What do you think of some of the more “power metal” type European bands like Kamelot?
TE: Actually, we toured with Kamelot last year. They are good friends of ours. MU: Do you feel closer in style to Symphony X or Kamelot? TE and MH: (together) Symphony X. MU: But when I asked you whether you felt closer in style to Dream Theater or Blind Guardian, you said Blind Guardian. TE: Yeah but there is a major difference between Dream Theater and Symphony X. Dream Theater is much more complex music. If you compare them and Symphony X. Symphony X come from a classic writing background and Dream Theater does something totally different, I believe. I also said that I wouldn’t want to compare us to Blind Guardian at all, so. . . (laughs) MU: How did you hook up with Andy LaRocque? TE: Actually, I worked in a music store where I sold guitars, and Andy worked there in between tours for a bit. That’s where we met. And he had a small demo studio and we recorded our first demo there. And he got us our first contract. MU: So he’s done a lot. TE: Oh yeah, he’s like the sixth member of the
