Watchtower (band)
Encyclopedia
WatchTower is an American
progressive metal
band based in Austin, Texas
. The band were influenced by late 1970s progressive rock and acts such as Rush
and UK
as well as the burgeoning New Wave of British Heavy Metal
. While Watchtower never reached mainstream access, they have been cited as an influence by other progressive metal bands such as: Dream Theater
, Death, Atheist
, Sieges Even
and Spiral Architect
.
. The quartet made its recording debut in 1983 with an early version of the song "Meltdown", which was included on the Cottage Cheese from the Lips of Death - A Texas Hardcore Compilation LP. It was followed by the debut album, Energetic Disassembly
, issued in 1985 on the band's own DIY label, Zombo Records. An earlier version of the album was scrapped after the group's label, Rainforest Records, closed its doors. Energetic Disassembly
is notable for its heavy use of time changes and is considered to be a landmark in progressive metal
.
In the fall of 1986, guitarist and founding member, Billy White, quit the band in order to pursue different styles of music. He formed the short-lived Khymera with Juggernaut
drummer Bobby Jarzombek
and former Karion bassist Pete Perez before joining vocalist Don Dokken
for the Up from the Ashes album in 1990. With WatchTower's future briefly in doubt, Doug Keyser auditioned for Metallica
following the death of bassist Cliff Burton
. Similarly, Jason McMaster was approached by fellow Texans Pantera
in search of a new vocalist. McMaster eventually exited in 1988 after getting signed to a major label deal with his side project Onyxx, later renamed Dangerous Toys
, whose self-titled CBS debut scored the MTV hits "Teas N' Pleas N" and "Scared" and reached near gold status.
White's replacement was Ron Jarzombek
, formerly with S.A.Slayer
, while fellow Austinite Mike Soliz (ex-Militia, Assalant) was recruited in place of McMaster, but eventually replaced by former Hades vocalist Alan Tecchio
. Newly signed to Noise Records
, WatchTower flew to Berlin
, Germany in the summer of 1989 where the band recorded their second album, Control and Resistance
, at Sky Trak Studios.
In the spring of 1990, WatchTower undertook their first and only European tour with Noise Records label mates, Coroner
. Back in the States, the band played a few East Coast shows but lost vocalist Alan Tecchio
soon thereafter. The search for a suitable replacement proved difficult although several candidates, including Scott Jeffries (Confessor
), were at least considered. Adding to the band's woes, guitarist Ron Jarzombek
developed severe hand problems which required multiple surgeries, effectively putting WatchTower on ice indefinitely and with it a proposed third album, which was to be titled Mathematics.
Bassist Doug Keyser and drummer Rick Colaluca joined colorful local rock/funk/rap outfit Retarded Elf who released the album Trick Quigger on Pony Canyon in Japan. Guitarist Ron Jarzombek
returned with Spastic Ink
, akin to an all-instrumental version of WatchTower, who issued their debut album, Ink Complete in 1997, while original frontman Jason McMaster's kept going with Dangerous Toys
before making Broken Teeth his main band in the late '90s.
In 1999, original WatchTower members McMaster, Keyser and Colaluca reunited, along with Jarzombek, to record a cover of Accept
's "Run If You Can" for A Tribute to Accept - Vol. 1 on Nuclear Blast Records. In 2000, WatchTower played the prestigious Bang Your Head!!! festival in Germany and later that summer supported Dream Theater
in Houston and Dallas. The band also began work on the long dormant Mathematics album, but progress stalled once again.
In 2002, Monster Records issued Demonstrations in Chaos
, an archives release consisting of early recordings, demos, and unreleased tracks, including almost the complete original Energetic Disassembly
recordings and the 1987 demos with Ron Jarzombek that got the band signed to Noise Records.
WatchTower returned to Europe once more in 2004 to headline the Headway Festival in Amstelveen, Holland. That same year Ron Jarzombek released the second Spastic Ink
album, Ink Compatible, with guest contributions by WatchTower band mates Doug Keyser and Jason McMaster who contributed lead vocals on five songs. In the fall of 2004, Monster Records, now Monster Underground, re-issued Energetic Disassembly on CD for the first time ever in the United States. The original CD re-issue came 1993, courtesy of Germany's Institute of Art label.
In the spring of 2009, WatchTower were confirmed as co-headliners of the 13th edition of Germany's Keep It True Festival, set to take place in April 2010. The band also re-commenced work on Mathematics with a view toward a 2010 release.
Decibel Magazine featured WatchTower's Control and Resistance as part of their 'Hall Of Fame' series in their January 2010 issue.
On April 9, 2010, WatchTower released a preliminary mix of "The Size of Matter" from their forthcoming album Mathematics as a digital-only single. It marks the band's first new piece of music since their seminal 1989 album, Control and Resistance
, and features core members Ron Jarzombek, Doug Keyser, and Rick Colaluca along with a returning Alan Tecchio on vocals. Tecchio replaces original frontman Jason McMaster for the second time in the band's history. In May 2010, Alan Tecchio left WatchTower once again.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
band based in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. The band were influenced by late 1970s progressive rock and acts such as Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
and UK
UK (band)
U.K. were a short-lived British progressive rock supergroup active from 1977 until 1980.The band was composed of Singer/Bassist John Wetton, formerly of King Crimson, Bryan Ferry's band and Uriah Heep, Keyboardist/Electric Violinist Eddie Jobson, formerly of Curved Air, Roxy Music and Frank Zappa's...
as well as the burgeoning New Wave of British Heavy Metal
New Wave of British Heavy Metal
The New Wave of British Heavy Metal was a heavy metal movement that started in the late 1970s, in Britain, and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. The movement developed as a reaction in part to the decline of early heavy metal bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black...
. While Watchtower never reached mainstream access, they have been cited as an influence by other progressive metal bands such as: Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
, Death, Atheist
Atheist (band)
Atheist is a technical death metal band from Florida, founded in 1984, whose music combines metal riffs with subtle Latin music arrangements and jazz fusion.- History :...
, Sieges Even
Sieges Even
Sieges Even was a progressive metal band from Munich, Germany. The band was originally formed under the name Sodom in the early 80s and released their first demo in 1983 before becoming Sieges Even in 1985. In the summer of 2008 the band decided to split due to internal differences...
and Spiral Architect
Spiral Architect
Spiral Architect is a Norwegian progressive metal band from Oslo, Norway. They have recorded one acclaimed demo and one album, A Sceptic's Universe, since they began in 1993, as well as a Fates Warning cover "A Prelude to Ruin" for the tribute album Through Different Eyes - A Tribute to Fates Warning...
.
History
WatchTower was formed in May 1982 in Austin, TexasAustin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. The quartet made its recording debut in 1983 with an early version of the song "Meltdown", which was included on the Cottage Cheese from the Lips of Death - A Texas Hardcore Compilation LP. It was followed by the debut album, Energetic Disassembly
Energetic Disassembly
Energetic Disassembly is the debut album by progressive metal band Watchtower, released in 1985 . It contains a re-recording of the song 'Meltdown', first recorded in 1983 for the Cottage Cheese From the Lips of Death compilation....
, issued in 1985 on the band's own DIY label, Zombo Records. An earlier version of the album was scrapped after the group's label, Rainforest Records, closed its doors. Energetic Disassembly
Energetic Disassembly
Energetic Disassembly is the debut album by progressive metal band Watchtower, released in 1985 . It contains a re-recording of the song 'Meltdown', first recorded in 1983 for the Cottage Cheese From the Lips of Death compilation....
is notable for its heavy use of time changes and is considered to be a landmark in progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
.
In the fall of 1986, guitarist and founding member, Billy White, quit the band in order to pursue different styles of music. He formed the short-lived Khymera with Juggernaut
Juggernaut (Band)
Juggernaut is an American technical/progressive thrash metal band who formed in San Antonio, Texas in 1984.-Biography:Juggernaut is an American technical/progressive thrash metal band who formed in San Antonio, Texas in 1984 by former Kamakazi members Scott Womack and Harlan Glenn who were...
drummer Bobby Jarzombek
Bobby Jarzombek
Bobby "Wire" Jarzombek is a heavy metal/progressive metal drummer and best known for his work with Halford, Sebastian Bach and Riot. He has also recorded and toured with Fates Warning, Arch / Matheos, Iced Earth, Rob Rock, Spastic Ink, and Juggernaut, among others.-Biography:Bobby Jarzombek was...
and former Karion bassist Pete Perez before joining vocalist Don Dokken
Don Dokken
Donald Maynard Dokken is best known for being the lead singer and founder of the band Dokken. He is known for his vibrato-laden, melodic vocal style which has made him an influential figure in American heavy metal. After enjoying mainstream success with Dokken, he parted ways with the band in 1988...
for the Up from the Ashes album in 1990. With WatchTower's future briefly in doubt, Doug Keyser auditioned for Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
following the death of bassist Cliff Burton
Cliff Burton
Clifford Lee "Cliff" Burton was an American musician, best known as the bass guitarist for the American heavy metal band Metallica....
. Similarly, Jason McMaster was approached by fellow Texans Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
in search of a new vocalist. McMaster eventually exited in 1988 after getting signed to a major label deal with his side project Onyxx, later renamed Dangerous Toys
Dangerous Toys
Dangerous Toys is an Austin, Texas-based hard rock band with often humorous lyrics. Founded in 1987, Dangerous Toys put out four full-length albums and one live album before unofficially disbanding at the turn of the millennium....
, whose self-titled CBS debut scored the MTV hits "Teas N' Pleas N" and "Scared" and reached near gold status.
White's replacement was Ron Jarzombek
Ron Jarzombek
Ron Jarzombek is an American guitarist best known for his work with Austin, Texas progressive metal trailblazers WatchTower, '90s madcap trio, Spastic Ink, technical extreme metal band Blotted Science, featuring Cannibal Corpse bassist Alex Webster and Obscura drummer Hannes Grossmann, and most...
, formerly with S.A.Slayer
S.A.Slayer
S.A.SLAYER, originally known simply as SLAYER, was an American heavy metal band formed in San Antonio, Texas in 1981 by the former Blitzkrieg guitar duo Robert "Bob Dog" Catlin and Art Villareal, bassist Don Van Stavern, drummer Dave McClain, and vocalist Chris Cronk...
, while fellow Austinite Mike Soliz (ex-Militia, Assalant) was recruited in place of McMaster, but eventually replaced by former Hades vocalist Alan Tecchio
Alan Tecchio
Alan Tecchio is an American singer, who sang for Seven Witches, Watchtower, and Hades.-References:...
. Newly signed to Noise Records
Noise Records
Noise Records was a German record label founded by German music industry personality Karl-Ulrich Walterbach in 1983 as an expansion of his company Modern Music Records. Noise Records specialized in thrash and melodic speed metal. It was sold to the Sanctuary Records Group in 2001 and ceased any...
, WatchTower flew to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany in the summer of 1989 where the band recorded their second album, Control and Resistance
Control And Resistance
Control and Resistance is the second album by progressive metal band Watchtower, released in 1989.-Track listing:# "Instruments of Random Murder" – 4:06# "The Eldritch" – 3:17# "Mayday in Kiev" – 5:48# "The Fall of Reason" – 8:01...
, at Sky Trak Studios.
In the spring of 1990, WatchTower undertook their first and only European tour with Noise Records label mates, Coroner
Coroner (band)
Coroner is a Swiss thrash metal/progressive metal band from Zurich. They garnered relatively little attention outside of Europe. Formed in 1983, the band broke up in 1996, but decided to reform 14 years later. The band will perform at multiple live venues and festivals around the world in 2011,...
. Back in the States, the band played a few East Coast shows but lost vocalist Alan Tecchio
Alan Tecchio
Alan Tecchio is an American singer, who sang for Seven Witches, Watchtower, and Hades.-References:...
soon thereafter. The search for a suitable replacement proved difficult although several candidates, including Scott Jeffries (Confessor
Confessor (band)
Confessor is a doom metal band from North Carolina, USA. By their technically complex interpretation of traditional doom style, they are also well-known name within progressive metal circles...
), were at least considered. Adding to the band's woes, guitarist Ron Jarzombek
Ron Jarzombek
Ron Jarzombek is an American guitarist best known for his work with Austin, Texas progressive metal trailblazers WatchTower, '90s madcap trio, Spastic Ink, technical extreme metal band Blotted Science, featuring Cannibal Corpse bassist Alex Webster and Obscura drummer Hannes Grossmann, and most...
developed severe hand problems which required multiple surgeries, effectively putting WatchTower on ice indefinitely and with it a proposed third album, which was to be titled Mathematics.
Bassist Doug Keyser and drummer Rick Colaluca joined colorful local rock/funk/rap outfit Retarded Elf who released the album Trick Quigger on Pony Canyon in Japan. Guitarist Ron Jarzombek
Ron Jarzombek
Ron Jarzombek is an American guitarist best known for his work with Austin, Texas progressive metal trailblazers WatchTower, '90s madcap trio, Spastic Ink, technical extreme metal band Blotted Science, featuring Cannibal Corpse bassist Alex Webster and Obscura drummer Hannes Grossmann, and most...
returned with Spastic Ink
Spastic Ink
Spastic Ink is a progressive technical metal band from the United States.-History:Spastic Ink was formed in 1993 by guitarist Ron Jarzombek of Watchtower after recovering from multiple hand surgeries that had sidelined him, unable to play, for a couple of years. He would be joined by brother Bobby...
, akin to an all-instrumental version of WatchTower, who issued their debut album, Ink Complete in 1997, while original frontman Jason McMaster's kept going with Dangerous Toys
Dangerous Toys
Dangerous Toys is an Austin, Texas-based hard rock band with often humorous lyrics. Founded in 1987, Dangerous Toys put out four full-length albums and one live album before unofficially disbanding at the turn of the millennium....
before making Broken Teeth his main band in the late '90s.
In 1999, original WatchTower members McMaster, Keyser and Colaluca reunited, along with Jarzombek, to record a cover of Accept
Accept
Accept is a German heavy metal band from the town of Solingen, originally assembled by former vocalist Udo Dirkschneider, guitarist Wolf Hoffmann and bassist Peter Baltes. Their beginnings can be traced back to the late 1960s...
's "Run If You Can" for A Tribute to Accept - Vol. 1 on Nuclear Blast Records. In 2000, WatchTower played the prestigious Bang Your Head!!! festival in Germany and later that summer supported Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
in Houston and Dallas. The band also began work on the long dormant Mathematics album, but progress stalled once again.
In 2002, Monster Records issued Demonstrations in Chaos
Demonstrations in Chaos
Demonstrations in Chaos is a 2002 archives release by progressive metal band Watchtower, containing various early recordings that span the years 1983 to 1987.-Track listing:# "Meltdown" - 4:03# "Asylum" - 4:00# "Argonne Forest" - 4:52...
, an archives release consisting of early recordings, demos, and unreleased tracks, including almost the complete original Energetic Disassembly
Energetic Disassembly
Energetic Disassembly is the debut album by progressive metal band Watchtower, released in 1985 . It contains a re-recording of the song 'Meltdown', first recorded in 1983 for the Cottage Cheese From the Lips of Death compilation....
recordings and the 1987 demos with Ron Jarzombek that got the band signed to Noise Records.
WatchTower returned to Europe once more in 2004 to headline the Headway Festival in Amstelveen, Holland. That same year Ron Jarzombek released the second Spastic Ink
Spastic Ink
Spastic Ink is a progressive technical metal band from the United States.-History:Spastic Ink was formed in 1993 by guitarist Ron Jarzombek of Watchtower after recovering from multiple hand surgeries that had sidelined him, unable to play, for a couple of years. He would be joined by brother Bobby...
album, Ink Compatible, with guest contributions by WatchTower band mates Doug Keyser and Jason McMaster who contributed lead vocals on five songs. In the fall of 2004, Monster Records, now Monster Underground, re-issued Energetic Disassembly on CD for the first time ever in the United States. The original CD re-issue came 1993, courtesy of Germany's Institute of Art label.
In the spring of 2009, WatchTower were confirmed as co-headliners of the 13th edition of Germany's Keep It True Festival, set to take place in April 2010. The band also re-commenced work on Mathematics with a view toward a 2010 release.
Decibel Magazine featured WatchTower's Control and Resistance as part of their 'Hall Of Fame' series in their January 2010 issue.
On April 9, 2010, WatchTower released a preliminary mix of "The Size of Matter" from their forthcoming album Mathematics as a digital-only single. It marks the band's first new piece of music since their seminal 1989 album, Control and Resistance
Control And Resistance
Control and Resistance is the second album by progressive metal band Watchtower, released in 1989.-Track listing:# "Instruments of Random Murder" – 4:06# "The Eldritch" – 3:17# "Mayday in Kiev" – 5:48# "The Fall of Reason" – 8:01...
, and features core members Ron Jarzombek, Doug Keyser, and Rick Colaluca along with a returning Alan Tecchio on vocals. Tecchio replaces original frontman Jason McMaster for the second time in the band's history. In May 2010, Alan Tecchio left WatchTower once again.
Current line-up
- Ron JarzombekRon JarzombekRon Jarzombek is an American guitarist best known for his work with Austin, Texas progressive metal trailblazers WatchTower, '90s madcap trio, Spastic Ink, technical extreme metal band Blotted Science, featuring Cannibal Corpse bassist Alex Webster and Obscura drummer Hannes Grossmann, and most...
- guitar (1986–1991, 1999–present) - Doug Keyser - bass (1982–1991, 1999–present)
- Rick Colaluca - drums (1982–1991, 1999–present)
Former members
- Jason McMaster - vocals (1982–1988, 1999–2009)
- Mike Soliz - vocals (1988–1989)
- Alan TecchioAlan TecchioAlan Tecchio is an American singer, who sang for Seven Witches, Watchtower, and Hades.-References:...
- vocals (1989–1990, 2010) - Billy White - guitars (1982–1986)
Studio albums
- Energetic DisassemblyEnergetic DisassemblyEnergetic Disassembly is the debut album by progressive metal band Watchtower, released in 1985 . It contains a re-recording of the song 'Meltdown', first recorded in 1983 for the Cottage Cheese From the Lips of Death compilation....
(Zombo Records, 1985 / Institute of Art, 1993/1997 / Monster Underground 2004 / Rockadrome, 2006) - Control and ResistanceControl And ResistanceControl and Resistance is the second album by progressive metal band Watchtower, released in 1989.-Track listing:# "Instruments of Random Murder" – 4:06# "The Eldritch" – 3:17# "Mayday in Kiev" – 5:48# "The Fall of Reason" – 8:01...
(Noise International, 1989) - Demonstrations In ChaosDemonstrations in ChaosDemonstrations in Chaos is a 2002 archives release by progressive metal band Watchtower, containing various early recordings that span the years 1983 to 1987.-Track listing:# "Meltdown" - 4:03# "Asylum" - 4:00# "Argonne Forest" - 4:52...
(Monster Records, 2002 / Rockadrome, 2006) archives release - Mathematics (unfinished third studio album, 2011)
Compilations
- Cottage Cheese From The Lips Of Death (Ward-9, 1983 / Atila, 2001)
- Doomsday News 2 (Noise International, 1989)
- Doomsday News - The Video Compilation Volume 2 (Noise International, 1990)
- 12 Years In Noise: Metal & Beyond [2-CD] (Noise Records, 1996)
- A Tribute to Accept Vol. 1 (Nuclear Blast, 1999)
External links
- Official WatchTower website
- Official WatchTower MySpace
- Official WatchTower Facebook page
- Official WatchTower YouTube channel
- Official WatchTower message board
- WatchTower - 'The Eldritch' promotional video @ YouTube
- WatchTower @ Amazon.com
- WatchTower @ CD Baby
- WatchTower @ Last.fm
- WatchTower @ RateYourMusic.com
- WatchTower @ Metal-Archives.com