Devastating by design
To say that American metal has needed a shot in the arm and a kick in the ass for quite awhile now is a gross understatement. Fortunately, Minnesota-based sextet Epicurean is more than up to the task with their Metal Blade debut, A Consequence of Design. Originally released in 2006, the album has been remixed and re-mastered with two brand new songs added to the tracklist for good measure. The revamped recording sounds fantastic, but that's only a small part of what makes the disc such an outstanding piece of work.
Coming off like a cross between the thrashy, melodic metal stylings of Scandinavian acts such as Soilwork circa Natural Born Chaos and the soaring, progressive leanings of stateside bands like Nevermore, Epicurean's musical approach is commandingly epic, complex and emotional without ever sounding trite or overwrought. In fact, the topnotch songwriting on display throughout A Consequence of Design makes it hard to believe the band didn't garner more attention when the album was originally released. Each track is distinctive yet the album flows together as a complete whole, with the new tracks integrating themselves next to the older material so seamlessly you'd never know they were recorded at different times.
The musicianship on A Consequence of Design is absolutely stellar across the board, as guitarists John Major and Jarod Mills effortlessly pack more six-string pyrotechnics into one song than most bands are able to muster over the course of an entire album. But, the album's true standout performances come from keyboardist Jared Schneider and vocalist John Laramy. The band's exceptional use of keys not only helps fill out their sound, it adds a sense of drama to tracks such as "Anathema: The Gatekeeper" and "Dividing the Distance". It's extremely rare to hear an American band make such effective use of synths, the tension they create by playing around and sometimes even against the guitars is often nothing short of breathtaking. Complimenting the instrumental acrobatics are Laramy's superb vocal stylings, which run the gamut from power metal metal wailing to a deathly growl and all points inbetween. Songs like "Behind the Chapel Walls", "Of Malice and Majesty" and "The Author and the Architect" sport cleanly sung passages so ridiculously infectious you'll be humming them in your sleep.
With so many American metal bands producing albums that come across more like a lazy rehash of their influences than anything even remotely original, Epicurean are creating music that stands head and shoulders above the pack. The band is clearly onto something big with A Consequence of Design and it was a wise decision on the part of Metal Blade to help the band breath new life into this album, which in spite of being a re-release is easily one of 2008's most engrossing listens.
| Reviewer: Josh Haun Added: March 21st 2008 |
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