Search - Blotted Science :: Machinations of Dementia

Another Ron Jarzombek masterpiece!

TheManWhoKnewTooMuch | Rockville, USA | 10/25/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Jarzombeks never disappoint! After teaming up with his brother Bobby for Spastic Ink, mad guitar scientist Ron Jarzombek is back out on his own. BLOTTED SCIENCE, his latest venture, is a collaboration with bassist Alex Webster (Cannibal Corpse) and drummer Charlie Zeleny (Behold...The Arctopus), 2 monster players who match up exceedingly well with Ron.



In fact, 'The Machinations of Dementia' just may be Ron's best work to date. While this is undeniably a Jarzombek-ian affair with Ron's unique signature guitar stylings at the center of it all, TMOD is much heavier than any of Ron's previous works, no doubt due to the technical death metal influence both Alex and Charlie bring to the table. TMOD doesn't quite reach Cannibal extremes (and no deathly vocals either!) or the reckless spaz of Arctopus but it's still heavy as a tank, beautifully complex, and intense to the max at every twist and turn - fans of progressive extreme metal will be in heaven!



But what really sets this album apart form the pack is how well the songs are written and put together. Lots of bands have chops today and can dazzle with wicked stop-n-gos and crazy off-beats that make your head spin but none can boast the type of seemless world class songwriting Jarzombek and Co. are pulling off on this disc! The ole adage, "all killer, no filler" certainly applies here and that's a tall order with 74. min. of music!



If I had to pick out a couple of highlights it would probably be the somewhat Meshuggah-esque 'Night Terror', 1-2 opening punch 'Synapatic Plasticity' and 'Laser Lobotomy', and 'EGG Tracings' (and yes, there is theme to this album even though it is all-instrumental). Jarzombek is even nutty enough to attempt and pull off a musical palindrome as 'Adenosine Buildup' is 'Adenosine Breakdown' played BACKWARDS! Whoa....!



Really jawdropping stuff from start to finish, and anything less than a max 5-star rating would be an insult. Well done, guys!



"

Mind-Numbing Prog/Fusion/Metal Insanity

Joel Israel | Cedar City, UT United States | 12/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hypothetical question: Is it possible for to have "too much chops" as a guitar player? Those seeking an answer to this question need look no further than the latest project of iconoclast prog-metal pioneer Ron Jarzombek, of Watchtower and Spastic Ink fame. Mr. Jarzombek has been on the cutting edge of extremely advanced technical guitar wizardry for years- I personally consider Watchtower's "Control And Resistance" the blueprint of all that has become "shred" or "prog" metal in a modern context.



With the recent resurgence (read: marketability) of extreme metal in it's various styles, the tide has shifted, and there is an abundance of new talent out there....it's cool to be able to play again. Enter Ron Jarzombek's power trio from hell. Blotted Science is a collaboration between the old and new school of monster players, including Behold The Arctopus drummer Charlie Zelezny and Cannibal Corpse bassist Alex Webster, and is quite a remarkable accomplishment by any standard. Loosely conceptual in nature and skewed in a typically humorous and dark way like almost anything Jarzombek is involved in (check out the liner notes and song descriptions), this completely instrumental shred-fest is a bit much to take in all at once, and is perhaps best described as Buckethead and Meshuggah meets Dream Theater with a dash of Al DiMeola for good measure. It really is out there. People shoudln't be allowed to play music like this...(laughs) Recommended listening, and further proof from Ron Jarzombek that most other guitarists are posers."

Five stars

Justo A. Ruiz | 03/29/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This one is as good as "solitarily speaking of theoretical confinement", another masterpiece of trascendental music, this is more than just heavy rock, you don't listen this amount of virtuosism and quality compositions very often. Jarzombek is a musical genious with enough sense of humor not to take himself very seriously, but his music. Kudos to his bandmates too. Highest recommendation."