Epidemia is a Russian power-metal band that was formed in 1995 by Yury Melisov. In 2004 Epidemia released the first Russian Metal-Opera ‘Elfijskaya Rukopis’ (‘Elven Manuscript’), which featured many famous Russian metal-singers and told of the magician half-elf Dezmond and his struggle against malicious forces. Currently, the band is preparing an extended acoustic program and material for the new album, which will be released in 2010.