Blueprint For Murder

Published April 10, 2008

Southern Comfort might be a 100 proof whiskey blend, but it’s a way of life for Nelsonville’s death metal thrashers Blueprint For Murder.

“We get drunk and fight each other at night, but in the end, we’re still a band,” said guitarist Justin Roman.

This petulant and rowdy group of metal heads certainly likes to embrace the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle whenever possible.

“Anyone that can out-shotgun a beer with Jim (Foley, guitarist) at a show, we will give them a free CD,” said Mike Lannan, bassist.

Self-proclaimed “trailer thrash,” Blueprint For Murder’s members are all from Southeast Ohio and most of them went to high school together in Nelsonville. The band, formed in September 2005, includes Roman, Lannan, Foley, Brian Saxton on drums and Brandon Bohlen as the lead vocalist.

Even at its first practice in 2005, the band was easily able to come together creatively and write its first song. The band members said they usually start writing based upon a cool guitar riff that someone comes up with.

“We’re fast, we have breakdowns, and we all have very different influences when we come in to write,” Lannan said. “Guys that come to our shows said they think it’s pretty brutal and like to get in fights to it … but it’s really all about sex, drugs, rock and roll … and Satan.”

Blueprint for Murder released its first album under Disjoined Records, an Athens recording company. TitledClosed Casket, the album never had an official release date but can now be purchased at any of their shows or from their Web site. The album’s cover art was created by artists from the Athens tattoo parlor Decorative Injections. The same artists are also coming up with T-shirt designs for the band.

With an album under its belt, the band is now eager to tour anywhere and everywhere.

“It’s a goal to get signed, but if we don’t we will still just play,” Saxton said.

Everyone else in the band wholeheartedly agrees.

“We will bring metal where it’s unwanted,” Lannan said.

In the past, Blueprint For Murder has enjoyed playing with bands like Mushroomhead and Skeletonwitch. This weekend the band will be playing in Nelsonville at Nelsonville Eagles, 67 ½ W. Washington St.