OSI (band)
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| OSI | ||
|---|---|---|
| Background information | ||
| Origin | United States | |
| Genre(s) | Progressive metal | |
| Years active | 2003–present | |
| Label(s) | InsideOut | |
| Website | Official website | |
| Members | ||
| Jim Matheos Kevin Moore |
||
OSI is an American progressive metal supergroup formed by Kevin Moore and Fates Warning guitarist Jim Matheos in 2003. He named the band after a short-lived U.S. government agency named Office of Strategic Influence.
Matheos asked Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy to lend his talents to what was initially to be Matheos' solo project. The original style of the project can be heard on the special edition of the CD. The track "The Thing That Never Was" - a long progressive instrumental, was written by Matheos before any collaborators were involved. Steven Wilson (of Porcupine Tree) was asked to sing on the project, but he felt the style of the music that had been written to that point didn't appeal to him. However, late in the project Wilson contributed vocals for one track, "shutDOWN".
Matheos subsequently recruited Kevin Moore (Chroma Key), who had played keyboards on various Fates Warning albums in the 1990s and early 2000s and was the first keyboardist of the band Dream Theater before leaving in 1994. Moore edited and developed sections of that track, with further contributions by Matheos, into what became the 10 songs on the main CD.
Sean Malone was then recruited to fill the role of bassist and Chapman Stick player for the band. This left vocalist as the only open position to be filled. Daniel Gildenlöw of Pain of Salvation was seriously considered for the job, but as Moore was tracking his own scratch vocals in developing the songs, it became obvious that the project should continue with Moore singing.
Fates Warning often performs the songs "shutDOWN" and "The New Math" at their concerts with singer Ray Alder on vocals and Portnoy guesting on drums.
Respected UK-based internet label Burning Shed (a label also associated with Steven Wilson projects such as Porcupine Tree and No-Man) now host the official OSI online shop.
OSI released its new album Free in 2006, with Portnoy again on drums. Malone was replaced by Joey Vera, Matheos' bandmate in Fates Warning on bass for tracks 1, 2, 4, 6 & 7 (the remaining were programmed synth bass tracks by Moore) due to the distance and time issues surrounding Malone's teaching and Doctoral studies in Music Theory at the University of Oregon.
Contents |
[edit] Line-up
[edit] Guest musicians
- Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) - drums
- Sean Malone (Gordian Knot, ex-Cynic) - bass, Chapman Stick on Office of Strategic Influence
- Joey Vera (Fates Warning) - bass on Free
- Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree) - vocals on the track "shutDOWN" on Office of Strategic Influence
[edit] Discography
- Office of Strategic Influence (2003)
- Free (April, 2006)
- re:free (EP) (November, 2006)
