The Summary Judgment Reviews:
Title: Office of Strategic Influence
Artist: OSI
Label: Inside Out Music
Release Date: 2/18/03

Rating: 4 Skulls
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    • Reviewed by Solomon (2/25/03):
    Prog fans have another "supergroup" to rejoice over, going under the rather verbose title of Office of Strategic Influence. The name is based on a short-lived government agency created after the 9/11 terror attacks to help spread positive propaganda in support of U.S. foreign policy efforts. What brought this on, you might ask? Well, there are a few references to current events (title track in particular) that give away the name's meaning. Politics aside, there's nothing "subversive" about OSI's debut album, except maybe that it takes the familiar template of "progressive metal" and adds a few twists and turns here and there. Given the band is made up of Dream Theater skinsman Mike Portnoy, Fates Warning's Jim Matheos, ex-Dream Theater/Chroma Key plunker Kevin Moore and Sean Malone of Cynic/Gordian Knot fame, the results are not altogether surprising. The band takes the familiar heavy fusion/noodling of DT and Fates but gives the proceedings a facelift via sampling and odd effects courtesy of Mr. Moore. Moore does the vocals here as well (aside from a guest spot by Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson) leaving any high-pitched wails a la La Brie or Alder behind and going for more of a moody, low-key, Dave Grohl/Beck sort of thing. OSI is certainly an experimental outfit for the reasons stated above, but there is still a recognizable vibe here that fans of the band members' day jobs will appreciate, no doubt.

    OSI's debut effort is impressive from a musical standpoint (like this could be in question given the resume involved), but I find some of the material to be a bit dull and elusive to give it full praise. Many of the tracks revolve around synth/electronic/sample formats that fail to excite me much, or there are passages that follow the Dream Theater/Fates Warning pattern so closely I feel a bit disappointed that I was not given something new to chew on. Of course, I feel a bit guilty saying this since I can listen to rehashed NWOSDM riffs 'till I'm blue in the face, but OSI just sounds a bit too bland too much of the time. On the positive side, one of the biggest moments is the title track, featuring a solid bass section courtesy of Sean's rubbery, fretless passages, a cool groove and Moore's hypnotic vocals, punctuated by one of the smartest lyrical hooks I've heard in a while: "Hate it when the enemy travels/'cause it's awfully un-American." Metalheads will probably dig "Head" as well, with its unusual Oriental musical theme and complement of butt-stompin' guitar riffs. "Dirt From A Holy Place" (snicker...hole) has a standout, emphatic lead from Matheos, and "Memory Daydreams Lapses" has a groovy effects theme that could accompany any of the Terminator movies. Closer "Standby" is a pretty, acoustic-driven track that leaves you feeling all nice and mellow (Opeth, anyone?), and it's a perfect vehicle for Moore's singing style. Speaking of Moore's vocals, his approach is a nice derivation from what you might expect from a lineup like this, but I found him to be a little too laid-back, too much of the time. It would have been nice to get some ballsier stuff to break the ice once in a while, especially on the harder tracks, but I found his style to be pleasing for the most part.

    First time out, thumbs up. We should continue to expect cool things from these guys in the future, if OSI lasts as a project.
    4 out of 5

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