Originally formed in 1994 as an all-instrumental, power metal outfit, Italy's DGM featured guitarist Diego Reali, keyboardist Maurizio Pariotti, ba**ist Marco Marchiori, and drummer Gianfranco Ta**ella. 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 E.P. 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 shake-ups 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. New keyboard player Fabio Sanges was this album's new arrival, and uncertainty remains a constant in DGM's career as they look ahead, since vocalist Tani accepted a position as drummer for American splattercore act Necrophagia. ~ Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide