full-length audio interview which goes in a great detail about the ins and outs of Armand as a heavy metal violin player. CLICK HERE!
Check out these interviews and reviews on VIO7...
Music with a difference using a 7 String Violin
that rocks like any metal guitar......
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VIO7...
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I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO VOTED, THOUGHT OF VOTING OR DIDN'T QUITE MAKE IT ON TIME, FOR GETTING IT DONE THIS WAY.
HERE'S THE FRUIT OF YOUR EFFORTS ... STOP BY THIS PROFILE OR VIO7.COM,
www.Twitter.com/ArmandVio7 or FaceBook.com/ArmandVio7 OFTEN, THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW HAPPENING...CIAO! :)
Hey there!! thanks you soooo much for all the vids and the links!! I understood the Spanish review!! LOL Love that cover of Crazy Train with one of my favorite singers...ROB ROCK!!!! Armand, Armand, Armand, YOU ARE SO TALENTED!!! I watched that one vid where you were playing the piano..just beautiful hun!! YOU ARE SO MULTI-TALENTED!!...W-O-W!!! I have nothing but complete respect for you friend!!! When are you gonna do a show in Texas?? LOL Love ya!!!!
Music gives people a voice that is uniquely theirs......... This can happen through an instrument or in the way that music helps people identify both simple and complex emotions........ At its best, music transports one into a different world..... When one returns to the normal world one has a greater perspective on existence!!!!!!!!!! Good vibes and friendship....Amalia Amanda
I never tire of seeing your videos and listen to your music. If I had enough money to purchase all tickets to give a concert just for me. my Lord all my kisses for you
For sure Crazy busy is the word. I'm in College Full time for my Nursing Degree and devoting all my spare time to our eZine days have been flying by way too fast but its cool lots to do but I'm lovin every minute of it;)
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