FIRE MAKE THUNDER

The culmination of OSI as a project is 2012's enigmatic 'Fire Make Thunder', the fourth and final installment in the catalogue of Jim Matheos and Kevin Moore's side project. Featuring Gavin Harrison again as on 2009's 'Blood', this is the only album by OSI that has no other contributors or sessions musicians, with Moore handling all vocal duties. Now, 'Fire Make Thunder' is a general stylistic departure from the previous three albums, since it is much more mellow and cathartic, with a strong emphasis on the build-up of each song, featuring just eight really solid tracks. A darker atmosphere and a more profound tonality are to be heard on this record, which has a somewhat urban feel that is not so present on other releases by OSI. The lyrics are as usual cryptic and political, matching perfectly the alienated soundscapes of the album - great examples of what this whole record is all about are the opening and closing tracks, also the longest on the record, namely 'Cold Call' and the 10-minute final movement of the album titled 'Invisible Man'.

Stylistically this is the album that resembles Kevin Moore's Chroma Key project the most, another aspect that could not have been attributed to past records, much more pertinent to the tropes of a Fates Warning album. Yet 'Fire Make Thunder' is the most mellow, most textured and arguably most melancholic and charming listen of the entire four-album discography of the band, which is what makes is quite unique. The songs are yet again very varied and memorable, with other great examples of OSI's strengths being 'Indian Curse' and 'Wind Won't Howl'. All of this is to say that OSI represents one of the most intriguing and important episodes in the history of 21st century progressive rock, albeit a studio-only collaborative project, with the music of Matheos and Moore often transcending genre and displaying a fascinating feel of alienation and melancholy that is truly unforgettable.