Epysode

Lore & Background

Epysode was a project conceived by Samuel Arkan, who handled guitar duties on both albums. The project was notable for its use of numerous guest musicians, allowing it to be described as a supergroup. The vocalists on the debut Obsessions included Rick Altzi, Kelly Sundown Carpenter, Oddleif Stensland, Magali Luyten, and Liselotte Hegt, while the follow-up Fantasmagoria featured Tom S. Englund, Ida Haukland, Henning Basse, Matt Marinelli, and Tezzi Persson. Instrumental guests also changed between albums, with bassist Kristoffer Gildenlöw appearing on the first and Mike LePond on the second.

Reader's Guide

Epysode's significance lies in its reception as a high-quality entry in the progressive metal genre, often compared to acts like Symphony X and Ayreon. Reviews for Obsessions were generally positive, with Metal.de giving it 8/10 and praising its consistent quality and impeccable production, though noting it fell short of Symphony X. Powermetal.de awarded 8.5/10, and Scream Magazine gave 5/6, calling it a surprise of the year. However, Rock Hard was more critical, scoring it 6.5/10. For Fantasmagoria, Heavymetal.dk declared it a masterpiece, while Rock Hard improved its rating to 7.5/10. Powermetal.de also gave 7.5/10, noting the album's fresh, heavy sound but suggesting two or three tracks could have been omitted. The project's legacy is that of a well-regarded but short-lived supergroup that produced two albums of solid progressive metal.

Did You Know?

• Epysode was a project by Samuel Arkan from the band Virus IV.
• The project featured a range of different male and female vocalists.
• Obsessions received a score of 8 out of 10 from Metal.de.
• Heavymetal.dk called Fantasmagoria 'no less than a masterpiece'.

Origins and the Supergroup Concept

Epysode was a Belgian progressive metal project born from the mind of Samuel Arkan, a guitarist best known for his work with Virus IV. Rather than assembling a fixed band, Arkan designed Epysode as a rotating collective of guest musicians from across the European metal scene, giving the project the character of a supergroup. Each recording session brought together a different constellation of performers, with Arkan's guitar work serving as the constant creative thread. The project released two studio albums through AFM Records, a label long associated with progressive and power metal. The debut, Obsessions, arrived in 2011, and the follow-up, Fantasmagoria, came in 2013. By refusing to lock in a permanent lineup, Arkan ensured that every album felt like a fresh collaboration, positioning Epysode in a distinctive corner of the progressive metal landscape where collective authorship replaced the traditional band identity.

The Two Albums and Their Scope

The project's entire discography consists of two full-length releases, both issued on AFM Records. Obsessions, the 2011 debut, established Epysode's identity as a progressive power metal endeavor with operatic ambitions, blending intricate guitar compositions with layered vocal arrangements and accessible melodic hooks. Three years later, Fantasmagoria expanded on that formula, spreading its material across fourteen tracks that reviewers described as heavy, varied, and remarkably fresh. The second album was noted for its powerful riffs and melodic peaks, though at least one critic felt a couple of tracks could have been trimmed for tighter pacing. Together, the two records form a compact but ambitious body of work. Each one captures a different gathering of musicians united under Arkan's direction, and both demonstrate a commitment to complex songwriting that still remains listenable and emotionally engaging.

A Chorus of Voices and Shifting Lineups

One of Epysode's most striking features was its rotating cast of vocalists, spanning both male and female voices across the two albums. On Obsessions, listeners encountered Rick Altzi of At Vance, Kelly Sundown Carpenter of Beyond Twilight, Oddleif Stensland of Communic, Magali Luyten of Beautiful Sin, and Liselotte Hegt of Cirrha Niva. Fantasmagoria brought in Tom S. Englund of Evergrey, Ida Haukland of Triosphere, Henning Basse of Metalium, Matt Marinelli of Borealis, and Tezzi Persson. This approach gave each record a rich, theatrical vocal palette while ensuring no single voice dominated the mix. The instrumental backbone also shifted between albums: guitarists Christophe Godin and Simone Mularoni of DGM took the second guitar role, bassists Kristoffer Gildenlöw and Mike LePond of Symphony X alternated, and Léo Margarit of Pain of Salvation anchored the drums on both records alongside keyboardist Julien Spreutels of Ethernity.

Critical Reception and Place in the Genre

Critics generally welcomed Epysode as a strong entry in progressive metal, though opinions on where it stood relative to genre giants varied. Metal.de gave Obsessions eight out of ten, praising its consistent quality, impeccable production, and lyrical depth, while noting it fell slightly short of Symphony X. Powermetal.de scored it 8.5, and Norway's Scream Magazine called it one of the year's surprises, awarding five out of six and singling out Kelly Sundown Carpenter's vocals. Denmark's Heavymetal.dk rated it seven out of ten, while Rock Hard was more cautious at 6.5. For Fantasmagoria, Heavymetal.dk elevated their praise considerably, and Rock Hard improved to 7.5. Powermetal.de held at 7.5, acknowledging the album's fresh and varied sound while suggesting a few tracks could have been cut. The project was also compared to Ayreon among progressive metal acts, yet reviewers consistently noted its ability to maintain high quality from start to finish.