AWS (band)

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".^[1] They represented Hungary at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Portugal with the song "Viszlát nyár".^[2]

AWS
AWS performing at Eurovision Song Contest 2018
Background information
Origin	Budakeszi, Hungary
Genres	Post-hardcore metalcore alternative metal alternative rock
Years active	2006–present
Labels	EDGE Records
Members	Bence Brucker Dániel Kökényes Áron Veress Soma Schiszler Tamás Stefán
Past members	Marcell Varga Gergő Varga Bence Petrik Ákos Lukács Örs Siklósi

Career

AWS in 2018. Left to right: Veress, Schiszler, Siklósi, Kökényes and Brucker.

The band played Sziget Festival in 2010^[3] and have toured across Europe, in Austria, England, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovenia, and Spain. They won the MTV Brand award for New Winning Band.^[4] 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.^[5] Their song "Viszlát Nyár" (Goodbye Summer) won the competition and as a result, represented Hungary in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018.^[6] 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.^[7][8] 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.

On 6 February 2021, the band announced on Instagram that lead singer Örs Siklósi had passed away on 5 February from leukaemia at the age of 29.^[9]

On 16 January 2023, the band introduced the new vocalist, Tamás Stefán.^[10]

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.^[11]

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.^[11]

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.^[12]

Discography

AWS's logo

Studio albums

Year	Title (Details)	Peak positions[13]	Sales	Certifications
		HUN[a]
2011	Fata Morgana * Label: EDGE Records * Released: 25 April 2011 * Format: CD, DL	27[b] (1 w)
2014	Égésföld * Label: EDGE Records * Released: 7 April 2014 * Format: CD, DL	6[c] (2 w)
2016	Kint a vizből * Label: EDGE Records * Released: 5 September 2016 * Format: CD, DL	7[d] (2 w)
2018	Fekete részem * Label: EDGE Records * Released: 1 October 2018 * Format: CD, DL	2 (3 w)	HUN: 12.000	MAHASZ: 3× Platinum (phy)[14]
2024	Innen szép nyerni * Label: Zeneműkiadó Kft. * Released: 10 May 2024 * Format: CD, DL	3 (4 w)

Live albums

Year	Title (Details)	Peak positions[15]
		HUN[e]
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
Válaszút	2012	—	Égésföld
Világposztolás		—
Ha nem tűnsz el	2013	—
Nem fáj	2014	—
Te is félsz	2015	—	Kint a vízből
Hajnali járat	2016	—
Viszlát nyár	2017	1[16]	Fekete Részem
Hol voltál?	2018	30[17]
X/0		—
Fekete Részem		—
Még Lélegzem	2019	—
Engedd el (feat. Cloud 9+)		—
Emlékszem (Hivatalos videó)	2021	—
Útvesztő	2022	—
Odaát	2023	—	Innen szép nyerni
2359	2023	—
Ketten képzeletben	2023	—
Fények nélkül	2024	—
Nincs Árnyék	2024	—
Senki nincs már ébren	2024	—

Notes

1. The Hungarian Albums Chart doesn't have a personal artist archive, only overall chart rankings archive instead. If you want look up on how long a song or an album lasted in the Charts you have to check it manually.
2. The album charted in the week of 18 October 2018.
3. The album reached its peak position on 13 April 2014 and re-entered the charts at no 21 on 18 October 2018.
4. The album reached its peak position on 9 September 2016 and re-entered the charts at no 20 on 18 October 2018.
5. The Hungarian Albums Chart doesn't have a personal artist archive, only a overall chart rankings archive instead. If you want look up on how long a song or an album lasted in the Charts you have to check it manually.