Ron Jarzombek
Encyclopedia
Ron Jarzombek is an American guitarist
best known for his work with Austin, Texas
progressive metal trailblazers WatchTower
, '90s madcap trio, Spastic Ink
, technical extreme metal band Blotted Science
, featuring Cannibal Corpse
bassist Alex Webster
and Obscura
drummer Hannes Grossmann
, and most recently Terrestrial Exiled, an all-star instrumental quartet, featuring Spastic Ink bassist Pete Perez and Obscura members Christian Muenzner
and Hannes Grossmann.
Jarzombek has also guested with a number of artists ranging from fellow guitarists Marty Friedman and Jeff Loomis
to death metal outfits Obscura
and Odious Mortem
, and collaborated with Cynic
off-shoot Gordian Knot
as well as Lamb of God
drummer Chris Adler. He also teaches guitar in San Antonio, Texas
.
of Necrophagist
. Ron is also featured in the 2009 book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists
by British author Joel McIver
who calls Jarzombek "the most underrated axemonger ever”. Decibel Magazine
remarked, "Ron Jarzombek should be a friggin’ legend by now" in its review of Blotted Science
's The Machinations of Dementia
.
. Another unreleased piece utilized was the Vai
-esque Martians Marchin', originally meant to be a 'soundtrack for' a lithograph called House of Stairs by M.C. Escher. In 2004, the animated 15-minute space mini-epic Time Ace, produced by Morley Arts and featuring two of Jarzombek's compositions, was awarded 'Best Animation' by a jury of film industry professionals in clickflick.tv's online film festival.
, with whom he formed a short-lived project named Happy Kitties in the mid 1980's and collaborated with more extensively in Spastic Ink
in the 1990s.
Singles:
Compilations & guest appearances:
Videos & DVDs:
+ NOTE: Ron is not seen but rather heard as the guitarist and co-writer of some of the music on these DVDs!
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
best known for his work with Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
progressive metal trailblazers WatchTower
Watchtower (band)
WatchTower is an American progressive metal band based in Austin, Texas. The band were influenced by late 1970s progressive rock and acts such as Rush and UK as well as the burgeoning New Wave of British Heavy Metal...
, '90s madcap trio, Spastic Ink
Spastic Ink
Spastic Ink is a progressive technical metal band from the United States.-History:Spastic Ink was formed in 1993 by guitarist Ron Jarzombek of Watchtower after recovering from multiple hand surgeries that had sidelined him, unable to play, for a couple of years. He would be joined by brother Bobby...
, technical extreme metal band Blotted Science
Blotted Science
Blotted Science is an instrumental technical death metal supergroup headed by Ron Jarzombek , bassist Alex Webster and drummer Hannes Grossmann...
, featuring Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band from Buffalo, New York. Formed in 1988, the band has released eleven studio albums, one box set, and one live album...
bassist Alex Webster
Alex Webster
Alex Webster is an American bass player, who is best known as a member of the American death metal band Cannibal Corpse. He is one of two current members who were of the original lineup of Cannibal Corpse, the other being drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz...
and Obscura
Obscura (band)
-History:Obscura was founded in 2002 by Steffen Kummerer. The band was named after the Gorguts album Obscura. In 2006 Obscura self-released their debut album Retribution and toured alongside Suffocation within Europe. A European headlining tour through East and South Europe followed in 2007...
drummer Hannes Grossmann
Hannes Grossmann
Hannes Grossmann is a German drummer who plays for German death metal band Obscura and US technical extreme metal band Blotted Science. His drumming is also heard on the Necrophagist album "Epitaph".-Early life:...
, and most recently Terrestrial Exiled, an all-star instrumental quartet, featuring Spastic Ink bassist Pete Perez and Obscura members Christian Muenzner
Christian Müenzner
Christian Muenzner is a German metal guitarist, best known for playing for technical death metal band Necrophagist from 2002 until 2006, appearing on their 2004 release Epitaph. Prior to being in Necrophagist, he was in the German death metal act Defeated Sanity, featuring on their debut promo,...
and Hannes Grossmann.
Jarzombek has also guested with a number of artists ranging from fellow guitarists Marty Friedman and Jeff Loomis
Jeff Loomis
Jeff Loomis is an American musician, best known for his role as lead guitarist in the progressive metal band Nevermore.-Early days:...
to death metal outfits Obscura
Obscura (band)
-History:Obscura was founded in 2002 by Steffen Kummerer. The band was named after the Gorguts album Obscura. In 2006 Obscura self-released their debut album Retribution and toured alongside Suffocation within Europe. A European headlining tour through East and South Europe followed in 2007...
and Odious Mortem
Odious Mortem
Odious Mortem is a death metal band from San Francisco, California, USA, currently signed to Willowtip Records.They have released two studio albums, through Unique Leader Records and Willowtip Records, as well as an independently released demo in 2003.-Style:...
