To succeed in the progressive rock realm (success being a relative term), any good band knows that you can not rest on the laurels of your previous effort. The key, you see is to indeed "progress" (a trait that is easier said than done). For Jim Matheos and Kevin Moore, OSI has progressed substantially with each successive album. From their debut album in 2003, "Office Of Strategic Influence" (which featured Mike Portnoy and a guest vocal spot by Porcupine Tree front man Steven Wilson) through the band 2009's album "Blood" (featuring vocal cameos by No-Man's Tim Bowness and Opeth's Mikael Åkerfeldt as well as drums by Porcupine Tree's Gavin Harrison), the sound has progressed from more of a progressive metal band to a hybrid of progressive rock with tons of other influences. Kevin Moore's almost spoken-like delivery has gotten more intense with each release, and the songwriting between Matheos and Moore has only gotten stronger the more they've worked together. With the band's fourth album, 2012's "Fire Make Thunder", Moore and Maethos have finally gotten the formula right. A great cross between Matheos's guitar work in ‘Fates Warning’ (not to mention his ongoing interest in electronica) and Moore's electronics, keyboards and the before mentioned vocal treatments, "Fire Makes Thunder" showcases OSI's diversity, yet the songs don't feel out of place with each other. A great example of this can be found in ‘Guards’, with an almost funky bass line to accompany a totally incredible progressive riff done by Maethos. The spoken word recording on the opening track ‘Cold Call’ harkens back to the great "War Of The Worlds" radio broadcast from the 1930's, a fact obviously not lost on the guys. The key to "Fire Make Thunder", however, is neither Maethos nor Moore, but rather drummer Gavin Harrison. His drumming (at times very complex but also very restrained) is the bed for Moore and Matheos to lay down what might be some of the band's most interesting songs in their discography. Both progressive metal, electronica, progressive rock and everything in between, "Fire Makes Thunder" is a fantastic album for those who are willing to experiment a little outside of the generic progressive rock sandbox. Please join us on Tuesday, May 22nd 8pm as we spotlight the 2012 album by OSI, titled Fire Make Thunder.