HAVE WE ALL FORGOTTEN ABOUT RON JARZOMBEK?

Thursday, July 1st, 2010 at 4:20pm by

ron jarzombekAs a writer for MetalSucks, I find it pretty shocking that there are pretty much no mentions at all of Ron Jarzombek. Many of you probably don’t even know who he is. So I feel that it’s my duty to enlighten those who don’t. You may have heard of Blotted Science, the supergroup composed of Alex Webster from Cannibal Corpse on bass, Chris Adler from Lamb of God on drums (who was later replaced by Charlie Zeleny of Behold…the Arctopus), and Ron Jarzombek on guitar. They’ve only released one album, The Machinations of Dementia, but it received a lot of praise and the band has said that they’re in the process of writing another album. But even though Blotted Science is the least prolific of Jarzombek’s projects, it’s the most well-known and the most recent.

Jarzombek has been making insane shred-tastic metal albums as a solo artist as well as in the bands Spastic Ink and Watchtower (among others) since 1987. He’s guested on albums by Obscura, Jeff Loomis, and Gordian Knot. Yet still, people don’t know about him. This has to change. Just watch some of the videos below if you don’t believe me – I’ve provided a few from his various projects.

Watchtower, Control and Resistance, 1989

Blotted Science, Synaptic Plasticity, from 2007

And finally, the king of all his works: A Wild Hare, written with Spastic Ink in 1997. Ron took 8 minutes of clips from the Disney movie “Bambi” and, because he has perfect pitch, recorded the animals’ voices on guitar and programmed other instruments around that. Only an insane genius could accomplish something like this. The voices are a little hard to make out at first, but they become easier to hear after a little bit.

Oh, and he makes his own guitars with awesome paint jobs. I implore you all, listen to Ron Jarzombek! Here are some links to make your lives even easier.

www.ronjarzombek.com
www.myspace.com/blottedscience

-DM

  • sYgnal

    Yea… If you don’t know who this guy is then you don’t know fucking Progressive / Technical Metal!

    I’d say the other thing that needs to change is the knowledge of Michael Manring – Bass Guitarist / Genius. He has worked with Ron Jarzombek, Jeff Loomis, Alex Skolnick,The drummer from Fates Warning, Weather Report, Dave Cullen, Scott McGill, etc. He also helped invent a new type of Bass called the HyperBass:
    http://www.zonguitars.com/zonguitars/hyperbass.html

    Here is him playing three bass guitars at once:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ3XksTJeA8

    • Deaner

      Wow, that Manring guy is incredible. I’ve seen him somewhere before, but I can’t put my finger on where.

      Here’s a better video of that song by the way:
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8toqbtQt2g

      And yes, Jarzombek is awesome. His brother is an amazing drummer as well. I believe that is him playing on A Wild Hare.

      • http://myspace.com/wearecarnevil AEnema175

        It is indeed Bobby Jarzombek. i cry myself to sleep at night because i know i will never be that good a drummer.

    • Eric

      Yeah, if you don’t know, he is Bobby Jarzombek (Ex- Riot/Halford drummer) Brother!

      Hey guys, don’t forget about Jason MacMaster of Dangerous Toys. He was the original singer of Watchtower!!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Phil-Hopkins/100000274440932 Phil Hopkins

    Ron Jarzombek is the shit. Thank you for making an article about one of the most under-appreciated guitarists out there.

  • Steve O

    Ron Jarzombek is my favorite guitarist.

    Fanboyism aside, easily one of the best in modern metal today… if not THE best. Along with Thordendal, Emil Werstler, Tosin Abasi, Jeff Loomis, etc…

  • matty2fatty

    Why why why haven’t I heard of Blotted Science before? Thanks, this is the best post in ages

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jeff-Gross/1569840018 Jeff Gross

      Agreed.

    • blowtorch massacre

      The Machinations of Dementia is unreal. The songs are technically jawdropping, yet still extremely well written, and that is such a hard combination to come by.

  • Slaughterhouse

    Wasnt Ron and Alex Webster from Cannibal Corpse doing something together?

