Armia

Armia (English: Army) is Polish punk rock and hardcore punk music band founded in 1985 by Tomasz Budzyński, Sławomir Gołaszewski and Robert Brylewski. Armia is famous for its use of horn, which was unusual of punk rock bands in late 1980s and 1990s. With poetic (often inspired by philosophy and literature) lyrics, written by Budzyński, and evolving, creative music Armia has gained popularity and respect over the years, and its concerts now attract numerous fans of rock music.

Armia
Background information
Origin	Poland
Genres	Punk rock, hardcore punk, Christian punk, progressive punk
Years active	1984 - present
Labels	Pronit, Wifon, SPV Poland, S.P. Records, Ars Mundi, Pomaton EMI, Metal Mind Productions, Isound Labels
Website	www.armia.art.pl
Members	Tomasz Budzyński Jakub Bartoszewski Daniel Karpiński Paweł Piotrowski Rafał Giec

Armia's lyrics and cover art has frequently alluded to philosophy, literature and religion. The cover of the LP Legenda (A Legend) features Don Quijote and some lyrics were inspired by gnosticism. The title of the LP Czas i Byt (Being and Time) comes from Martin Heidegger's work Being and Time. Other sources of inspiration include the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Bible, The Divine Comedy and Samuel Beckett (Triodante), Tove Jansson's The Moomins, films like Werner Herzog's Aguirre, the Wrath of God or Marek Piwowski's Rejs.[1]

Although the basis of Armia's sound has always been punk rock, the band's changing musicians have brought with them numerous other styles and material: hardcore, heavy metal, keyboard riffs, sampling, and complex, quasi-orchestral arrangements. Therefore, each of the band's albums sounds different from the rest.[2]

Band members

Tomasz Budzyński

Current

• Tomasz "Tom Bombadil, Budzy" Budzyński – vocals, guitars (1984–present)
• Jakub Bartoszewski – horn, keyboards (2002–present)
• Rafał "Frantz" Giec – guitars
• Amadeusz "Amade" Kaźmierczak – drums (2013–present)
• Dariusz Budkiewicz - bass (2014- present)

Former

• Sławomir "Merlin" Gołaszewski – clarinet (1984–1987)
• Tomasz "Żwirek" Żmijewski – bass guitar (1984–1988)
• Aleksander "Alik" Dziki – bass guitar (1985–1989)
• Krzysztof "Banan" Banasik – horn (1987–2009)
• Dariusz "Maleo" Malejonek – bass guitar (1990–1993)
• Krzysztof "Dr Kmieta" Kmiecik – bass guitar (1998–2011)
• Janusz "Grzmot" Rołt – drums (1984–1986)
• Piotr "Stopa" Żyżelewicz – drums (1985, 1989–1998, 2011)
• Beata Polak – drums (1998–2002)
• Tomasz "Gogo, Szulc" Kożuchowski – drums (1986–1989)
• Maciej "Ślepy" Głuchowski – drums (2003–2006)
• Tomasz "Krzyżyk" Krzyżaniak – drums (2006–2011)
• Robert "Afa, Bryl, Robin Goldrocker" Brylewski – guitars (1984–1993, died 2018)
• Paweł "Pablo" Piotrowski – bass guitar (1993–1998, 2011–2014)
• Michał Grymuza – guitars (1994–1995)
• Darek "Popkorn" Popowicz – guitars (1995–2005)
• Paweł Klimczak – guitars (1999–2010)
• Daniel "Karpiu" Karpiński – drums (2011–2012)

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		POL [3][4][5][6]
Armia	Released: June 13, 1988[7] Label: Pronit Formats: CD, LP, CS	—
Legenda	Released: May 6, 1991[8] Label: Wifon Formats: CD, LP, CS	—
Czas i byt	Released: November 13, 1993[8] Label: SPV Poland Formats: CD, CS	—
Triodante	Released: November 15, 1994 Label: S.P. Records Formats: CD, LP, CS	—
Duch	Released: November 24, 1997[9] Label: Ars Mundi Formats: CD, CS	—
Droga	Released: September 13, 1999[10] Label: Ars Mundi Formats: CD, CS	—
Pocałunek mongolskiego księcia	Released: October 27, 2003[11] Label: Pomaton EMI Formats: CD, digital download[12]	21
Ultima Thule	Released: January 31, 2005[13] Label: Metal Mind Productions Formats: CD	5
Der Prozess	Released: January 28, 2009[14] Label: Isound Labels Formats: CD	15
Freak	Released: November 30, 2009[15] Label: Isound Labels Formats: CD	—
Podróż na Wschód	Released: November 27, 2012[16] Label: Isound Labels Formats: CD	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		POL [3]
Exodus	Released: 1992 Label: Izabelin Studio Formats: CD	—
Soul Side Story	Released: October 5, 2000 Label: Ars Mundi Formats: CD	—
Przystanek Woodstock 2004	Released: June 11, 2007 Label: Złoty Melon Formats: CD	50
Armia 25-lecie Zespołu XVI Przystanek Woodstock 2010	Released: December 9, 2010 Label: Złoty Melon Formats: CD	—
Koncerty w Trójce vol. 02 - Armia	Released: April 8, 2013 Label: Polskie Radio Formats: CD	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Video albums

Title	Video details
Koncert na XX-lecie	Released: January 16, 2006 Label: Metal Mind Productions Formats: DVD
Przystanek Woodstock 2004	Released: June 11, 2007 Label: Złoty Melon Formats: DVD

References

1. "Armia's myspace profile". 2009-12-23. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
2. "cgm.pl - Tomasz Budzyński - malarz, poeta, muzyk - część 1 - a video interview". 2011-05-28. Archived from the original on 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
3. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". olis.onyx.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-29.
4. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". olis.onyx.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-29.
5. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". olis.onyx.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-29.
6. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". olis.onyx.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-29.
7. "Armia - Armia - Muzyka - WP.PL". muzyka.wp.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-29.
8. "Czas i byt - Armia - Muzyka - WP.PL". muzyka.wp.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-29.
9. "Duch - Armia - Muzyka - WP.PL". muzyka.wp.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-29.
10. "Droga - Armia - Muzyka - WP.PL". muzyka.wp.pl. Retrieved 2016-05-29.
11. "Armia - Pocałunek mongolskiego księcia - Muzyka w Interia.pl". muzyka.interia.pl. Archived from the original on 2014-09-17. Retrieved 2016-05-29.
13. "Armia - Ultima Thule - Muzyka w Interia.pl". muzyka.interia.pl. Archived from the original on 2013-05-03. Retrieved 2016-05-29.
14. "Armia - Der Prozess - Muzyka w Interia.pl". muzyka.interia.pl. Archived from the original on 2012-07-14. Retrieved 2016-05-29.
15. "Armia - Freak - Muzyka w Interia.pl". muzyka.interia.pl. Archived from the original on 2009-12-07. Retrieved 2016-05-29.
16. "Armia - Podróż na Wschód - Muzyka w Interia.pl". muzyka.interia.pl. Archived from the original on 2013-04-03. Retrieved 2016-05-29.

External links

• www.armia.art.pl