, and collaborated with Cynic
Cynic (band)
Cynic is an American progressive rock band, incorporating experimental music, alternative, metal and jazz fusion elements, founded in Miami, Florida and currently based in Los Angeles, California. Their first album, Focus, released on September 14, 1993, is widely regarded as a landmark release of...
off-shoot Gordian Knot
Gordian Knot (band)
Gordian Knot is an American progressive rock/metal band directed by bass guitarist Sean Malone. At times its shifting lineup has included Steve Hackett of Genesis, Bill Bruford of King Crimson and Yes, Ron Jarzombek from Watchtower and Spastic Ink as well as Jim Matheos of Fates Warning, several of...
as well as Lamb of God
Lamb of God (band)
Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler...
drummer Chris Adler. He also teaches guitar in San Antonio, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Influence
Ron has been hailed as one of the most influential progressive metal guitarists and has been called "the Godfather of Technical Metal." He has been cited as an influence by numerous players, particularly from the burgeoning technical death metal scene, most prominently Muhammed SuiçmezMuhammed Suiçmez
Muhammed Suiçmez is a German-Turkish guitarist and the frontman of the technical death metal band Necrophagist.-Biography:Muhammed Suiçmez was born in Karlsruhe to Turkish Muslim immigrants. Around the age of 10 he began listening to death metal, and took up an interest in music.At the age of 14,...
of Necrophagist
Necrophagist
Necrophagist is a German death metal band, founded and fronted by Muhammed Suiçmez; a German-born, Turkish guitarist and vocalist. The band is known for its rapid and technical compositions....
. Ron is also featured in the 2009 book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists
The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists
The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists is a book by British author Joel McIver, published in 2009 by Jawbone Press and featuring a foreword by Glen Benton of Deicide. Foreign-language editions appeared shortly after the original English language version. It contained a list of 100 guitar players in...
by British author Joel McIver
Joel McIver
Joel McIver is a British author. The best-known of his 20 books to date is the bestselling Justice For All: The Truth About Metallica, first published in 2004 and selling close to 50,000 copies in nine languages since then. McIver's other works include biographies of Black Sabbath, Slayer, Ice...
who calls Jarzombek "the most underrated axemonger ever”. Decibel Magazine
Decibel magazine
Decibel is a monthly heavy metal and extreme music magazine published by the Philadelphia-based Red Flag Media. Since October 2004, Decibel has featured a plethora of extreme metal bands and musicians. Its sections include Upfront, Features, Reviews, Guest Columns and the Decibel Hall of Fame...
remarked, "Ron Jarzombek should be a friggin’ legend by now" in its review of Blotted Science
Blotted Science
Blotted Science is an instrumental technical death metal supergroup headed by Ron Jarzombek , bassist Alex Webster and drummer Hannes Grossmann...
's The Machinations of Dementia
The Machinations of Dementia
The Machinations of Dementia is the debut album by the instrumental technical death metal band Blotted Science, released September 18, 2007 on guitarist Ron Jarzombek's EclecticElectric label...
.
Soundtrack work
Ron wrote several exclusive pieces for Atlanta, GA-based Morley Arts Productions, a small animation company. These include the intro to a proposed science fiction short film titled Magnatania and bits featured on the Morley Arts 2005 demo reel which starts off with 'See and It's Sharp' by Spastic InkSpastic Ink
Spastic Ink is a progressive technical metal band from the United States.-History:Spastic Ink was formed in 1993 by guitarist Ron Jarzombek of Watchtower after recovering from multiple hand surgeries that had sidelined him, unable to play, for a couple of years. He would be joined by brother Bobby...
. Another unreleased piece utilized was the Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
-esque Martians Marchin', originally meant to be a 'soundtrack for' a lithograph called House of Stairs by M.C. Escher. In 2004, the animated 15-minute space mini-epic Time Ace, produced by Morley Arts and featuring two of Jarzombek's compositions, was awarded 'Best Animation' by a jury of film industry professionals in clickflick.tv's online film festival.
Family
Ron is the youngest of three musical brothers, Ralph, a keyboard player, and drummer Bobby JarzombekBobby Jarzombek
Bobby "Wire" Jarzombek is a heavy metal/progressive metal drummer and best known for his work with Halford, Sebastian Bach and Riot. He has also recorded and toured with Fates Warning, Arch / Matheos, Iced Earth, Rob Rock, Spastic Ink, and Juggernaut, among others.-Biography:Bobby Jarzombek was...
, with whom he formed a short-lived project named Happy Kitties in the mid 1980's and collaborated with more extensively in Spastic Ink
Spastic Ink
Spastic Ink is a progressive technical metal band from the United States.-History:Spastic Ink was formed in 1993 by guitarist Ron Jarzombek of Watchtower after recovering from multiple hand surgeries that had sidelined him, unable to play, for a couple of years. He would be joined by brother Bobby...
in the 1990s.
