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, Texas and is a member of local Rush tribute band Exit Stage Left.
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 prominently Muhammed Suiçmez of Necrophagist.[5] 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."[6] Decibel Magazine remarked, "Ron Jarzombek should be a friggin' legend by now"[7] in its review of Blotted Science's The Machinations of Dementia.
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.
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]
Solo:
Colaborations:
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