I grabbed this record from the lot our eminent editor Kenn got a while ago, as I got instantly trapped by their name and the philosophical associations that followed. Epicurean will now have me excused for reviewing their debut album so late after release. I have to admit I've been quite in doubt.

The record starts with a very great first track, open, with an epic melodicity, cool guitar sound and awesome lyrics. They are "the new extreme", according to Metal Blade, which in my words became "the new, milder In Flames". An overall good record but the voice gets too repetitive, mechanical, sometimes uninspired, and I fall off. By the way, I have to express my surprise regarding the fact that the Minneapolis sextet sounds so European.

As said below, this reminds me of In Flames with a way more progressive touch, I found some Cradle Of Filth lurking here and there, but a little something of their own too, somehow atmospherically in the synth and guitars combination. Maybe they're only sawing the seeds of something grand; in this case, it is a promising debut. Honestly, I'm not sure of anything.
The members of Epicurean, all of an unquestionable virtuosity, have a different musical background; this reflects very much through the record, and it is possible that what I need is them getting things more together in the future.

I recommend "A Consequence of Design" to any person in search of something new and deep to get into.

Stay tuned, feel like I have to get in touch with these guys.