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Ron Jarzombek

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Ron Jarzombek
BornSan Antonio, Texas
GenresProgressive metal, heavy metal, thrash metal, technical death metal, instrumental rock
OccupationMusician
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1984–present
WebsiteRonJarzombek.com

Ron Jarzombek is an American guitarist best known for his work with WatchTower, Spastic Ink, and Blotted Science, featuring Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse. His most recent project is Terrestrial Exiled.[1] He released a brand new song, "Beyond Life And Cosmic Kinetics" (B.L.A.C.K.), as an interactive six-track multi-tracking app in November 2012.[2]

Jarzombek has guested with a number of artists ranging from fellow guitarists Marty Friedman[3] and Jeff Loomis to death metal outfits Obscura and Odious Mortem as well as Protest The Hero. He has also collaborated with Cynic offshoot Gordian Knot and Lamb of God drummer Chris Adler. He teaches guitar in San Antonio, TX and is a member of local Rush tribute band Exit Stage Left.

Influence

Ron has been hailed as one of the most influential progressive metal guitarists and has been called "the Godfather of Technical Metal."[citation needed] He has been cited as an influence by numerous players, particularly from the burgeoning technical death metal scene, most prominently Muhammed Suiçmez of Necrophagist.[4] 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”.[5] Decibel Magazine remarked, "Ron Jarzombek should be a friggin’ legend by now"[6] in its review of Blotted Science's The Machinations of Dementia.

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 Ink. 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.

Family

Ron is the youngest of three musical brothers, Ralph, a keyboard player, and drummer Bobby Jarzombek, with whom he formed a short-lived project named Happy Kitties in the mid 1980s and collaborated with more extensively in Spastic Ink in the 1990s. Ron co-wrote and plays on the songs "School" and "Peppered Cancer" (an alternate version, titled "A Quick Affix", is included as a bonus track on the Japanese version of Spastic Ink's Ink Compatible) on Bobby's Performance & Technique instructional DVD. Another collaboration, "Fishies on Leashes", recorded as a demo in the mid 1980s, surfaced in 2009 on Ron's archives solo release, PHHHP! Plus.

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."[7]

Discography

Albums:

Singles:

  • (2010) WatchTower - The Size of Matter (digital release)
  • (2011) Terrestrial Exiled - Duodecimal Levorotation (digital release)
  • (2012) Ron Jarzombek - Beyond Life and Cosmic Kinetics (app / digital release)

Compilations & guest appearances:

  • (1989) Various Artists - Doomsday News 2 (Noise Records) w/ WatchTower
  • (1996) Various Artists - 12 Years In Noise: Metal & Beyond [2-CD] (Noise Records) w/ WatchTower
  • (1998) Various Artists - The Music Of Raymond Scott (Esotericity)
  • (1999) Various Artists - A Tribute To Accept Vol.1 (Nuclear Blast) w/ WatchTower
  • (2006) Loch Vostok - Destruction Time Again! (guest guitar solo on "Talk") (Escapi Music)
  • (2006) Various Artists - Drum Nation Vol.3 (Magna Carta) w/ Chris Adler
  • (2007) Odious Mortem - Cryptic Implosion (guest guitar solo on "Collapse Of Recreation") (Willowtip Records)
  • (2008) The Fractured Dimension - Towards the Mysterium (guest guitar solo on "Towards the Mysterium")
  • (2008) Jeff Loomis - Zero Order Phase (guest guitar solo on "Jato Unit") (Century Media)
  • (2009) Obscura - Cosmogenesis (guest guitar solo on "Cosmogenesis") (Relapse Records)
  • (2010) Ray Riendeau - Atmospheres (guest guitar solo on "A Search For Lifeforms") (Groove Theory Records)
  • (2013) Protest The Hero - Volition (guest guitar solo on "Drumhead Trial") (Razor & Tie)
  • (2014) Hannes Grossmann - The Radial Covenant (guest guitar solo on "the Voyager")

Videos & DVDs:

  • (1990) Various Artists - Doomsday News - The Video Compilation Volume 2 (Noise Records) w/ WatchTower
  • (2005) Bobby Jarzombek - Performance & Technique (Warner Bros. Publications)+
  • (2006) Chris Adler / Jason Bittner - Live At Modern Drummer Festival 2005 (Hudson Music)+
  • (2007) Marty Friedman - Exhibit B - Live In Japan (Avex Entertainment)

+ NOTE: Ron is not seen but rather heard as the guitarist and co-writer of some of the music on these DVDs

References

  1. ^ "BLOTTED SCIENCE, OBSCURA, SPASTIC INK Members Team Up For TERRESTRIAL EXILED Single".
  2. ^ "WATCHTOWER Guitarist Releases 'Beyond Life And Cosmic Kinetics' As Multitracking App".
  3. ^ "MARTY FRIEDMAN To Be Joined By Ex-MEGADETH Drummer, WATCHTOWER Guitarist On Upcoming Tour".
  4. ^ "Decibel: Top 20 Death Metal Guitarists".
  5. ^ "The Quietus: The Ten Best Metal Guitarists In The World".
  6. ^ "Decibel: Blotted Science - 'The Machinations of Dementia' review".
  7. ^ "Ron's Custom Guitars".
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