Equipment
Jarzombek plays custom-made guitars he builds himself, the reason being that "I am rather selective when it comes to guitars. For me, it's easier to build a guitar totally from scratch than to buy something off the shelf and customize it. The necks are taken off of guitars that I come across at local music stores."Discography
Albums:- (2011) Blotted ScienceBlotted ScienceBlotted Science is an instrumental technical death metal supergroup headed by Ron Jarzombek , bassist Alex Webster and drummer Hannes Grossmann...
- The Animation of Entomology (EclecticElectric) - (2009) Ron Jarzombek (solo) - PHHHP! Plus (EclecticElectric)
- (2007) Blotted ScienceBlotted ScienceBlotted Science is an instrumental technical death metal supergroup headed by Ron Jarzombek , bassist Alex Webster and drummer Hannes Grossmann...
- The Machinations of DementiaThe Machinations of DementiaThe Machinations of Dementia is the debut album by the instrumental technical death metal band Blotted Science, released September 18, 2007 on guitarist Ron Jarzombek's EclecticElectric label...
(EclecticElectric; released by Marquee/Avalon in Japan in 2011) - (2007) Marty Friedman - Exhibit A - Live In Europe (Avex Entertainment; released by Mascot Records in 2008)
- (2004) Spastic InkSpastic InkSpastic Ink is a progressive technical metal band from the United States.-History:Spastic Ink was formed in 1993 by guitarist Ron Jarzombek of Watchtower after recovering from multiple hand surgeries that had sidelined him, unable to play, for a couple of years. He would be joined by brother Bobby...
- Ink Compatible (EclecticElectric / Marquee Avalon) - (2002) Ron Jarzombek (solo) - Solitarily Speaking Of Theoretical ConfinementSolitarily Speaking Of Theoretical ConfinementSolitarily Speaking Of Theoretical Confinement is the second solo album by progressive metal guitarist Ron Jarzombek, released in 2002. Every song follows a loose concept of basing each song's composition on certain songwriting systems created by Jarzombek himself Solitarily Speaking Of...
(Mr. Kitty) - (2002) WatchTowerWatchtower (band)WatchTower is an American progressive metal band based in Austin, Texas. The band were influenced by late 1970s progressive rock and acts such as Rush and UK as well as the burgeoning New Wave of British Heavy Metal...
- Demonstrations in ChaosDemonstrations in ChaosDemonstrations in Chaos is a 2002 archives release by progressive metal band Watchtower, containing various early recordings that span the years 1983 to 1987.-Track listing:# "Meltdown" - 4:03# "Asylum" - 4:00# "Argonne Forest" - 4:52...
(archives release) (Monster Records) - (1998) Gordian KnotGordian Knot (band)Gordian Knot is an American progressive rock/metal band directed by bass guitarist Sean Malone. At times its shifting lineup has included Steve Hackett of Genesis, Bill Bruford of King Crimson and Yes, Ron Jarzombek from Watchtower and Spastic Ink as well as Jim Matheos of Fates Warning, several of...
- Gordian KnotGordian Knot (album)Gordian Knot was the debut album of Sean Malone's progressive rock project of the same name.-Track listing:#"Galois" - Malone#"Code/Anticode" - Malone, Reinert, Gunn, Jarzombek...
(Sensory) - (1998) Ron Jarzombek (solo) - PHHHP! (Mr. Kitty)
- (1997) Spastic InkSpastic InkSpastic Ink is a progressive technical metal band from the United States.-History:Spastic Ink was formed in 1993 by guitarist Ron Jarzombek of Watchtower after recovering from multiple hand surgeries that had sidelined him, unable to play, for a couple of years. He would be joined by brother Bobby...
- Ink Complete (Dream Circle, re-released by EclecticElectric in 2000) - (1989) WatchTowerWatchtower (band)WatchTower is an American progressive metal band based in Austin, Texas. The band were influenced by late 1970s progressive rock and acts such as Rush and UK as well as the burgeoning New Wave of British Heavy Metal...
- Control And ResistanceControl And ResistanceControl and Resistance is the second album by progressive metal band Watchtower, released in 1989.-Track listing:# "Instruments of Random Murder" – 4:06# "The Eldritch" – 3:17# "Mayday in Kiev" – 5:48# "The Fall of Reason" – 8:01...
(Noise Records) - (1988) S.A.SlayerS.A.SlayerS.A.SLAYER, originally known simply as SLAYER, was an American heavy metal band formed in San Antonio, Texas in 1981 by the former Blitzkrieg guitar duo Robert "Bob Dog" Catlin and Art Villareal, bassist Don Van Stavern, drummer Dave McClain, and vocalist Chris Cronk...
