Ron Jarzombekis an American guitarist best known for his work withWatchTower,Spastic Ink,andBlotted Science,featuringAlex WebsterofCannibal 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]

Ron Jarzombek
BornDec 14th, 1964
GenresProgressive metal,heavy metal,thrash metal,technical death metal,instrumental rock
OccupationGuitarist
Years active1984–present
Websiteronjarzombek.com

Jarzombek has guested with a number of artists ranging from fellow guitaristsMarty Friedman[3]andJeff Loomisto death metal outfitsObscuraandOdious Mortemas well asProtest The Hero.He has also collaborated withCynicoffshootGordian KnotandLamb of GoddrummerChris Adler.He teaches guitar inSan Antonio, Texasand is a member of localRushtribute band Exit Stage Left.

Influence

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Ron has been hailed as one of the most influential progressive metal guitarists and has been called the"Godfather of Technical Metal."[4]He has been cited as an influence by numerous players, particularly from the burgeoning technical death metal scene, most prominentlyMuhammed SuiçmezofNecrophagist.[5]Ron is also featured in the 2009 bookThe 100 Greatest Metal Guitaristsby British authorJoel McIverwho calls Jarzombek "the most underrated axemonger ever."[6]Decibel Magazineremarked, "Ron Jarzombek should be a friggin' legend by now"[7]in its review ofBlotted Science'sThe Machinations of Dementia.

Soundtrack work

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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' bySpastic Ink.Another unreleased piece utilized was theVai-esque Martians Marchin', originally meant to be a 'soundtrack for' a lithograph calledHouse of StairsbyM.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.

Equipment

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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."[8]He tunes his guitars to dropped 7-string tuning (A E A D G B or A E A D G B E).[9]

Discography

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Solo:

Colaborations:

Singles:

  • (2010)WatchTowerThe 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 VostokDestruction Time Again!(guest guitar solo on "Talk" ) (Escapi Music)
  • (2006) Various Artists –Drum Nation Vol.3(Magna Carta) w/Chris Adler
  • (2007)Odious MortemCryptic 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 LoomisZero Order Phase(guest guitar solo on "Jato Unit" ) (Century Media)
  • (2009)ObscuraCosmogenesis(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 HeroVolition(guest guitar solo on "Drumhead Trial" ) (Razor & Tie)
  • (2014)Hannes GrossmannThe Radial Covenant(guest guitar solo on "The Voyager" )
  • (2019) Synaptic Collapse –Hemispheric Lateralization(guest guitar solo on "Cognitive Inhibition" )

Videos & DVDs:

  • (1990) Various Artists –Doomsday News – The Video Compilation Volume 2(Noise Records) w/ WatchTower
  • (2005)Bobby JarzombekPerformance & Technique(Warner Bros. Publications)+
  • (2006)Chris Adler/Jason BittnerLive At Modern Drummer Festival 2005(Hudson Music)+
  • (2007)Marty FriedmanExhibit 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

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  1. ^"BLOTTED SCIENCE, OBSCURA, SPASTIC INK Members Team Up For TERRESTRIAL EXILED Single".Archived fromthe originalon August 1, 2013.
  2. ^"WATCHTOWER Guitarist Releases 'Beyond Life And Cosmic Kinetics' As Multitracking App".November 2012.
  3. ^"MARTY FRIEDMAN To Be Joined By Ex-MEGADETH Drummer, WATCHTOWER Guitarist On Upcoming Tour".August 8, 2003.
  4. ^Tziligkakis, Giannis (February 11, 2019)."RON JARZOMBEK: Releases 'The Ink Panther' Remake of The Classic" The Pink Panther Theme "Song".Forgotten Scroll.RetrievedMay 3,2022.
  5. ^"Decibel: Top 20 Death Metal Guitarists".
  6. ^"The Quietus: The Ten Best Metal Guitarists In The World".
  7. ^"Decibel: Blotted Science – 'The Machinations of Dementia' review".
  8. ^"Ron's Custom Guitars".
  9. ^"Black, Red and Purple".Ron Jarzombek.RetrievedFebruary 18,2021.
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