Don't expect the keyboard wizardry of Dream Theater, this isn't that kind of prog band. Think of it as Chromakey with Jim Matheos guesting (i.e. good stuff!).It's been three years since the release of OSI's last album, Blood, so it's about that time again for them to release another one. There's a really interesting symmetry to this band: three letters in OSI (for three words: Office [of] Strategic Influence), three words in the new album title (Fire Make Thunder), bookending two single word albums (Free and Blood), three years between each album release. The list goes on. It's as if there really is a clandestine agency behind the band, dictating some secret agenda only they can understand. I just hope they keep it up.
One of the greatest strengths of OSI is the connection that vocalist/keyboardist Kevin Moore (Dream Theater, Chromakey) and guitarist Jim Matheos (Fates Warning) have despite the fact that they rarely get to work together in the same room, sending tracks back and forth digitally, and prompting one to wonder how musicians ever managed before the Internet. Their shared musical vision delivers once again in a uniquely satisfying mix of progressive metal and electronica. I've been a fan of Kevin's work since Chromakey, and his plaintive crooning, reminiscent of Peter Gabriel, is used like another great texture over his atmospheric keyboards. Matheos' driving rhythym guitar, on the other hand, makes for an effective counterpoint, a surging energy that coexists with Moore's keyboards, and accented artfully with Gavin Harrison's (Porcupine Tree) drum work. I want to make sure to give Harrison due credit. His clever percussion reminds me of Terry Bozzio's tasteful work on the two criminally underrated Bozzio Levin Stevens albums, Black Light Syndrome and Situation Dangerous (great stuff, look it up).
The Bottom Line: If you haven't heard any of Kevin's solo work since he left Dream Theater, don't come in expecting any ivory gymnastics. But, if you like atmospheric, progressive headphone music, OSI is simply one of the better bands in the subgenre. Highly recommended driving music.
Tracks For Justifying the Cost of Your High-End Headphones: Indian Curse, Enemy Prayer, and Wind Won't Howl
- Genghis wonders if those Marshall headphones are worth the money...