OSI (band)
American progressive rock studio project blending metal and electronica.
OSI was an American progressive rock band formed in 2002 by Fates Warning guitarist Jim Matheos. The only other full-time member was Kevin Moore, known for his work with Chroma Key and as a former keyboardist of Dream Theater. The band's name referenced the Office of Strategic Influence, a short-lived U.S. government agency created in 2001 to support the War on Terror through propaganda. OSI is often considered a studio project, as members and contributors wrote and tracked most material independently, sharing files long-distance and coming together only for mixing and additional tracking.
- formed
- 2002
- origin
- United States
- genre
- Progressive rock, progressive metal, electronica
- full-time members
- Jim Matheos, Kevin Moore
- notable guest musicians
- Mike Portnoy, Sean Malone, Steven Wilson, Mikael Åkerfeldt, Joey Vera, Gavin Harrison
- debut album
- Office of Strategic Influence (2003)
- final album
- Fire Make Thunder (2012)
Lore & Background
OSI was originally conceived as a solo album by Jim Matheos while Fates Warning was on hiatus. He recruited Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy and fretless bassist Sean Malone, intending to create a progressive metal record. When Matheos asked Kevin Moore to add keyboard arrangements, Moore instead heavily edited the music, changing song structures and adding vocals, which shifted the sound toward a blend of progressive metal and electronica. Matheos chose to pursue this new direction. The debut album was recorded in June 2002 at Carriage House Studios in Stamford, Connecticut, and released by InsideOut Music in 2003.
Reader's Guide
OSI's significance lies in its fusion of progressive metal and electronica, a combination that Kevin Moore described as 'almost natural enemies' whose conflict kept the music interesting. The band's working method—remote collaboration via file exchange—was ahead of its time and allowed for contributions from notable musicians such as Steven Wilson, Mikael Åkerfeldt, and Gavin Harrison. Despite critical acclaim, OSI never toured, with Matheos citing the high cost relative to the band's fan base. The project went on hiatus after 2012, with Matheos stating in 2016 that he and Moore were busy with other work and that there were no plans for a future album. OSI's four studio albums remain a distinctive entry in progressive rock, demonstrating how a studio-only project can produce cohesive, genre-blending work.
Did You Know?
- The band's name and debut album title refer to the Office of Strategic Influence, a U.S. government agency formed after the September 11 attacks to spread propaganda.
- Mike Portnoy and Kevin Moore had not collaborated since 1994, when both were in Dream Theater, until they worked together on the first OSI album.
- The band never performed live; Matheos said in 2010 that OSI would 'remain a studio band.'
- Gavin Harrison of Porcupine Tree replaced Mike Portnoy as session drummer on the third and fourth albums.
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