- Go For The ThroatGo for the ThroatGo for the Throat is the twelfth studio album recorded by the English rock band Humble Pie and the second with the new lineup including, guitarist and vocalist Steve Marriott, Drummer Jerry Shirley, respected US East Coast bassist Anthony "Sooty" Jones and vocalist and guitarist, Bobby Tench...
(Under Den Linden)
Singles:
- (2011) Terrestrial Exiled - Duodecimal Levorotation (digital release)
- (2010) WatchTowerWatchtower (band)WatchTower is an American progressive metal band based in Austin, Texas. The band were influenced by late 1970s progressive rock and acts such as Rush and UK as well as the burgeoning New Wave of British Heavy Metal...
- The Size of Matter (digital release)
Compilations & guest appearances:
- (2010) Ray Riendeau - Atmospheres (guest guitar solo on "A Search For Lifeforms") (Groove Theory Records)
- (2009) ObscuraObscura (band)-History:Obscura was founded in 2002 by Steffen Kummerer. The band was named after the Gorguts album Obscura. In 2006 Obscura self-released their debut album Retribution and toured alongside Suffocation within Europe. A European headlining tour through East and South Europe followed in 2007...
- CosmogenesisCosmogenesis (album)- Band lineup :* Steffen Kummerer - guitars, vocals* Christian Muenzner − guitars* Jeroen Paul Thesseling − bass* Hannes Grossmann - drums* Ron Jarzombek - guest guitar on track 9* Tymon Kruidenier - guest guitar on track 2...
(guest guitar solo on "Cosmogenesis") (Relapse Records) - (2008) Jeff LoomisJeff LoomisJeff Loomis is an American musician, best known for his role as lead guitarist in the progressive metal band Nevermore.-Early days:...
- Zero Order PhaseZero Order PhaseJeff Loomis explained in an interview that the album had been written after the end of This Godless Endeavor tour. Loomis wrote two months before starting production. Zero Order Phase was recorded during a month and a half, at the Robert Lang Studios in Richmond Beach, Washington, with producer...
(guest guitar solo on "Jato Unit") (Century Media) - (2008) The Fractured Dimension - Towards the Mysterium (guest guitar solo on "Towards the Mysterium") (Independent)
- (2007) Odious MortemOdious MortemOdious Mortem is a death metal band from San Francisco, California, USA, currently signed to Willowtip Records.They have released two studio albums, through Unique Leader Records and Willowtip Records, as well as an independently released demo in 2003.-Style:...
- Cryptic Implosion (guest guitar solo on "Collapse Of Recreation") (Willowtip Records) - (2006) Various Artists - Drum Nation Vol.3 (Magna Carta) w/ Chris Adler
- (2006) Loch VostokLoch VostokLoch Vostok is a progressive metal band from Uppsala, Sweden. Named after a subterranean lake in Antarctica, rose out of the collapse of progressive metal band Mayadome in 2001.-Biography:...
- Destruction Time Again!Destruction Time Again!Destruction Time Again! is the second studio album by the Swedish progressive metal act, Loch Vostok. Featuring guitarist Ron Jarzombek from Spastic Ink on the song "Talk".Released in 2006 by Escapi Music.-Track listing:...
(guest guitar solo on "Talk") (Escapi Music) - (1999) Various Artists - A Tribute To Accept Vol.1 (Nuclear Blast) w/ WatchTower
- (1998) Various Artists - The Music Of Raymond Scott (Esotericity)
- (1996) Various Artists - 12 Years In Noise: Metal & Beyond [2-CD] (Noise Records) w/ WatchTower
- (1989) Various Artists - Doomsday News 2 (Noise Records) w/ WatchTower
Videos & DVDs:
- (2007) Marty Friedman - Exhibit B - Live In Japan (Avex Entertainment)
- (2006) Chris Adler / Jason BittnerJason BittnerJason Bittner is the drummer for the American metal band Shadows Fall. He has won numerous awards including Modern Drummer Readers poll for #1 Up and Coming Drummer of 2004, and in 2005, #1 Best Recorded Performance for the Shadows Fall album The War Within, #1 Metal drummer #2 Clinician DRUM!...
- Live At Modern Drummer Festival 2005 (Hudson Music)+ - (2005) Bobby JarzombekBobby JarzombekBobby "Wire" Jarzombek is a heavy metal/progressive metal drummer and best known for his work with Halford, Sebastian Bach and Riot. He has also recorded and toured with Fates Warning, Arch / Matheos, Iced Earth, Rob Rock, Spastic Ink, and Juggernaut, among others.-Biography:Bobby Jarzombek was...
- Performance & Technique (Warner Bros. Publications)+ - (1990) Various Artists - Doomsday News - The Video Compilation Volume 2 (Noise Records) w/ WatchTower
+ NOTE: Ron is not seen but rather heard as the guitarist and co-writer of some of the music on these DVDs!