Originally formed in 1994 as an all-instrumental power metal outfit, Italy's DGM featured guitarist Diego Reali, keyboardist Maurizio Pariotti, bassist Marco Marchiori, and drummer Gianfranco Tassella. After taking second place in a local battle of the bands contest, the group began searching for a vocalist and eventually secured the services of the experienced Luciano Regoli -- a veteran of numerous progressive rock bands in the 1970s -- before recording the Random Access Zone EP in 1996. Starting with their full-length debut, the aptly named Change Direction, the next year, DGM began moving ever deeper into progressive metal terrain, and with their second effort, Wings of Time (introducing new drummer Fabio Constantino), from 1999, they became regular magazine poll toppers and sold over 4,000 copies in Japan alone. But even though they were receiving ever more accolades for their Dream Theater-meets-Symphony X style, DGM weathered numerous personnel shakeups leading up to 2001's Dreamland opus, which featured new vocalist Titta Tani. Though not as successful as its predecessor, the album was no dud either, helping DGM secure a new deal with on-the-rise Italian label Scarlet Records prior to 2003's return-to-form Hidden Place, which featured new keyboard player Fabio Sanges. The Giuseppe Orlando-produced Misplaced arrived in 2004, and more lineup changes heralded the arrival of 2007's Different Shapes. Shortly after the latter LP's release, newcomer Mark Basile became the band's new vocalist, and he made his debut studio appearance on 2009's Frame. After a four-year break from the studio, DGM returned with their second full-length with Basile, Momentum, and in 2016 they released their ambitious ninth LP, The Passage, which featured guest appearances by Evergrey vocalist Tom Englund and Symphony X guitarist Michael Romeo. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia