<br>
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| Name                = Эпидемия
| Img                 = 
| Img_capt            = 
| Img_size            = 
| Landscape           = 
| Background          = group_or_band
| Alias               = 
| Origin              = Russia
| Genre               = Power metal
| Years_active        = 1993 - present
| Label               = CD-Maximum
| Associated_acts     = Arda<br>Aria<br>Catharsis
| URL                 = 
| Current_members     = Yuri 'Juron' Melisov<br>Maxim Samosvat<br>Ilya 'Lars' Mamontov<br>Ivan Izotov<br>Dmitry Krivenkov<br>Dmitry Ivanov
| Past_members        = Pavel Okunev<br>Ilya Knyazev<br>Roman Valeriev<br>Andrey Laptev<br>Pavel Bushuev<br>Evgeny Laikov<br>Roman Zakharov
| Notable_instruments = 
}}

'''Epidemia''' (Russian: Эпидемия, sometimes referred to as 'Epi' by fans) is a Russian Power metal musical band, famous for doing the Elven Manuscript metal opera in 2004. It was formed in 1993, whilst first songs were made back in 1991. Music of Epidemia resembles that of Blind Guardian and Rhapsody of Fire. The band was nominated on MTV Europe Music Award in 2002.

==History==

The band was formed by guitarist Yuri Melisov, nicknamed Juron. In 1994 still nameless collective recorded the demo album "Phoenix", with Melisov as both guitarist and vocalist. Yuri invited the name Epidemia (Russian for epidemic) in 1995. Vocalist Pavel okunev and guitarist-songwriter Roman Zakharov joined Epi to record the debut album "Volya k Zhizni" (Will to Live). The debut release was lo-fi EP and consisted of only five tracks, but its follow-up, "Na Krayu Vremeni" (At the Edge of Time) was the band's first full-length CD. It was recorded by the 'classical' line-up of Yuri Melisov (guitar), Roman Zakharov (guitar), Pavel Okunev (vocals), Ilya Mamontov (bass) and Andrey Laptev (drums)

In 2000 Maxim Samosvat, also a member of Mechanical Poet, replaced Okunev on vocals. First Epi's release with the new vocalist was "Zagadka Volshebnoy Strani" (Riddle of the Wonderland), more melodic and less speed metal-influenced. Video was shot for the ballad "Ya Molilsa na Tebya" (I was Praising You) and aired on MTV Russia. Epidemia was nominated for MTV Europe Music Awards 2002. New line-up changes came, after Roman Zakharov, the second band's composer, departed, and Andrey Laptev started his solo career as vocalist.

{{Gruppo
|Nome Gruppo = Epidemia
|Nazione gruppo = Russia
|Immagine bandiera nazione = Immagine:Flag of Russia.svg
|Generi musicali = Power metal <ref>[http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=8080 Epidemia su metal-archives.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.rockdetector.com/artist,38526.sm Epidemia su rockdetector.com]</ref>
|Anni di attività = 1995 - in attività
|Tipo artista = Gruppo
|Url = [http://www.epidemia.ru epidemia.ru]
|Numero totale album pubblicati = 5 + 1 EP
|Numero album studio = 4 
|Numero album live = 0
|Numero raccolte = 1
}}
Gli '''Epidemia''' sono un gruppo Aria, Master e Ekklesiast.

== Storia ==
La band è stata formata dal chitarrista EP in russo chimatao '''Phoenix''' nel 1996.
<br>Nel 1999 la band abbandona il russo come idioma pubbluca il disco d'esordio ''At the Edge of Time'', ma rimane praticamente sconosciuta, fino all'uscita del loro secondo album ''The Riddle of the Faerie Land'', che riscuote il successo della band in Regno Unito, in Francia, nei Paesi Scandinavi, in Russia e in tutta l'Europa Orientale. Nel 2002 la band riceve la nomina agli MTV Music Awards come "migior gruppo russo" e come "miglior artista alternativo".
<br>Nel 2004, con l'uscita del loro terzo album ''Elven Manuscript'' (El'fiyskaya rukopis' è il sottotitolo russo), la band assume sonorità sinfonico-orchestrali.
Nel 2006 esce il loro ultimo disco ''Living in Twilight'', album che raccoglie tutti gli inediti e le canzoni precedenti non inserite nei loro album.

== Formazione ==
===Attuale===
*Maxim Samosvat - voce
*Ilya Mamontov - chitarra
*Yuri Melisov - chitarra
*Dmitry Ivanov - tastiere
*Ivan Izotov - basso
*Dmitry Krivenkov - batteria