    • http://www.metalsucks.net Dave Mustein

      Direct quote:
      “You may have heard of Blotted Science, the supergroup composed of Alex Webster from Cannibal Corpse on bass, Chris Adler from Lamb of God on drums (who was later replaced by Charlie Zeleny of Behold…the Arctopus), and Ron Jarzombek on guitar.”

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Alejandro-Aldana/683878171 Alejandro Aldana

    ron jarzombek is great. i emailed him a while ago asking for advice on my guitar playing and he actually emailed me back.

    • http://www.metalsucks.net Dave Mustein

      Yes, I also emailed him about painting a guitar I made and he replied in detail.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Lance-Zeran/100000142665110 Lance Zeran

    I liked Blotted Science and all, but that Bambi video was fucking stupid.

    Sorry for shitting on your day of nice here at Metalsucks.

  • builtforsin

    His site was awesome, thanks.

  • aidan

    i’ve been waiting for a post acknowledging ron for so long

  • robocop420

    Does someone want to sell me some acid before I watch A Wild Hare again?

  • http://www.jasonvincion.com Kodiak

    Ron Jarzombek is an amazing guitarist and I’m surprised he hasn’t been brought up more around here, though I guess he keeps a pretty low profile. I found out about him through a Blotted Science recommendation and I’ve enjoyed his work ever since.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Carlos-Ramirez/631635101 Carlos Ramirez
  • http://www.myspace.com/infideltx Nicodemus

    SAN ANTONIO REPRESENT!

  • erpbass6

    Nicodemus – 210 represent!

    DMust – ron doesn’t have perfect pitch…his ear/musicianship is just that good. i’ve studied with him in the 90s…he’s the lawnmower man (inside joke)

  • self-titled

    Honestly ida thought most tech metal heads would have known about a god like ron. Iv had a bone for spastic ink and blotted for a while. Lets not forget his brother from spastic on drums. He EASILY stands with the ranks of portnoy or any of those fellas. Bobby is a drum god. I recommend “harm and a half-time baking shuffle”. If your a true git player in the technical genre. Then Jorzombek already drains your balls. Bobby is the true secret find.

    • Steve O

      Bobby Jarz kills Portnoy.

  • self-titled

    nice post time by the way

  • leroydragon

    Duh everyone knows about Ron and Spastik fools.

  • christian

    man, i remember the first time i listened to blotted science, it felt like everything i knew about Tech Metal (and music in general) got thrown out the fucking window, into a dumpster and picked up by a girl in mangled pigtails. ron jarzombek sadly is one the of the most overlooked musician/composers of this genre. he just doesnt get as much credit as he deserves. being part of watchtower, probably the most influential prog/tech metal band EVER, and then spastik ink, and blotted science, his work only kept getting better and better. i cant wait to hear his next stuff.

  • Natalie

    Anyone who doesn’t know about this man is not my friend. HA!

  • Hunter

    I haven’t forgotten about Mr. Ron Jarz! You guys should try to get an interview and see what his plans for the future. Lord willing.

    P.S.
    Get a lesson video with him too!!!

    Synaptic Plasticity tabbed out would be nice too!!!

  • matt

    thanks for reminding!! Ssastic ink is the ultimate nerdtechmetalfusionstuff. gotta love it!!!

  • Bierko

    Sad that Mathematics finally was done, and has no buzz.

    Long live Watchtower. I guess.

    • Eldritch

      What do you mean ‘Mathematics’ is done?!

      They haven’t even announced a release date yet. Nor a singer for that matter.

  • Jason

    This man is a genious. I’m glad to live in the same city with this guy.

  • Perpetual Black Screen Name

    Why was the Bambi video posted? lol So many songs that are waaaaaaay cooler by Spastic Ink.

    Mosquito Brain Surgery-
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOuLJvk7Y34&NR=1

    Cereal Mouse (this one is a head trip)-
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi0ODg1tSus

  • Caleb

    Jarzombek is the man. Blotted Science makes my head explode