Hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia, Phil Western started out as a drummer and percussionist, and while he still finds himself behind the kit from time to time, nowadays he specializes in playing electronic music as either a solo artist or with others. In the late '90s, Western played keyboard on Skinny Puppy's Process, lent his drumming talents to Tranquility Bass' Let the Freak Flag Fly, and has also worked in either a production or remixing capacity with such hard-rocking artists as Metallica, Monster Magnet, and Nine Inch Nails. Western has also been a member of such projects as Plateau and Off and Gone, and has released a pair of solo releases -- 1998's Escapist and 2001's Dark Features. ~ Greg Prato