Blotted Science
The Machinations of Dementia
Eclectic Electric
Spiral architecture
Ron Jarzombek should be a friggin’ legend by now. He is a legend among some—the kind that engage in fierce debates about what kick pedals Mike Portnoy uses—but Jarzombek should be a metal household name, as much as, say, Trey Azagthoth or James Murphy. His track record is awe-inspiring—’80s thrashers S.A. Slayer alongside Dave McClain (who’s now in Machine Head); prog thrash titans Watchtower, without whom there would be no Atheist, Cynic or Dream Theater; a jaw-dropping solo record, Solitarily Speaking of Theoretical Confinement, which was like Buckethead, but listenable; and gonzo tech-prog outfit Spastic Ink, undoubtedly the only band that could utilize both Yngwie Malmsteen’s keyboardist and Dangerous Toys’ singer and not sound like shit.
Blotted Science is Jarzombek’s latest instrumental project, and it’s both new and familiar. On one hand, it’s more metal than his previous work, with clattering blast beats and foot-dragging breakdowns. Charlie Zeleny (of Behold... the Jarzombek Influence, er, Arctopus) delivers mechanical, precise drumming, while Cannibal Corpse’s Alex Webster stretches out with quirky, Seinfeld-esque bass breaks. On the other hand, Jarzombek will always sound like Jarzombek. Thus, each song has more ideas than most albums, full of math-y odd meters and abstract guitar godliness. “Synaptic Plasticity” weaves Gordian knots of fluid arpeggios; “Activation Synthesis Theory” races up and down staircases of whole tones. “Laser Lobotomy” is a flanged and pitch-shifted fretboard tap dance extravaganza, while “EEG Tracings” injects Rush’s “YYZ” with a Roger Clemens-sized dose of steroids. Half the Black Market Activities roster wouldn’t exist without Jarzombek, so listen up. —Cosmo Lee
