O.S.I.

O

.S.I. (Office Of Strategic Intelligence) is another of several progressive metal super group side-projects that revolve around the members of Dream Theater and/or Cynic and, indeed, both bands are present here by including the membership of Kevin Moore (ex-Dream Theater/of Fates Warning; vocals/keyboards), Jim Matheos (of Fates Warning; guitar), Sean Malone (of Aghora/of Cynic; bass) and Mike Portnoy (of Dream Theater; drums). It all started when former Dream Theater keyboardist Kevin Moore decided to join with current Fates Warning guitarist Jim Matheos on a new project, and subsequently recruited the other aforementioned notables. Surprisingly, the resulting album, Office Of Strategic Influence (2003), failed to sound like any of the participating band's works and Moore's vocals gave it a less melodic sound that was uncharacteristic of Prog. metal bands; the overall tone was darker than expected. Nonetheless Office Of Strategic Intelligence remains in operation at time of writing.