Epidemia
Russian band
title: "Epidemia" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["musical-groups-from-moscow", "russian-power-metal-musical-groups", "musical-groups-established-in-1995"] description: "Russian band" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidemia" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Russian band ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist "]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Эпидемия |
| Epidemia | |
| image | Эпидемия в Воронеже.jpg |
| caption | Epidemia, 2023 |
| background | group_or_band |
| origin | Moscow, Russia |
| genre | Power metal |
| years_active | 1993 (unofficial), 1995–present |
| label | CD-Maximum |
| associated_acts | Mechanical Poet, Arda, Aria, Catharsis |
| current_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. | |
| :: |
| name = Эпидемия Epidemia | image = Эпидемия в Воронеже.jpg | caption = Epidemia, 2023 | image_size = | background = group_or_band | alias = | origin = Moscow, Russia | genre = Power metal | years_active = 1993 (unofficial), 1995–present | label = CD-Maximum | associated_acts = Mechanical Poet, Arda, Aria, Catharsis | website = | current_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 (, 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.
History
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Epidemia-Israel2015-9.JPG" caption="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.
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.
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).
Discography
::data[format=table]
| 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 |
| Легенда Ксентарона | Legenda Ksentarona | The Legend of Xentharon | 2018 |
| Вне правил (EP) | Vne pravil (EP) | Beyond the rules (EP) | 2019 |
| Призраки и тени | Prizraki i Teni | Ghosts and shadows | 2021 |
| :: |
Members
Current members
- Yury Melisov - guitars (1993–present), vocals (1993–1996)
- Dmitry Krivenkov - drums (2003–present)
- Ilya Mamontov - guitars (2005–2010), bass (2011–present)
- Dmitry Protsko - guitars (2011–present)
- Evgeny Egorov - vocals (2011–present)
Past members
- Dmitry Shcherbakov - bass (1993–1995)
- Mikhail Yeltsov - drums (1993–1995)
- Aram Oganesyan - guitars (1993–1994)
- Artem Smirnov - bass (1995–1996)
- Andrey Laptev - drums (1995–2002)
- Andrey Manko - guitars (1995–1997)
- Nikolay Turunov - bass (1996–1998)
- Pavel Okunev - vocals (1996–2000)
- Roman Zakharov - guitars (1997–2001)
- Ilya Knyazev - bass (1998–2005)
- Ekaterina Usanova - keyboards (1999)
- Ekaterina Gladkova - keyboards (1999)
- Oleg Pokhvalin - keyboards (2000–2001)
- Maxim Samosvat - vocals (2000–2010)
- Pavel Bushuyev - guitars (2001–2004)
- Roman Valeryev - keyboards (2001–2005)
- Evgeny Laykov - drums (2002–2003)
- Ivan Izotov - bass (2005–2010)
- Dmitry Ivanov - keyboards (2005–2015)
Timeline ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:120 bottom:80 top:0 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1993 till: TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Colors = id:vocals value:red legend:Lead_Vocals id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:studio value:black legend:Studio_Album id:other value:gray(0.6) legend:Demo,_EP id:bars value:gray(0.95)
BackgroundColors = bars:bars Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1997
LineData = layer:back color:studio at:04/01/1999 at:06/01/2001 at:02/13/2004 at:04/07/2005 at:11/13/2007 at:04/01/2010 at:12/24/2011 at:04/10/2014 at:02/08/2018
LineData = layer:back color:other at:06/01/1995 at:06/01/1998
BarData = bar:Pavel text:"Pavel Okunev" bar:Maxim text:"Maxim Samosvat" bar:Evgeny text:"Evgeny Egorov" bar:Yury text:"Yury Melisov" bar:Aram text:"Aram Oganesyan" bar:Andrey text:"Andrey Manko" bar:Roman text:"Roman Zakharov" bar:Pavel2 text:"Pavel Bushuyev" bar:Ilya text:"Ilya Mamontov" bar:Dmitry text:"Dmitry Protsko" bar:Dmitry2 text:"Dmitry Shcherbakov" bar:Artem text:"Artem Smirnov" bar:Nikolay text:"Nikolay Turunov" bar:Ilya2 text:"Ilya Knyazev" bar:Ivan text:"Ivan Izotov" bar:Ekat text:"Ekaterina Usanova" bar:Ekat2 text:"Ekaterina Gladkova" bar:Oleg text:"Oleg Pokhvalin" bar:Roman2 text:"Roman Valeryev" bar:Dmitry3 text:"Dmitry Ivanov" bar:Mikhail text:"Mikhail Yeltsov" bar:Andrey2 text:"Andrey Laptev" bar:Dmitry4 text:"Dmitry Krivenkov"
PlotData= width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:Pavel from:06/01/1996 till:06/01/2000 color:vocals bar:Maxim from:06/01/2000 till:12/30/2010 color:vocals bar:Evgeny from:02/01/2011 till:end color:vocals bar:Yury from:01/01/1993 till:06/01/1996 color:vocals width:2.5 bar:Yury from:01/01/1993 till:end color:guitar bar:Aram from:01/01/1993 till:11/01/1994 color:guitar bar:Andrey from:02/01/1995 till:06/01/1997 color:guitar bar:Roman from:06/01/1997 till:10/01/2001 color:guitar bar:Pavel2 from:10/01/2001 till:12/01/2004 color:guitar bar:Ilya from:02/01/2005 till:02/01/2011 color:guitar bar:Ilya from:02/01/2011 till:end color:bass bar:Dmitry from:02/01/2011 till:end color:guitar bar:Dmitry2 from:01/01/1993 till:10/01/1995 color:bass bar:Artem from:10/01/1995 till:06/01/1996 color:bass bar:Nikolay from:06/01/1996 till:10/01/1998 color:bass bar:Ilya2 from:10/01/1998 till:10/01/2005 color:bass bar:Ivan from:10/01/2005 till:12/01/2010 color:bass bar:Ekat from:06/01/1999 till:09/01/1999 color:keys bar:Ekat2 from:09/01/1999 till:12/01/1999 color:keys bar:Oleg from:02/01/2000 till:02/01/2001 color:keys bar:Roman2 from:09/01/2001 till:02/01/2005 color:keys bar:Dmitry3 from:08/01/2005 till:12/01/2015 color:keys bar:Mikhail from:01/01/1993 till:02/01/1995 color:drums bar:Andrey2 from:02/01/1995 till:12/01/2002 color:drums bar:Dmitry4 from:02/01/2003 till:end color:drums
References
References
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