Recently, an alarming number of rock and metal journalists-and
countless fans whom are far less finicky-have bemoaned the lack
of original and innovative music to be found nowadays. That
complaint holds a good amount of truth for one depressingly
simple reason...there's no money (and in turn, longevity) to
be had by bands who try to create something entirely new.
People like what is familiar to them, perhaps with a unique
twist to it, but predictably comfortable and non-threatening
all the same. Doing all it can to put some ingenuity back in
music, Spastic Ink deserves a significant amount of recognition
the likes of which it'll probably never receive for reasons
mentioned above.
Bandleader Ron Jarzombek holds near-legendary status to some as
the guitarist of the much-lamented group WatchTower, a long-absent
band which set the standards for technicality within metal. Joining
him in this instrumental foray are brother Bobby Jarzombek and
bassist Pete Perez, both of whom are members of Riot and both of
whom shine on levels that rival WatchTower standards. Although
instrumental records from proficient players are often about as
appealing as the hastily forgotten Lemmy spread in Playgirl, Ron
stands stands out above all of them, less an over-practiced
virtuosos than a craftsman - turned - mathematician. His style is
not what could be called fluid, constantly shifting and leaping
sideways towards a new thread, as if one had taken the glass
image of a song and shattered it, fusing it back together in a
seemless manner that's now unpredictable and daring.
One needs only to look at a few of the band's demented songs
for proof of Spastic Ink's myriad of differences. Witness "See,
And It's Sharp!" which consists entirely of two notes (C and C#)
played over a six-range octave, or "A Wild Hare", an insane
venture chronicling the actions of Thumper the rabbit from the
movie Bambi-each voice, sound effect and background scoring note
has been painstakingly transcribed to guitar, bass and drums from
each scene the critter appears in. It sounds crazy, and it is, but
that's part of the band's demented appeal.
Of course, it should be obvious that this isn't music for everyone,
and will probably strike even disciples of Vai or Rozz (as in Rick,
known to millions as the whamy-bar czar) as too much to take. Being
inventive has it's drawbacks, lack of wide-spread appeal being one
of them. For those others, this band will knock you straight on your
ass. Considering how infrequently that occurs nowadays to writers
who think they've heard it all (and say they've heard it all done
better), you tend to forget how fun the whole experience can be.
A must-hear for any who have read this far.