Watchtower (band)

Watchtower is an American progressive metal band based in Austin, Texas, active from 1982 to 1990 and again, occasionally, since 1999; they are currently on an indefinite hiatus.[1] The band was influenced by a number of acts, such as Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, UFO, Rush and U.K., as well as the burgeoning new wave of British heavy metal scene. Although Watchtower never reached mainstream success, they have been cited as an influence by many other progressive metal bands, such as Dream Theater, Death, Atheist, Sieges Even and Spiral Architect.[2] The band is also notable for featuring vocalist Jason McMaster, who left after the release of their debut album to form Dangerous Toys. Watchtower has released two studio albums―Energetic Disassembly (1985) and Control and Resistance (1989)―as well as one compilation album, four digital singles, one EP and three demo cassettes, and has been featured on many compilation albums.

Watchtower
OriginAustin, Texas, United States
Genres
Years active
  • 1982–1990
  • 1999–2010
  • 2015–2016 (hiatus)
Labels
Associated acts
Websitewww.watchtowerband.net
MembersDoug Keyser
Rick Colaluca
Ron Jarzombek
Alan Tecchio
Past membersJason McMaster
Billy White
Mike Soliz

History

Initial career (1982–1990)

Watchtower was formed in May 1982[3] in Austin, Texas. 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.[4] The album saw Watchtower tour with bands like Slayer,[5] Anthrax,[6] Helstar,[6] Celtic Frost,[7] Voivod[7] and Armored Saint.[8]

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 debut album on CBS 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, which was released that November. Control and Resistance received positive reviews by the press and fans alike, and saw Watchtower mix their style with progressive metal, thrash metal and jazz fusion, thus creating a sound that would influence the technical death metal genre.[9][10][11] In support of the album, the band opened for Coroner in Europe on their No More Color tour,[12] and also played with the likes of Dark Angel,[13] Loudblast,[12] Tankard,[12] Prong,[14] Fates Warning,[15] Mordred,[15] and Whiplash.[16]

Split (1990–1998)

After first and only European tour (opening for Noise Records labelmates Coroner) in the spring of 1990,[12] Watchtower continued to promote Control and Resistance with a few East Coast shows but lost 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, 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 Retarted Elf who released the album Trick Quigger on Pony Canyon in Japan. Jarzombek returned with Spastic Ink, akin to an all-instrumental version of Watchtower, who issued their debut album, Ink Complete in 1997, while McMaster continued with Dangerous Toys before making Broken Teeth his main band in the late 1990s.

Reunion with Jason McMaster (1999–2010)

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.[17]

Reunion with Alan Tecchio, Concepts of Math: Book One and hiatus (2010–present)

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 marked the band's first new music since Control and Resistance in 1989, featuring Jarzombek, Keyser, and Colaluca, with Alan Tecchio returning on vocals and replacing original frontman Jason McMaster for the second time in the band's history. In May 2010, Tecchio left Watchtower once again. After the announcement of Tecchio's departure. Watchtower's last public appearance was at the German Keep It True festival in 2010.[18]

On October 7th, 2016, the EP Concepts of Math: Book One was released by Prosthetic Records, featuring previously released tracks, and new track, "Mathematica Calculis".[19] On October 21st, Watchtower released three new songs from Mathematics, M-Theory Overture, Arguments Against Design and Technology Inaction, on iTunes and CD Baby.[20][21] They reunited with Tecchio for the sessions of these tracks.[22]

Nothing has been posted on their Facebook page since 2016 and their official website is currently defunct. Nevertheless, Control and Resistance was reissued on vinyl by Music in July 2018.[23]

After years of speculation regarding the current status of Watchtower, drummer Rick Colaluca confirmed in a statement on Facebook in July 2020 that the band has been on an indefinite hiatus, and stated it is "doubtful that [they'll] ever reform, but not out of the question." Colaluca also revealed that the band had "discussions a few times over the past several years" about finishing their long-in-the works third album Mathematics, and added that "there are a couple of sticking points that we just can't seem to get past. We actually have a good bit of the remaining songs recorded to some degree."[1]

Members
Current members
  • Alan Tecchio - vocals (1989–1990, 2010, 2015–present)
  • Ron Jarzombek - guitar (1986–1990, 1999–2010, 2015–present)
  • Doug Keyser - bass (1982–1990, 1999–2010, 2015–present)
  • Rick Colaluca - drums (1982–1990, 1999–2010, 2015–present)
Former members
  • Jason McMaster - vocals (1982–1988, 1999–2009)
  • Mike Soliz - vocals (1988–1989)
  • Billy White - guitars (1982–1986)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums
  • Metalliance Volume 1 (Hands Of Blue Records, 2015)
  • Demonstrations in Chaos (Monster Records, 2002 / Rockadrome, 2006)
  • 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)

EPs and singles
  • "The Size of Matter" (digital single, 2010)
  • "Arguments Against Design" (digital single, 2015)
  • "M-Theory Overture" (digital single, 2015)
  • "Technology Inaction" (digital single, 2015)
  • Concepts of Math: Book One (Prosthetic Records, 2016)

Demos
  • Meltdown (1984)
  • Demo 1987 (1987)
  • Instruments of Random Murder (1987)

References
  1. "Watchtower - No Plans To Reform". metalstorm.com. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  2. "Jason McMaster, Bio-Interview, Dangerous Toys, Watchtower, Broken Teet". Fullinbloom.com. May 5, 2011.
  3. "watchtower --- watchtowerband.net ---". Ra.lunarservers.com.
  4. Watchtower at AllMusic
  5. "Slayer". Metallipromo.com. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  6. "Anthrax". Metallipromo.com. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  7. "Celtic Frost". Metallipromo.com. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  8. "Armored Saint". Metallipromo.com. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  9. "Watchtower - Concepts Of Math : Book One EP - Album Review 2016". powerofprog.com. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  10. "Agoraphobic News' Top 45 metal albums of 1989!". agoraphobic-news.com. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  11. "„Control was just the natural progression for us"". metalindex.hu. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  12. "Coroner". Metallipromo.com. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  13. "Dark Angel". Metallipromo.com. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  14. "Prong". Metallipromo.com. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  15. "Mordred". Metallipromo.com. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  16. "Whiplash". Metallipromo.com. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  17. "Decibel Magazine: Watchtower - Control and Resistance". September 21, 2010. Archived from the original on September 21, 2010.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  18. "WATCHTOWER: Footage From KEEP IT TRUE Festival Posted Online". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  19. "Watchtower: Video Trailer For 'Concepts Of Math: Book One'". Blabbermouth.net. September 9, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  20. "Watchtower - CD Baby Music Store". Cdbaby.com.
  21. "Watchtower on Apple Music". Itunes.apple.com.
  22. "Legendary Progressive Metal Band Watchtower Digitally Releases Three New Songs". Blabbermouth.net. October 22, 2015. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  23. "WATCHTOWER - CONTROL AND RESISTANCE - Catalog - Music On Vinyl". Musiconvinyl.com. Retrieved September 30, 2018.


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