# Epizod
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{{Short description|Bulgarian metal band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Epizod
| image =
| caption =
| origin = [Sofia](/source/Sofia), Bulgaria
| genre = [Thrash metal](/source/Thrash_metal)
[Heavy metal](/source/Heavy_metal_music)
[Folk metal](/source/Folk_metal)
| years_active = 1988–1994, 1996–present
| website = {{url|epizod.com}}
| current_members =
*[Dimitar Argirov](/source/Dimitar_Argirov)
*Simeon Angelov
*Vasil Belezhkov
*Simeon Hristov
*Hristo Gyosharkov
| past_members =
*Vasil Kalpachki
*Nikolay Urumov
*Miroslav Galabov
*Dragomir Draganov
*Rosen Doychinov
*Ivo Georgiev
*Delyan Georgiev
*Pavlin Bachvarov
*Panayot Kerelezov
*Stoyan Petrov
*Deyan Aleksandrov
*Emil Chendov
}}
'''Epizod''' (Bulgarian: '''Епизод''') is a Bulgarian [heavy metal](/source/Heavy_metal_music) band formed in 1983 in [Sofia](/source/Sofia). The first songs of the band were inspired by the French poet [François Villon](/source/Fran%C3%A7ois_Villon). Epizod are famous in Bulgaria for their concerts which include theatre, an [Orthodox church](/source/Eastern_Orthodox_Church) [choir](/source/choir), and an ensemble for [Bulgarian folk songs](/source/Music_of_Bulgaria) and dances.
== History ==
=== 1980s–1993 ===
Since 1983 different musicians from the 'Emil Shekerdzhiyski' culture club in Sofia had played different music styles under the name 'Epizod. At that time the drummer was Panayot Kerelezov. When Rosen Doychinov (keyboards) and Miroslav Galabov (guitar) joined him and began to write their first original songs on lyrics by [François Villon](/source/Fran%C3%A7ois_Villon) with the help of Simeon Hristov (bass guitar) who joined later the actual rock and metal band had its direction. They only needed a lead singer and so in 1989 [Dimitar Argirov](/source/Dimitar_Argirov) (then a student in the [Medical University, Sofia](/source/Medical_University%2C_Sofia)) was found. It was going to be their very first album ''Pray!''. Later during a concert it was announced the replacing of P. Kerelezov with new drummer Stoyan Petrov who played the second part of it. In October 1990, the British [BBC](/source/BBC) filmed Epizod's concert at the [National Palace of Culture](/source/National_Palace_of_Culture) in [Sofia](/source/Sofia). After the change of the [political regime in Bulgaria](/source/Bulgarian_Communist_Party) most of the band members emigrated in Western countries (Netherlands, Canada, Italy). Later M. Galabov returned to Bulgaria and together with S. Hristov (who remained in homeland at that time) found new musicians to fill the band: Vasil Kalpachki (vocals), Emil Tasev (drums) and Dragomir Draganov (guitar), who recorded the album together.
Two years later, in 1992 Vasil Kalpachki left them and the group recorded their second album ''Dead Among the Dead'' (with lyrics by [Charles Baudelaire](/source/Charles_Baudelaire) and [François Villon](/source/Fran%C3%A7ois_Villon)) sung by guitarist M. Galabov. Later in 1993 they disbanded for about 3 years.
=== 1996–2009 ===
In 1996 S. Hristov and Dr. Draganov started work on songs from the album ''The Time Has Come'' with lyrics by the French classical poets [François Villon](/source/Fran%C3%A7ois_Villon) and [Pierre de Ronsard](/source/Pierre_de_Ronsard). They found their new singer Emil Chendov and drummer St. Petrov returned as well. The band toured with various keyboardists. Later E. Chendov briefly left the band and in 1999 they released a new album 'Respect' with singer Nikolay Urumov instead, leaving the previous album unreleased. ''Respekt'' featured two songs based on translations of the works of [Moliere](/source/Moliere) and [Joachim du Bellay](/source/Joachim_du_Bellay), but otherwise contained original material, written by Hristov and Draganov.
In 2000 Emil Chendov returned and the band started to work on ''The Bulgarian God'', an album which is considered to be one of the best in the history of Bulgarian rock. The texts used in the songs are lyrics by the revolutionary poet [Hristo Botev](/source/Hristo_Botev) and [Ivan Vazov](/source/Ivan_Vazov). After the release of the first singles of the album The National Television included the song "[Haiduks](/source/Haiduks)" based on a poem by [Hristo Botev](/source/Hristo_Botev) in the 2001 New Year's Eve Show. During that time Stoyan Petrov was replaced by the new drummer Hristo Gyosharkov. The album was officially released in 2002 and was one of the most sold albums of the year in [Bulgaria](/source/Bulgaria). Essential for the success of the album were the voices of the guest folklore singers- father Andon, Daniela Velichkova, Kristina Yaneva as well as St.[John Kukuzelis](/source/John_Kukuzelis) Choir.
In 2003 Epizod released the previously recorded album ''The Time Has Come''. In 2004 they released ''Male songs''. By the end of 2004 Epizod released the so-called [rock opera](/source/rock_opera) (actually a [conceptual album](/source/conceptual_album)) ''Saint [Patriarch Evtimiy](/source/Patriarch_Evtimiy)''. The promotional concert in [Veliko Turnovo](/source/Veliko_Turnovo) was held exactly where the events described in the album took place – at [Tsarevets](/source/Tsarevets_(fortress)) Castle, the reconstructed palace of the medieval [Bulgaria](/source/Bulgaria)n [tsars](/source/tsars). The concert was filmed and later released on a DVD. The band appeared clad in [armour](/source/armour), the show included a folklore dance ensemble, a [church choir](/source/church_choir), Bulgarian folklore songs and the performance of the virtuoso Rosen Genkov who plays the ancient string instrument [gadulka](/source/gadulka) (Bulgarian: гъдулка) – a kind of Bulgarian [rebec](/source/rebec). In 2006 Epizod released the album ''Our Roots'' with the image of the [Madara Rider](/source/Madara_Rider) on the front cover. On 3 January 2007 [BBC](/source/BBC) announced Epizod as 'the most qualitative [Bulgarian](/source/Bulgarian_people) [rock](/source/Rock_music) band'.
In 2008 the band released the album ''The Old Warrior''.
=== 2009–2010s ===
In April 2009 Epizod parted from the guitarist Dragomir Draganov and the bassist Simeon Hristov found a replacement in the person of Vasil Belezhkov (student in the [National Music Academy](/source/National_Academy_of_Music_(Bulgaria)) 'Prof. [Pancho Vladigerov](/source/Pancho_Vladigerov)' – [Sofia](/source/Sofia)) just a few days before their next concert. At first Vasil joins only as a guest musician just to cover the concerts till the end of Juny 2009 but in the meantime he accepts the offer of the band to become a member and to take part in the next album of Epizod. In December 2009 the keyboardist Delyan Georgiev (who is professional cameraman and participates in a film by [Luc Besson](/source/Luc_Besson)) left the band and Vasil Belezhkov continued to work as keyboardist as well as guitarist. In the summer of 2010 the drummer Stoyan Petrov returned for a while in Epizod. In that time (July 2010 – January 2011) the band had concerts with various guest drummers – Stoyan Petrov, Hristo Gyosharkov, Ivan Tsonkov and Georgi Varamezov.
In October 2010 the album ''The people of Dulo'' was released. This album coincides with the 20th anniversary of Epizod and here take part some of the most famous rock singers in Bulgaria – Zvezdomir Keremidchiev from [Ahat](/source/Ahat) and Yordan Karadzhov from [Signal](/source/Signal_(band)) as well as the young singer Filip Brashkov. There is also a guest composer – the music and lyrics of the first and the last songs are by Alexander Alexiev-Hoffart who is an artist and the cover of the album is a fragment from a historical picture painted by him. The picture represents Khan [Kubrat](/source/Kubrat) – founder and ruler of [Old Great Bulgaria](/source/Old_Great_Bulgaria) from the [Dulo clan](/source/Dulo_clan) sitting in his throne with his sons around him.
