Name: Office of Strategic Influence
Brand: OSI

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

251851

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Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2021-07-30

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

The Orchard

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

039842518510

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Total Cap

2 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / black

Artist

OSI 

Genre GB

Prog Rock

Label GB

Metal Blade

Metal Blade is an independent heavy metal label that was founded in Los Angeles, CA on February 1, 1982 by Brian Slagel. Over the years, Metal Blade has gained a reputation for launching the careers of numerous popular metal bands including Metallica, Slayer, Cannibal Corpse, and many others.

The label has gone through various changes in its label codes and variants throughout the years. From 1982 to 1983, they used "tan labels and axe with blood stains" for most releases. However, there were exceptions such as "black labels" available only on the Metal Massacre compilation and "custom tan labels" for certain releases like Bitch's Damnation Alley.

In 1984, Metal Blade switched to using "silver labels and axe with blood stains," which were actually used only in that year. Some pressings from this period with earlier dates are actually from 1984. These silver labels were also reused in the 2016 reissues of Slayer's Show No Mercy album. Additionally, some releases sold in 1987 featured these silver labels but were likely old stock distributed in new sleeves.

A veritable prog metal "supergroup," O.S.I. -- the "Office of Strategic Influence" -- was formed by Fates Warning guitarist Jim Matheos, Chroma Key and former Dream Theater keyboardist Kevin Moore, and Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy, with help from Gordian Knot bassist Sean Malone. Like similar collaborations, such as Transatlantic or Liquid Tension Experiment (many of which feature the same rotating cast of six or eight talented players), O.S.I.'s debut album is more than the sum of its disparate parts. Office of Strategic Influence masterfully blends '70s-styled progressive rock, heavily influenced by King Crimson and Pink Floyd, with an '80s-era heavy metal aesthetic, and the avant-garde sound of underground indie rockers such as Max Vague. - AllMusic

Office of Strategic Influence

Music GB