Magnitude 9

Emerging amid an expanding cohort of progressive power metal ensembles influenced equally by Dream Theater and Fates Warning alongside Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, Magnitude 9 came into being during April 1997 in Columbus, OH, thanks to guitarist Rob Johnson. The spark came from vocalist Corey Brown, who had previously performed with Psyco Drama, leading the pair to enlist bassist Kevin Chown along with drummer John Homan and keyboardist Joseph Glean. In 1998, the group issued their initial full-length recording, Chaos to Control, throughout Europe, subsequently securing a contract with Inside Out Music America for the United States. Early in 2001, they delivered Reality in Focus as their opening release on that imprint.