Epidemia

For the butterfly genus Epidemia, see Lycaena. For the Ill Niño album, see Epidemia (album).

Эпидемия Epidemia
Epidemia, 2015
Background information
Origin	Moscow, Russia
Genres	Power metal
Years active	1993 (unofficial), 1995–present
Labels	CD-Maximum
Associated acts	Mechanical Poet, Arda, Aria, Catharsis
Members	Yuri Melisov Eugeny Egorov Ilya Mamontov Dmitry Protsko Dmitry Ivanov Dmitry Krivenkov
Past members	Pavel Okunev Ilya Knyazev Roman Valeriev Pavel Bushuev Evgeny Laikov Roman Zakharov Ivan Izotov, Max Samosvat, etc.

Epidemia (Russian: Эпидемия, sometimes referred to as 'Epi' by fans) is a Russian power metal band famous for doing the Elven Manuscript metal opera in 2004. It was formed by guitarist Yuri "Juron" Melisov in 1993, with the first songs made in 1995. The band was once nominated for an MTV Europe Music Award.

History

Epidemia in Israel, 2015

In 1993, the as-yet unnamed group recorded the demo album Phoenix, with Melisov performing both guitars and vocals. Melisov came up with the name "Epidemia" (Russian for epidemic) in 1995. Vocalist Pavel Okunev and guitarist-songwriter Roman Zakharov joined Epidemia to record the debut studio release Volya k Zhizni (Will to Live) a lo-fi EP with five tracks. The follow-up, Na Krayu Vremeni (At the Edge of Time) was the band's first full-length CD. It was recorded by the line-up of Yuri Melisov (guitar), Roman Zakharov (guitar), Pavel Okunev (vocals), Ilya Knyazev (bass) and Andrey Laptev (drums).

In 2000, Maxim Samosvat, who was a member of Mechanical Poet, replaced Okunev on vocals. Epidemia's first release with the new vocalist was Zagadka Volshebnoy Strani (Riddle of the Wonderland). A video was shot for the ballad "Ya Molilsya na Tebya" (I was Praising You) and aired on MTV Russia. Epidemia was nominated for an MTV Europe Music Award in 2002. New line-up changes came after Roman Zakharov (the band's second composer) departed, and Andrey Laptev left the band.

With the new line-up, Melisov decided to complete a conceptual metal opera. Originally, he had planned to create music for the Dragonlance series of fantasy novels, but Epidemia was unable to get rights. Melisov instead wrote his own storyline for the opera, which was similar to the Dragonlance series. In 2004 the conceptual album Elfiyskaya Rukopis (Elven Manuscript), featuring vocalists from Aria, Arida Vortex, Chorny Obelisk and Master, was released. The album was produced by Vladimir Holstinin of Aria fame. Epidemia's presentation of Elven Manuscript together with Aria on February 13, 2004 at the Friday 13 Festival was attended by around 6,000 people. The popularity of the band grew, and the track "Proydi Svoy Put" (Pass Your Way) from the opera held the top position on the Nashe Radio weekly chart for one month.

A year later, Epidemia released the Livin' in Twilight album, consisting of re-recorded songs from their first three albums. Livin' in Twilight was recorded with Ilya "Lars" Mamontov playing second guitar instead of Bushuyev. In fall 2006, Epidemia released a double DVD set, consisting of 10 Years' Path, a live recording of material from their first three albums, and The Elven Manuscript, a recording of songs solely from the Elven Manuscript album. In 2007, Epidemia released a follow-up to Elven Manuscript', entitled The Elven Manuscript: Legend of All Times. It continued along the same storyline set in the first metal opera, and was Epidemia's first full-length featuring Ivan Izotov on bass.

A theatrical performance of both parts of Elven Manuscript took place in the Luzhniki Sports Arena on December 3, 2007, and drew 5000 fans. After the 2007 release and show, Epidemia received many offers to play in different Russian cities and CIS countries (Ukraine, Latvia, Armenia). In April 2008, Epidemia held "The Unusual Concert", where all the musicians played on unusual acoustic instruments.

Epidemia is currently working on a DVD of the 2007 theatrical performance. In addition, the band is preparing an extended acoustic program and material for the new album, which will be released in 2010.

Discography

Original title	Transliterated title	Meaning	Year of release
Феникс (demo)	Feniks (demo)	Phoenix (demo)	1995
Воля к Жизни (EP)	Volya k Zhizni (EP)	Will To Live (EP)	1998
На Краю Времени	Na Krayu Vremeni	On The Edge Of Time	1999
Загадка Волшебной Cтраны	Zagadka Volshebnoy Strany	The Quest Of The Magic Land	2001
Эльфийская Pукопись	El'fiyskaya Rukopis'	Elven Manuscript	2004
Жизнь в Cумерках	Zhizn' v Sumerkah	Living In Twilight	2005
Эльфийская Рукопись 2: Сказание На Все Времена	El'fiyskaya Rukopis' 2: Skazanie Na Vse Vremena	Elven Manuscript 2: Saga For All Times	2007
Сумеречный Ангел (Сингл)	Sumerechniy Angel (Single)	Angel of Twilight (Single)	2009
Дорога Домой	Doroga Domoj	Road to Home	2010
Всадник из Льда	Vsadnik iz L'da	The Ice Rider	2011
В Трезвучиях Баллад... (концертный альбом)	V trezvuchiyah ballad	In Triads of Ballads... (concert album)	2012
Сокровище Энии	Sokrovische Enii	Treasure of Enya	2014
Придумай Светлый Мир (Сингл)	Pridumay Svetliy Mir (Single)	Think up a Bright World (Single)	2016

External links

• Official website (in both Russian and English)
• Epidemia MySpace