Epidemia
Encyclopedia
Epidemia is a Russia
n 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
.
) 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.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band famous for doing the Elven Manuscript
Elven Manuscript
Elfiyskaya Rukopis' is a metal opera and concept album by Russian power metal band Epidemia. Vocalists from Aria, Arida Vortex, Master, Chorny Obelisk and Boney NEM participated in the opera...
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
MTV Europe Music Awards
The MTV Europe Music Awards were established in 1994 by MTV Networks Europe to celebrate the most popular music videos in Europe. Originally beginning as an alternative to the American MTV Video Music Awards, the MTV Europe Music Awards is today a popular celebration of what MTV viewers consider...
.
History
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 epidemicEpidemic
In epidemiology, an epidemic , occurs when new cases of a certain disease, in a given human population, and during a given period, substantially exceed what is expected based on recent experience...
) 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
Mechanical Poet
Mechanical Poet is a Russian metal band formed in Moscow in 2002. The band releases concept albums in post-prog and progressive metal genres with original orchestral arrangements and electronic instruments.-History:...
, 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
MTV Russia
MTV Russia is a Russian language free-to-air 24 hour entertainment and music service seen in 22 million households in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Omsk, Voronezh, Novosibirsk, Chelyabinsk and Yekaterinburg, among other cities.-History:...
. Epidemia was nominated for an MTV Europe Music Award
MTV Europe Music Awards
The MTV Europe Music Awards were established in 1994 by MTV Networks Europe to celebrate the most popular music videos in Europe. Originally beginning as an alternative to the American MTV Video Music Awards, the MTV Europe Music Awards is today a popular celebration of what MTV viewers consider...
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
Rock opera
A rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include...
. Originally, he had planned to create music for the Dragonlance
Dragonlance
Dragonlance is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of popular fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived Dragonlance while driving in their car on the way to TSR for a job application...
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
Elven Manuscript
Elfiyskaya Rukopis' is a metal opera and concept album by Russian power metal band Epidemia. Vocalists from Aria, Arida Vortex, Master, Chorny Obelisk and Boney NEM participated in the opera...
), featuring vocalists from Aria
Aria (band)
Aria is a Russian heavy metal band that was formed in 1985 in Moscow. Although it was not the first Soviet band to play Heavy music, Aria was the first to break through to mainstream media and commercial success. According to several public polls, Aria ranks among top 10 most popular Russian rock...
, Arida Vortex, Chorny Obelisk and Master
Master (Russian band)
This article is about the Russian thrash metal band. For the American death metal band, see Master .Master is a thrash metal band from Russia, founded in 1987 by former members of Aria.-Biography:...
, 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
CIS
CIS usually refers to the Commonwealth of Independent States, a modern political entity consisting of eleven former Soviet Union republics.The acronym CIS may also refer to:-Organizations:...
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 Transliteration Transliteration is a subset of the science of hermeneutics. It is a form of translation, and is the practice of converting a text from one script into another... | 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 Elven Manuscript Elfiyskaya Rukopis' is a metal opera and concept album by Russian power metal band Epidemia. Vocalists from Aria, Arida Vortex, Master, Chorny Obelisk and Boney NEM participated in the opera... |
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 |
External links
- Official site (in both Russian and English)
- Epidemia MySpace
- Yuri Melisov's website