In January 2011 the young drummer Deyan Aleksandrov joined Epizod as a member of the band. In October 2012 the band finished the records on their album ''My prayer'' (the title song is based on the eponymous poem by [Hristo Botev](/source/Hristo_Botev)). It incorporates the typical for the group elements like Bulgarian folklore music, orthodox church singing and heavy metal. In this album take apart the folklore singers Iliya Lukov and Daniela Velichkova, the violinist Nikola Vaklinov and the [kaval](/source/kaval) player Kiril Belezhkov (the younger brother of the guitarist Vasil), as well as Zvezdi, the aforementioned singer of rock band 'Ahat'. In this album Vasil Belezhkov manifests also as a composer/songwriter (the song "Father's advice" on the eponymous poem by Stefan Stambolov) and tambourist (the song from Pirin region "Elenko mome" sung by Iliya Lukov). Besides poems by Botev and Stambolov the album includes songs based on poems by the Russian poets Alexander Pushkin and Vladimir Vysotsky and one of the songs is with lyrics by the bassist Simeon Hristov. In the same year the first novel by Simeon Hristov – 'The treasure of Shishman' was released.
In 2016 Deyan Aleksanrov left the band and they toured with different guest musicians. In 2017 was released the album of Viktoriya Milanova (who was 11-years old Bulgarian girl at that time) and Epizod called ''I am Bulgarian''. In the autumn of 2017 the drummer Hristo Gyosharkov rejoined Epizod and the band made a trip to [Ukraine](/source/Ukraine) together with him and the family of Viktoriya. They participated in a concert held at the place where the [Pereshchepina Treasure](/source/Pereshchepina_Treasure) of the Bulgarian ruler [Kubrat](/source/Kubrat) was found.
In the spring of 2018 three of the band members together with three guest performers presented in front of public the drama called Rock Theater '[Asparuh](/source/Asparuh) – the [Battle of Ongal](/source/Battle_of_Ongal)'[{{Cite web | url=http://www.epizod.com/%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BA-%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8A%D1%80-%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%83%D1%85-%D0%B1%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B3%D1%8A%D0%BB%D0%B0/ | title=Уеб достъпът до този сайт е временно ограничен }}] written by Simeon Hristov. In this project the same performers play the theatrical roles, sing the songs and play the instruments. The text was based on the very new researches about the Bulgarian medieval history, religion, state organisation and relations with the Eastern Roman Empire. Later in the same year the band recorded their new songs with the singer Simeon Angelov who performs the role of Asparuh in the aforementioned rock theater and who is deputy director of a school in Sofia as well as a singer in an orthodox church choir. The new songs together with two of the already recorded songs – 'The laws of Krum',[Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/E8ljlEy0scY Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20180912120956/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8ljlEy0scY&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8ljlEy0scY| title = ЕПИЗОД и Кирил Янев - "Законите на Крум" (от албума "Великите владетели" – 2019 г.) | website=[YouTube](/source/YouTube)}}{{cbignore}}] and 'The city of Asen'[{{cite AV media| url-status = live| archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/G7ahoXWyxrM| archive-date = 9 December 2021| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7ahoXWyxrM| title = ЕПИЗОД - "Асеновград" (от албума "Великите владетели" – 2019 г.) | website=[YouTube](/source/YouTube)}}{{cbignore}}] become part of the album ''The great rulers'' which is dedicated entirely to the Bulgarian medieval rulers (Tervel, Omurtag, Simeon, Samuil, Kaloyan, etc.)
In October 2020, Chendov was diagnosed with asthma, and had to leave Epizod in order to get treatment. The group briefly deputised Argirov to return to the vocals in his stead.
2023 saw the release of two greatest hits albums, ''Metalni dushi'' (Metal Souls) and ''Obich za Bulgaria'' (Love for Bulgaria), containing 37 tracks from between the two albums, culled from the band's discography over the past 20 years.
