Andyman1125 False start

OSI began as a collaboration between Jim Matheos of Fates Waring, Kevin Moore of Chroma Key (and formally Dream Theater), and Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater. After two albums, Mike Portnoy was fed up of feeling like a studio drummer rather and a collaborator, so he dropped out of the problem after the band's sophomore album Free. As a replacement, the band brought in Porcupine Tree drummer Gavin Harrison to record their next album, Blood. Having a much more ambient and electronic feel than their debut (sadly I have yet to hear Free) the album is much more contemplative and mellow feeling to it with much less metal on the album. The balance of ambience and metal found on the album is a little off balance, however, with only a few hard hitting (and fantastic) metallic tracks only dotting the many more slow ambient tracks, some of which can be a bit slow moving and uneventful.

Blasting off with the killer The Escape Artist, I was at first hopeful for a fantastic album full of thumping metal tracks accented by Harrison's jazzier approach to metal and Matheos' inventive riffing. However, the album debuted on what I would soon call a False Start (ha, a pun), seeing as the album quickly halted after the end of that track. Although the ambient and psychedelic work of Kevin Moore began to grow on me with further listens, I was at first bored by his keyboard layers and atmospheric work. However, these short, hard hitting metal moments start to emerge as nice dynamics to the music, spicing up the ambient continuity with spices of metallic bliss; although the harder tracks are shorter and less contemplative than the ambient material, they pack a potent punch of dense Moore-esque metal, with incredible lyrics, very mellow melodies accenting crushing metallic riffs, and an overall fantastic display of composition work. However, as the atmospheres decline from psychedelic bliss to boring repetition, the greandeur of this album starts to diminish. Although I am supremely impressed by Moore's lyrical skill, his vocal style, and his prowess with the ambient keyboard loop, I am doomed to consider this album a rather non-essential release; the band has a great lineup and some truly spectacular moments, but overall the album does not do all that much for me, except make for a relaxing musical journey whenever I feel like being serenaded by this electronic amalgamation. Until Microburst Alert, which is little more than a jazzed up (instrumental) hip hop song.

In the end, this album is a very good release. However, its genius is limited. With only two truly metal songs and seven good but not as good ambient atmospheric tracks, the album begins to drag out by the time the title track rolls around. I do find it difficult, however, to sound like I'm trashing this album when it truly is a very good album. I just thing a little more metal injection would do it some good, especially with the massive success I found with The Escape Artist and False Start. Moore's atmospheres and lyrics make for a nice sublime journey, but they can't really compete with some of the heavier material on the album. Overall, Blood is a good album, but not an absolute necessity. 3+ stars.

Nightfly Having not enjoyed the cold and clinical sound of OSI's first 2 albums I may be a little mad to shell out for Blood too but what drew me in was the inclusion of one of my favourite drummers, Gavin Harrison of Porcupine Tree fame, who incidentally puts in a fine performance. Well while Blood didn't make my top 10 albums of 2009 it turns out to be my favourite release by the band.

Getting the complaints out the way first..well I still don't like Kevin Moore's monotone vocal delivery despite the fact that they fit in well with the modernistic electronic post metal sound. Fortunately Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth) comes to the rescue on one track - Stockholm.

One of my biggest problems with their previous album Free was I felt Jim Matheos was underused on guitar; well I'm pleased to say he's much more to the fore here turning in some strong riffs throughout on the likes of album opener The Escape Artist ably assisted by Gavin Harrison's distinctive impeccably timed drumming driving the song along. It's one of the better tracks with Moore's synth noodlings kept in check by Matheos' powerful riffing. Equally heavy and just as good is the short but sweet False Start.

Despite my preference for 70's style keyboard sounds, perhaps partly because I now know what to expect from Moore I find myself more tolerant of his sequencers and modern synth sounds and quite enjoy some of the atmospheric textures he creates on the likes of The Terminal and We Come Undone.

I also enjoyed the powerful Radiologue with its hypnotic groove and equally so Be The Hero. Microburst Alert is a bit of a throwaway track but a pleasant surprise towards the end of the album is Stockholm not least because of Mikael Akerfeldt taking over from Moore on vocals. It's a laid back moody piece until Matheos introduces some heavy riffing close to the end with a fine performance from Akerfeldt, fortunately not in death metal vocal mode. Title track Blood is a strong closer too, like Stockholm a moody atmospheric track but more powerful.

Somewhat surprising, if you happen to own the bonus disc version is the fact that No Celebrations has been relegated to a bonus track. It's has a fantastic riff from Matheos and actually heavier than any of the other tracks and superior to at least half the album.

Overall Blood is a big improvement on past OSI albums, not only because of Matheos being a more dominant force in the guitar department but also for the more imaginative and interesting arrangements. Finally an OSI album I haven't regretted buying!

arcane-beautiful From Dream Theater to this?

To be honest I have a bit of a bone to pick wth Mr. Moore. In Dream Theater, his lustrous talent and sound was the perfect sound for Dream Theater, his lyrics were some of the best I have ever heard and also...he was a funny guy. But to this...

Being this is the opposite of Dream Theater (well in a way they are quite similar, but for this review I have decided to live in a world where there are no positives and negatives), it was hard for me to listen to this, and not compare it to Dream Theater, saying that Kevin is an ex member.

This is a great album, the songs are cathcy, the riffs kick ass, and you have Jim Mathoes on guitar (Fates Warning rule). This album does have quite an industrial feel to it, which I'm not the biggest fan off..but meh.

Mike Portnoy, who was kind enough to play on their first albums, has ran back to Dream Theater and wasn't able to appear, but what do you do when one of the best drummers in the world leaves....get one of the other best drummers in the world. Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree, King Crimson...he played with King Crimson, you have to be good to play in King Crimson) has filled in the slot (hehehehehe, I'm so childish)

If you haven't heard OSI before, they're basically No Man, but more upbeat and not suicidal. (Tim Bowness did provide vocals on one of the bonus tracks...but it's way too depressing.

1. The Escape Artist - Reminds me of Rammstein mixed with Leonard Cohen style vocals (Kevin Moore does have quite a boring voice). Kick ass way to start off an album. Cathcy and great electronics work.

2. Terminal - Very nice atmospheric trance intro that reminds me of No Quarter. A more laid back song with a Porcupine Tree vibe to it, and it's very catchy There is a longer version on the bonus disc, which surprisingly is better than the album version.

3. False Start - Very kick ass song. Cool break down section. Quite eccentric as well. If this song had a better vocalist, it would be a force to be reckoned with.

4. We Come Undone - Nice Massive Attack vibe to it. Quite interesting.

5. Radiologue - One of the best songs on the album. Electronics are used perfectly, very catchy and the acoustic guitar parts go well with the synth beats. Kevin's vocals are quite good too.

6. Be The Hero - Cool eerie intro. A bit tedious to be honest.

7. Microbust Alert - Eccentric.

8. Stockholm - Mikael Akerfeldt's lustrous tones do make this music seem better. This song is very reminiscent to something off of Beck's Sea Change.

9. Blood - There is a bit of an Enter Shikari vibe to this song. It's laidback and calm. Good way to end the album.

CONCLUSION: If this is your cup of tea, buy it. I'm not the biggest fan of Kevin's current direction, but it was very enjoyable.

Windhawk Third time out for OSI, and this time around they continue exploring the sound from previous effort Free - blending ambient and electronic elements with details from progressive metal territories.

The compositions are somewhat less embellished in structure on this most recent effort though, fewer shifts in pace and sound and not as many surprising developments by far. Nor as many really compelling moods when it comes to that.

It's still a good effort though, but with a few weak tracks and not as many really thrilling excursions as on Free, Blood is a somewhat weaker effort. A good album overall though, and those who enjoyed their previous effort will find much to enjoy on this one as well.