Ron Jarzombek

Ron Jarzombek
Born San Antonio, Texas
Genres Progressive metal, heavy metal, thrash metal, technical death metal, instrumental rock
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Guitar
Years active 1984–present
Associated acts Blotted Science
Terrestrial Exiled
Spastic Ink
WatchTower
S.A.Slayer
Gordian Knot
Marty Friedman
Happy Kitties
Website RonJarzombek.com

Ron Jarzombek is an American guitarist best known for his work with Austin, Texas progressive metal trailblazers WatchTower, '90s madcap trio, Spastic Ink, and technical extreme metal band Blotted Science, featuring Cannibal Corpse bassist Alex Webster and Obscura drummer Hannes Grossmann. His most recent project is Terrestrial Exiled, a one-off collaboration with Spastic Ink bassist Pete Perez and Obscura members Christian Muenzner and Hannes Grossmann.[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 off-shoot 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." 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:

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

External links

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".