Minnesota's own brutal elite EPICUREAN pushes the limits of creativity with their latest A Consequence Of Design. Master lyricist frontman John Laramy discusses the fast rise to metaldom experiences that introduced this act as a serious group in today’s American metal scene. Focusing on the soon to be tour with Rotting Christ while jazzing up to enter the studio to record new material, Laramy opens up his writer mind sharing what makes the band musically unique than most.

Jussi: Greetings. Thanks for this interview. So how are things with the band so far since the release of A Consequence Of Design?
John Laramy: Going really well, thank you! It’s been really cool to see the response and how people are reacting to the record. You put so much work into something, it’s really cool to see such a positive reaction, it’s really validating.

Jussi: Things happened pretty quick with the group, signing to Metal Blade in March 2007 (almost two years) and touring. Has the success been somewhat challenging for you guys?
John: Things did seem to go pretty quickly, but I wouldn’t say it was challenging. We’re all really used to working hard for this band, so it was more of a natural progression (if that makes sense), so we we’re prepared for the transition. One of those situations where “If you’re always ready, you never have to get ready” kind of applies.

Jussi: Reading other reviews about the group, it is hard to describe your group’s music. Would one classify your sound to be progressive symphonic metal or something completely different?
John: Yeah I think that describes it really well. We’ve been compared to so many different sub-genres, from Black Metal to Metalcore, and everything in between. Truth be told, we never did set out to be part of any specific genre, so it’s been really interesting to hear where people feel we fit in. It’s really cool actually.

Jussi: Being completely honest with you, when reviewing the CD, I had no idea of what to expect, besides doing some of my own investigations about your group. When jotting down some information, I was curious of the bands lyrical content. Needless to say when reading A Consequence Of Design I was really at awe with the words (it is refreshing to read such material). Anyways, after reading the lyrics I then listened to the music, and have to admit both musically and lyrically this is indeed a powerfully done record. What was the mind focus when writing this material, and also for the context for the music?
John: That’s awesome to hear, thank you! I guess the focus for the record really developed over the writing process, and trying to find an identity as a band. I had been toiling with this story for a while before the band, just sort of an interpersonal look at a different fictional concept of death and after, and how characters would react in the fictional scenario. And like I said, that just really developed over time.

Jussi: As a writer do you think that being an in depth individual pondering different facets of ideas and life situations do such elements make their way into the bands lyrics?
John: Oh definitely. Obviously the story is a work of fiction, but there are definitely parts of my personality and experience that find their way into the writing. When I began writing this out it was really hard to not put some type of personality into it. I think most of it is very personal; it’s just kind of disguised by this story.

Jussi: EPICUREAN, when searching the meaning; is a disciple of student of the Greek philosopher Epicurious, or a person devoted to sensual enjoyment, especially that derived from fine food and drink. Which meaning best describes the band name or did the band just choose EPICUREAN because it sounded cool or…?
John: We chose the name for two reasons. At the time we thought the meaning behind it, “gratification of the senses” sort of embodied the type of music that we wanted to make; something that was intricate, slightly over the top, and so on. As far as it “sounding cool”, haha, we did like the idea of not going with a typical band name: “Beneath the…”, “Buried the…” and things like that, we definitely wanted something a little more our own.

Jussi: What are some of the members’ band influences? Have any of these influences shaped the band’s sound at all?
John: Oh the influences have undoubtedly had a major effect on the sound. As far as individual influences, we all have pretty different musical tastes, but then there are certain bands or musicians that we’re all collectively into. Our influences range anywhere from Dimmu Borgir, to Mors Principium Est., to Kansas and Genesis; and I wouldn’t say if any of them had less of an influence than the other, I think it’s the large collection of influences that all came together to inspire us when writing.

Jussi: From your view point, what are two of the most profound tracks on this album, and what makes them stand out above the rest?
John: Wow, that’s a tough one, haha. I guess I would have to say Lithograph and The Departure. Lithograph was the last song we wrote for the album and I think it best showcases where we’re going as a band musically; and The Departure I think has a lot of personality from all of us put into it, so that song will always mean a lot to all of us.

Jussi: From the current tours that the band has been on, what tour has been the most fun to be a part of?
John: I would definitely say the last tour we were on (Overkill, Warbringer). It was really fun for a lot of reasons, it was really cool to be out with a band that had as much experience as Overkill, and we all got along really well with the Warbringer guys; who we’ll actually be touring with again in the spring! There have been a bunch of really fun tours, and truth be told we always have a fun time out on the road, but that one really stands out in my mind.

Jussi: Any current band happenings or news to report?
John: Well, not a whole lot to report at the moment. Right now we’re just working really hard on writing the next record. We’re all really excited with the way the material is turning out. We just locked down the studio where we will be recording it (which should be announced soon), and then beyond that, just getting ready for the tour with Rotting Christ, which we’re all really excited about!!!

Jussi: Current listening musical favorites?
John: Definitely Scar Symmetry’s new record Holographic Universe, I think those guys, with their sound, really out did themselves with that record. It’s definitely one of my favorite metal albums of the year. Besides that, I’ve been diving into my vinyl collection lately and getting back into things like Leftoverture by Kansas, and some older things like that. Listen to Symphony X The Odyssey quite a bit still as well; that record never seems to get old to me.

Jussi: Favorite physical activity that you like to do besides playing shows, etc.?
John: In the last few years I’ve really gotten into mountain biking actually. I still skateboard from time to time; unfortunately it’s way to fucking cold in Minnesota to do either of those right now, haha. But other than that, just go to the gym from time to time; I smoke so I feel like I have to do something to off-set my lifestyle, haha.

Jussi: For those that are not familiar with EPICUREAN’s live performances, what can one expect when seeing the band live for the first time?
John: I would say expect an intense and sometimes chaotic show. We’ve always been big believers that if someone is paying their hard earned money to come see us, it’s our job to make sure they get their moneys worth. We put a lot of time into rehearsing so we can be as solid as possible live. I think if a band isn’t good live they aren’t a good band… So we strive to make sure we give everything we have live, and that’s really, to me, what being in a band is all about.

Jussi: Any final comments?
John: Just thank you for doing this with me, and thanks to everyone out there reading this!!! Make sure to come out in January for the Rotting Christ tour, and expect a new record from us later on in 2009!!!

Jussi: Thanks again for this interview and huge thanks go out to Metal Blade for making this possible. Looking forward to hearing more from you cats in the future!