Part of the growing wing of progressive power metal outfits as indebted to Dream Theater and Fates Warning as they are to Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, Magnitude 9 were formed in Columbus, OH, by guitarist Rob Johnson in April 1997. Vocalist Corey Brown, formerly of Psyco Drama, provided the catalyst, after which the duo recruited bassist Kevin Chown, drummer John Homan, and keyboardist Joseph Glean. Magnitude 9's debut album, Chaos to Control, was released in Europe in 1998, after which they signed a domestic deal with Inside Out Music America. Their first effort for the label, Reality in Focus, appeared in early 2001. ~ Steve Huey