Summary
Odysseus faces his last obstacles before reaching Ithaca
EPIC: The Musical released the Vengeance Saga on October 31.
Explaining the saga
Odysseus has been released from Calypso’s island after being held there for seven years. He is now sailing home to reunite with his family after twenty years. Along with facing more foes in the sea, he also receives help from previous friends like Hermes.
Not Sorry For Loving You
Calypso, Barbara Wangui, is invoked to release Odysseus and is mournful that she must let him ago, and she will be alone again.
The song begins with the same melody on the steel drums, but in a lower note to sound melancholic. Calypso sings with a solemn voice instead of excitedly like at the start of her last song.
As she expresses regret over any unwanted advances towards Odysseus, reverberating synths play to intensify her emotion. The composer, Jorge Rivera-Herrans uses electronic elements when gods or magical characters are singing to express their divine power.
She explains that she has been alone after she was cast away to her island, and that Odysseus was her first companion in a hundred years.
Her lines also include a background ensemble which expands her vocals and emphasises certain words. And the beat of a drum every few notes punctuates the music.
Calypso becomes more distraught by Odysseus leaving and how he doesn’t love her back. Low frequency oscillators play behind these vocals to create a rhythm and further highlight Calypso’s feelings.
The ensemble is voiced by Jorge, who plays Odysseus, Barbara, showing that these voices are the only ones she knows.
Dangerous
The next song, Dangerous, focuses on Odysseus planning his way home with Hermes, who has helped him in the past.
The first instrument of the song is an acoustic guitar, Odysseus’ signature instrument, playing a melody from a previous song, Full Speed Ahead. He regrets his short-sightedness towards returning home, which lead to the sacrifice of his 600 crewmen. And reflects over how he will get home with only a hand-made raft.
Hermes, Troy Doherty, enters with an electronic arpeggio.
Like his other song, Wouldn’t You Like, Hermes’ voice pairs with angelic-sounding vocals that combine well with the instrumental.
He has brought the bag from Aeolus that contains Poseidon’s storm sent to thwart Odysseus.
While Hermes is singing about what lies ahead and how to conquer these hurdles. The last melody plays with a beat and brings energy to the song. Which is one of Hermes’ roles in the musical.
Like many songs in EPIC, Hermes repeats a line from another song to reference the past. In this case, he alludes to how Athena actually helped set Odysseus free, not Hermes.
The electronic elements and lyrics make Dangerous a light-hearted and upbeat song to contrast with the rest of the album.
Charybdis
When Odysseus, does something badass or cunning, his guitar switches to electric, which is how Charybdis opens.
The beginning of this song also includes brass instruments; connecting this sea monster to Poseidon.
This song is about Odysseus encountering the whirlpool-creating sea monster Charybdis.
Charybdis’ “voice” comes from Humpback, Beluga whale and monster SFX. This combination creates an eerie, otherworldly sound.
The delivery of the vocal lines is powerful and confident and gets your adrenaline rushing. Along with another drum beat to set the tone and match with Odysseus’ serious delivery.
The belted out lyrics turns the song into an intense battle, along with organs, piano and bass.
With his strategic mind, Odysseus figures out how to evade Charybdis. As he does this, the song intensifies with the addition of electronic string instruments.
After a tense first half, the loud music dies down an the soft acoustic guitar returns. He is past the monster and his home is in sight.
Strings which symbolise Penelope play with the guitar and matches well with Jorge’s soft singing.
The audience is eased by the battling ending and the thought of this long-awaited reunion
But as the song ends, a deep bass plays to signal the next enemy.
Get In The Water
Deep bass and a piano sets the scene for Poseidon confronting Odysseus again.
Brass instruments in synths form the background of the sea god’s monologue as he claims he can’t forgive Odysseus. So he must die.
Another synth beat after that mimics the sound of a heartbeat, echoing Odysseus’ growing fear from what is to come.
Odysseus asks Poseidon to let go of his vengeance and move on, Poseidon’s trumpet motif softens. He refuses but sounds like he is unsure. Like he does not want to kill Odysseus for the sake of his reputation, but feels like he must. Steven Rodriguez’s delivery of these lines gives more complexity to Poseidon.
After this brief exchange, the distorted synths and deep bass return for Poseidon to prepare for the final blow.
In typical EPIC fashion, this song calls back to previous tracks in the musical. When Poseidon yells, “DIE!” his voice is accompanied by his cyclops son’s Polyphemus, who is the reason behind Poseidon’s wrath. References to previous songs show the significance of pivotal points in the story and the connections they create between characters.
The voices of Polites, Eurylochus and Anticlea sing to Odysseus while he is on the brink of death. Instead of the usual lines these characters sing when Odysseus remembers them, they sing previous lines that are more relevant to the situation. Such as, Polites’ “You can relax, my friend.” line because Odysseus is almost at peace. But he is not ready to die.
600 Strike
Odysseus’ electric guitar plays again as he prepares to fight Poseidon.
Aeolus’ melody plays in synths showing his aid by providing the bag which carries Poseidon’s storm.
The voices of Odysseus’ 600 fallen comrades follow as he fights for their memory.
He is determined to see his wife and son again after 20 years.
Poseidon’s storm motif plays, with the drums from Full Speed Ahead. These sounds and vocals come together to form a powerful and intense instrumental to backdrop this battle.
Melodies from Full Speed Ahead are referred to again since his comrades are at the forefront of this attack.
Just like how hundreds of crewmen were killed in Ruthlessness the sounds of wind and a lack of instruments symbolise the great destruction unleashed. But not unto 600 men, but from them.
A melody from Different Beast shows Odysseus resorting to ruthlessness after trying to be reasonable.
Instead of begging Poseidon to show mercy, Odysseus orders Poseidon to end the storm blocking his path.
Calling back to songs like Ruthlessness and Monsters, he attacks Poseidon with his own trident.
The god of seas surrenders, but taps into one of Odysseus’ fears: after ten years of war and other decade of trials, how will Odysseus rest?
The song’s final line closes the saga by reminding the audience of the peace and solace that awaits the hero. While also building up to the final saga.
Final Thoughts
To summarise, the Vengeance Saga is a dramatic, suspenseful and exciting addition to EPIC: The Musical.
References to the past, clever usage of instruments and foreshadowing all come together to create another astounding album.
Using the full potential of the singers’ vocal ranges to achieve the emotional storytelling that this musical is about.
The album is available on all major music streaming platforms. You can watch the progress on the final saga here.
Featured Image Credit: EPIC The Musical Wiki