The Bulgarian metal band that pairs heavy guitars with an Orthodox church choir has a new album, and has simply named it after itself. Epizod play Pirotska 5 Event Center in Sofia on November 19, at a launch concert for the album "Epizod". Doors at 19:30.

Epizod were founded in Sofia in 1983 and turned to metal in 1989. The band plays thrash, heavy and folk metal and is known for concerts featuring theatre, an Orthodox church choir and an ensemble of Bulgarian folk songs and dances. The 2002 album "Bulgarian God" is considered one of the best in the history of Bulgarian rock, and 2004's "Saint Patriarch Evtimiy" is a concept rock opera. Then came "My Prayer" in 2012 and "The Great Rulers" in 2019 (titles in translation). In January 2007 the BBC called them the finest Bulgarian rock band.

Today's line-up is singer Dimitar Argirov, bassist Simeon Hristov, Vasil Belezhkov on guitar and keyboards, and drummer Hristo Gyosharkov. A band that has spent decades singing about Bulgarian rulers and saints is now bringing new material to the stage, on an album that carries nothing but its own name.

Entry is 10 euros, or about 616 denars, with tickets on sale through bilet.bg. How many metal bands in the region still use history and faith as raw material for songs rather than as marketing? Epizod have been doing it since 1989.