Epidemia - Volya K Zhizni (EP) (1998)Moroz Records

At the very beginning of this review, I must write that, apart from English and Spanish, my favourite language in rock and metal music is Russian - one of some Slavonic tongues. This very voiced language caused I fell in love with the music of the Soviet and Russian rock and metal groups like Avgust, Avtograf, Aria, Gruppa Stasa Namina, Start, Formula 1, Kredo, Panika, Paranoia, Dialog, Galaktika (Galaxy Group), Interviu, Joker (also known as Sena Son), Kombo, Master, Magnit, Markiza, Chernyi Obelisk, Forvard, Monomakh, Olga Kormukhina (a.k.a. Krasnaya Pantera), Sergey Mavrin, Victor Zinchuk, Pautina, Polis, Primadonna, Radio-Rock, Sankt Petersburg, Sprut Group, Stadion, Staiyer, Angels & Demons, Status, Igor Kupriyanoff, Monte Kristo, Park Gorkogo (Gorky Park), Rondo and many others.

This time, let me present you a Russian band that was founded in 1995 by Yuriy Melisov (guitar; main composer and originator of the band's name) and Andrey Laptev (drums). With time they were supported by Andrey Man'ko (guitar, additional vocal) and Artem Smirnov (bass guitar). The four recorded two demo stuffs called "Bullets" and "Phoenix". Then Man'ko and Smirnov finished his adventure with Epidemia, and the band was strengthened by three new musicians: Pavel Okunev (vocal; Arda), Nikolay Turunov (bass guitar) and Roman Zakharov (guitar; Lady Prowler).

Aforementioned EP was released by the label of Sergey Morozov, and some people consider it Epidemia's unofficial debut. "Volya K Zhizni (Will To Live)" is 5-track material full of heavy metal and melodic guitar parts. The stuffs characteristics are dense and underground sound, however there are also balladish fragments and neoclassical solo gambits. In the year 1998, all Epidemia's musicians were only apprentices of heavy metal art. Heavy metal in their performance was conservative enough, yet instrumentalists - technically adroit. Just then a great potential resided in the band, who was looking for his own style. Since Epidemia is a heir of Aria in a case, this EP can be recommended to all those who desire classic metal with Russian lyrics. Really good connection!