Kaitlyn Leister
Associate Arts & Culture Editor
Jorge Rivera-Herrans has done it again by releasing the next installment of “Epic: The Musical” on Halloween. This now marks seven albums being released in 2024 alone; four new installments and two re-releases of previous albums now under the project’s new production company.
I sat down to listen to the second to last album and was blown away by the first song. This saga does not have as many voices behind it but holds a lot of emotion and dedication.
A surprise voice by another family member of the creator is in the mix. Jorge’s sister Diana Rivera-Herrans appeared as a specially named winion called Princess Winion; the winions are creatures in the musical that are servants to the wind God Aeolus and sing in three of the musical’s songs. After his mother and father, his sister is now providing her voice for the project.
“The Vengeance Saga” is all about Odyessus leaving the island of Calypso and finally being so close to returning to Ithaca before having a final battle with his ever-looming foe, the God Poseidon.
“Not Sorry for Loving You,” “Dangerous,” “Charybdis,” “Get in the Water,” and “Six Hundred Strike” make up this penultimate act and make me angry at the same time as the final saga is still not out and I cannot listen to the musical’s conclusion just yet. Jorge Rivera-Herrans crafts such great sagas that make you wait for the next one. Though as stated previously, I hope he takes a break after releasing so many albums this year alone.
The emotions from this album build from the broken heart of Calypso letting Odysseus go to the epic battle between Poseidon just on the coast of Ithaca are intense. It is a whirlwind that tells such a short story with emphasis and makes one feel for Odysseus in his plight of being so close.
The final saga will be the “Ithaca Saga” and will regard Odysseus returning home and reuniting with his family, having to deal with the suitors that have plagued his home and tormented his wife and son for years. I will happily wait for this next installment that will be released most likely in the next year.
“Look what we’ve become” /10