Жизнь в сумерках

Epidemia's fans remember the first albums of the band and they may have bad memories about them because of bad quality reasoned by recording albums on audio cassettes and non-professional works of musicians, especially vocals part by Pavel Okunev and especially Yuri Melisov who was vocals on the first demo album. Listening to "Living in Twilght" album makes you forget all band's mistakes. Maxim Samosvat's vocals are better than in his first Epidemia's work "Mystery of the Magic Country" and can be titled as one of the best metal vocals. Other musicians don't fall behind Max playing difficult solo and rhythm parts.

Now let's rewiew the album's content. It was chosen by Epidemia's fans on its official site by voting. Interlude is "The Gates of Time" which was also the interlude to the "On The Edge of Time". The next track is "Chinking of Coins" - truly one of the best Epidemia's works, although it doesn't have many difficult solos. "On the Edge of Time" is the next, it is also taken from the 1999 year album and changed a little. "The Black Mage" was first played in the "Mystery of the Magic Country" and is also one of the best Epidemia's songs. "Will for Life" appeared first in the single with the same name, this song makes a nice impression on listener. "Feanor" is long-playing song taken from the 2001 year album, it has a lot of difficult solos, not only guitar solos. "The White Falcon" IMHO has too much drums, but nevermind, this song is worth to be played in "The Best of Epidemia". "Be Again With You" reminds about the second track of the album - not very difficult playing but impressing. "Ring of Power" is also one of the long-playing songs worth to be played in this album. "A New Day" - ah, you remember this song, it was played on the first demo and was the best of the worst Epidemia's tracks, but re-playing the song by the new line-up makes nice impressions. "Living in Twilight" - russian version of the bonus track of "Mystery..." - also worth listening. The last bonus track is brutal version of "Living in Twilight". Max growls? Not bad but not the best growling, Samosvat is better when he doesn't growl.

Now talking about the title of my review. Russian power metal is not like, for example, Avantasia or Rhapsody which are power metal standards but it reminds about Stratovarius. Such band is Epidemia - not very epic and without choir effects, it is just a new direction of power metal. Genre fans may not like it but it is worth listening. I hope that the next Epidemia's album will be better than its last work, although it may be impossible.