"Consisting of Vishal J. Singh (guitars, programming, mixing) and Jim “Drumblast” Richman (percussion), Amogh Symphony is a progressive metal project formed in 2004. The EP Ashwamedh was released in 2005 in the UK under Kollosal (now defunct) and was distributed in limited copies for reviews. The EP was recognized for influences in its unique progressive metal sound, ranging from eastern music to jazz, and gathered a positive reception from listeners and reviewers. Within 4 years of existence of this project and mayhem in the underground circuit of Asian metal, Vishal inspired a whole new generation of Progressive/Technical metal bands not just in his country India but United States, many European countries and Asian regions like Japan and Indonesia. Reports and evidences clearly indicates that Amogh Symphony is one of the pioneer of Technical Metal movement in India. Some other reputed Indian metal bands who changed their sound to more ‘technical and experimental’ side are Infernal Wrath and Undying Inc. North-east part of India is growing up giving birth to a bunch progressive and technical metal bands and solo artists in the last 2 years.
США
Vishal, born in April 1986, is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer based in Bombay, India. Vishal began his career in music as a Drummer-cum-percussionist. He started playing the guitar at the age of 11 and drums at the age of 13. Vishal belongs from a musical family with both his parents are musicians. Born of a Guitarist Father and a Classical singer/dancer mother, Vishal grew up in a family of music where he taught himself how to play and write music. Initially, his elder brother Vikram J.Singh(who is now a software corporate) taught him how to play the guitar. He moved to Mumbai from his hometown Duliajan(Assam) to pursue a carrier as session guitarist and composer. Vishal, now, apart from his project Amogh Symphony, composes music for big brand TV commercials, Radio jingles and also produces International as well as Indian bands and artists. His projects includes some of the most niche and experimental artists and bands across the Globe with an intention to produce a unique record. Some of his main influences were Al Dimeola, Paco De Lucia, Gene Hoglan, Death, Gorguts, Ozric Tentacles, Tony Macalpine, Shawn Lane, Chick Correa, Prodigy, Yngwie Malmsteen, Stevie Ray Vaughan and so on.
About Drummer Jim Richman. It all started when young Jim got a snare drum kit at age 4 after seeing Elvis Presley's drummer on TV. At 14, Jim bought a drumset and the next day started playing in a cover high school band with his twin brother George Richman.
Jim played in Malefice and recorded 7 songs to be found on the Lotus Blossum LP on Lost and Found Records. He also went to VA Tech and studied Jazz with the late Joe Kennedy Jr. Jim also attended Drummers Collective in NYC, hooking up with Pete Zeldman, Frank Katz, Mike Clarke and many others and studied with Jim Chapin, Joe Morello and Gary Chaffee.
Being as Jim was very serious in drums, he wanted to study them with the masters. After College, Jim played in many different groups and recorded an EP with Dizzy Dizzy, featuring members of Government Issue and 76% Uncertain. But soon he decided to quit that band to join a Variety Wedding band and played the Nascar Circuit in many Holiday Inns. He played in various groups, opening for Angela Bofil, Joan Jett, the Meat Puppets.
The technical metal/fusion journey started with Modulus. He formed Modulus and played as a two man project, initially. They recorded the Prototype EP, engineered mixed and mastered by Jim Richman himself. Modulus opened for many top extreme metal acts at the legendary Jaxx Nightclub for a few years before the band fell apart.
Jim also recorded a couple of tribute tracks with Aurora Borealis released on Dwell Records. He is a fulltime Drum Teacher for almost 15 years. Now, Jim devotes his time to his family, job, Amogh Symphony, Hypnorock, and sub for a variety of gigs as Session Drummer that pay good money. Jim also play keyboards as a composer.
Abolishing the Obsolete System, their first full-length album, was released in April 2009. Soon after 5 months of this album's release, Jim Richman joined Amogh Symphony as permanent drummer. Their second album, The Quantum Hack Code, was released in 2010, receiving positive attention from critics and non-professional listeners alike. For many critics and reviewers, TQHC is one of the top progressive metal releases of the year 2010 and 2011 as well with it's own unique tradmark sound of technical metal."