== Membership ==
=== Members ===
* [Dimitar Argirov](/source/Dimitar_Argirov) ([Dimmi Argus](/source/Dimmi_Argus)) – vocals
* Simeon Hristov – bass guitar, backing vocals, drum programming, songwriter, producer
* Vasil Belezhkov – guitars, keyboards, tambura, backing vocals, songwriter
* Hristo Gyosharkov – drums
=== Former members ===
* Panayot Kerelezov – drums
* Rosen Doychinov – keyboards, songwriter
* Miroslav Galabov – guitars, backing vocals, songwriter
* Vasil Rangelov Kalpachki – vocals
* Dragomir Draganov – guitars, backing vocals, songwriter
* Emil Tasev – drums
* Yavor Aleksandrov – drums
* Nikolay Urumov- vocals
* Stoyan Petrov – drums
* Ivo Georgiev (musician) – keyboards
* Pavlin Bachvarov – keyboards
* Delyan Georgiev – keyboards
* Deyan Aleksandrov – drums
* Emil Chendov – vocals
* Simeon Angelov – vocals
=== Guest musicians ===
* Daniela Velichkova – folk singer
* Kristina Yaneva – folk singer
* Viktoriya Milanova – vocals
* Iliya Lukov – folk singer
* Kiril Yanev – vocals
* Zvezdomir Keremidchiev – vocals
* Yordan Karadzhov – vocals
* Filip Brashkov – vocals
* Alexander Alexiev-Hoffart – backing vocals
* Andon Petrov – backing vocals
* Ivan Lechev – backing vocals
* Ivaylo Kraychovski – backing vocals
* Vladimir Mitin – [trumpet](/source/trumpet)
* Petyo Mitin – [accordion](/source/accordion)
* Angel Andonov – keyboards
* Nikola Vaklinov – [violin](/source/violin)
* Rosen Genkov – [gadulka](/source/gadulka)
* Nonyo Hristov – [kaval](/source/kaval)
* Kiril Belezhkov – kaval
* Borislav Kyosev – [bagpipes](/source/bagpipes)
* Martin Lyamov – bagpipes
* 'In Sacris' vocal ensemble (Boryana Naydenova – conductor)
=== Timeline ===
ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20
PlotArea = left:100 bottom:60 top:10 right:20
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/12/1987 till:31/10/2026
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom
ScaleMajor = increment:3 start:1988
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1988
Colors =
id:Vocals value:red legend:Vocals
id:Guitars value:green legend:Guitar
id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:Keyboards value:purple legend:Keyboards
id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums
id:Lines value:black legend:Studio_album
id:bars value:gray(0.95)
BackgroundColors = bars:bars
LineData =
color:Lines layer:back
at:01/01/1992
at:01/01/1993
at:01/07/1999
at:17/04/2002
at:11/06/2003
at:08/12/2003
at:04/08/2004
at:07/06/2006
at:23/05/2008
at:17/09/2010
at:12/10/2012
at:01/03/2017
at:01/10/2019
BarData =
bar:Argirov text:"Dimitar Argirov"
bar:Kalpachki text:"Vasil Rangelov"
bar:Chendov text:"Emil Chendov"
bar:Urumov text:"Nikolay Urumov"
bar:Angelov text:"Simeon Angelov"
bar:Galabov text:"Miroslav Galabov"
bar:Draganov text:"Dragomir Draganov"
bar:Belezhkov text:"Vasil Belezhkov"
bar:Hristov text:"Simeon Hristov"
bar:Kerelezov text:"Panayot Kerelezov"
bar:Petrov text:"Stoyan Petrov"
bar:Tasev text:"Emil Tasev"
bar:Gyosharkov text:"Hristo Gyosharkov"
bar:Aleksandrov text:"Deyan Aleksandrov"
bar:Doychinov text:"Rossen Doychinov"
bar:Delyan text:"Delyan Georgiev"
bar:Ivo text:"Ivo Georgiev"
bar:Bachvarov text:"Pavlin Bachvarov"
PlotData =
width:3
bar:Galabov from:01/01/1988 till:01/01/1994 color:Vocals
bar:Draganov from:01/01/1996 till:13/04/2009 color:Vocals
bar:Hristov from:01/01/1996 till:end color:Vocals
bar:Belezhkov from:16/01/2010 till:end color:Keyboards
width:11
bar:Argirov from:01/04/1989 till:01/01/1991 color:Vocals
bar:Argirov from:01/08/2023 till:end color:Vocals
bar:Kalpachki from:01/01/1991 till:01/09/1992 color:Vocals
bar:Chendov from:01/01/1996 till:01/01/1999 color:Vocals
bar:Chendov from:01/01/2000 till:31/07/2023 color:Vocals
bar:Urumov from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2000 color:Vocals
bar:Angelov from:01/09/2018 till:30/09/2021 color:Vocals
bar:Galabov from:01/01/1988 till:01/01/1994 color:Guitars
bar:Draganov from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/1994 color:Guitars
bar:Draganov from:01/01/1996 till:13/04/2009 color:Guitars
bar:Belezhkov from:13/04/2009 till:end color:Guitars
bar:Hristov from:15/09/1988 till:01/09/1992 color:Bass
bar:Hristov from:01/01/1996 till:end color:Bass
bar:Doychinov from:01/01/1988 till:01/01/1991 color:Keyboards
bar:Delyan from:01/01/1998 till:01/01/2000 color:Keyboards
bar:Delyan from:01/01/2003 till:01/09/2003 color:Keyboards
bar:Delyan from:01/01/2006 till:16/01/2010 color:Keyboards
bar:Ivo from:01/01/2000 till:01/01/2003 color:Keyboards
bar:Bachvarov from:01/09/2003 till:01/01/2006 color:Keyboards
bar:Kerelezov from:01/01/1988 till:05/02/1990 color:Drums
bar:Petrov from:05/02/1990 till:01/01/1991 color:Drums
bar:Petrov from:01/09/1992 till:01/01/1994 color:Drums
bar:Petrov from:01/01/1996 till:01/01/2000 color:Drums
bar:Petrov from:01/05/2003 till:01/07/2003 color:Drums
bar:Petrov from:01/07/2010 till:01/11/2010 color:Drums
bar:Tasev from:01/01/1991 till:01/09/1992 color:Drums
bar:Gyosharkov from:01/01/2000 till:01/05/2003 color:Drums
bar:Gyosharkov from:01/07/2003 till:01/07/2010 color:Drums
bar:Gyosharkov from:01/09/2017 till:end color:Drums
bar:Aleksandrov from:01/01/2011 till:25/03/2016 color:Drums
== Discography ==
=== Studio albums ===
* Mолете се... / Pray (1992)
* Мъртвец сред Мъртъвци / Dead Among The Dead (1993)
* Респект / Respect (1999)
* Българският Бог / The Bulgarian God (2002)
* Дошло е време / The Time Has Come (2003)
* Мъжки песни / Songs of Men (2004)
* Свети патриарх Евтимий / St. Patriarch Evtimii (2004)
* Нашите корени / Our Roots (2006)
* Старият Войн / The Old Soldier (2008)
* Народът на Дуло / The people of Dulo (2010)
* Моята Молитва / My Prayer (2012)
* Аз съм българче / I am Bulgarian (2017) - with Victoria Milanova
* Великите владетели / The great rulers (2019)
=== Demo album ===
* Сенки от средновековието / Shadows of the Medieval Era (1990)
=== Greatest hits albums ===
* Метални души / Metal Souls (2023)
* Обич за България / Love for Bulgaria (2023)
=== Videos ===
* Епизод / Epizod (2004)
* Свети патриарх Евтимий / St. Patriarch Evtimii (2005)
== References ==
* [http://www.katehizis.com/news/shNews.php?id=22952&/ Epizod tour 2012 info (In Bulgarian)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304034457/http://www.pro-rock.net/cgi-bin/index.pl?o=0&_state=CommentsView&news=4454%2F Epizod: Patriotism is simply love – Interview with Epizod (In Bulgarian)]
* [http://frognews.bg/news_11359/Kitaristat_na_Epizod_Rokat_e_za_misleshtite_hora/ Interview (In Bulgarian)]
* [http://www.otzvuk.net/news/stotitsi-mladi-pyaha-stihove-na-botev-i-vazov-na-kontsert-na/ Article in the Bulgarian newspaper "Smolyan"]
* [http://mysound.bg/?act=article&id=5026&upg=933/ Epizod with open letter to the Bulgarian media]
* [http://www.vmusic.bg/artist/%D0%95%D0%BF%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%B4/article/ Biography of Epizod]
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.epizod.com/ Official site of Epizod]
*{{in lang|bg}} [http://bg-rock-archives.com/bio.php?band_id=83 Epizod] at [Bulgarian Rock Archives](/source/Bulgarian_Rock_Archives)
* [http://www.metalstorm.net/bands/band.php?band_id=2262/ Metal storm profile]
{{Portalbar|Rock music|Bulgaria|}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Musical quintets
Category:Bulgarian heavy metal musical groups
Category:Bulgarian rock music groups
Category:1983 establishments in Bulgaria
Category:Musical groups established in 1983
Category:Musical groups from Sofia
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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Epizod](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epizod) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epizod?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.