Forte

Forte was a long-running Oklahoma progressive thrash/power metal outfit initially similar in sound to Metal Church and Jag Panzer, later comparable to Dream Theater, and founded by the Scott brothers -- guitarist Jeff and drummer Greg -- in 1987. Together with singer James Randel and bassist Ghames Jones, they recorded their debut album, Stranger Than Fiction, for the Massacre label in 1992, then replaced Randel with Bill Dollins prior to 1994's sophomore Division. David Thompson then replaced Dollins for 1997's Destructive, an album that also introduced bassist Richard Sharpe. This lineup stayed together long enough to record one final album, Rise Above, in 1999, but despite supposedly reuniting with original vocalist James Randel, Forte has yet to record in the new millennium. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, Rovi