Spastic Ink
| Company type | Independent |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Founder | Ron Jarzombek |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Progressive metal music |
Spastic Ink was a progressive metal group originating from the United States.
History
The band Spastic Ink came into existence in 1993, founded by guitarist Ron Jarzombek of Watchtower following his recovery from several hand surgeries. He collaborated with his brother Bobby Jarzombek on drums and bassist Pete Perez, both of whom were members of Riot at the time. Together, they produced an 11-track demo aimed at securing a record contract to finance a full studio recording. Due to their avant-garde approach, the demo was considered "not commercially viable," leading to unsuccessful attempts to attract label interest initially. Ultimately, they obtained a licensing deal with the German independent label Dream Circle Records, which released the demos with minimal alterations. The album Ink Complete debuted in 1997 and received favorable reviews; however, Dream Circle's subsequent insolvency resulted in substantial royalty setbacks. In response, Ron Jarzombek reissued the album in 2000 through his own EclecticElectric label, supplementing it with 25 minutes of "work tapes" as additional content.
Progress on a second album was hindered by Bobby and Pete's ongoing involvement with Riot, alongside Bobby's participation in Halford, a project initiated by former Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford in 2000. Initial plans to enlist drummers Sean Reinert (Cynic, Gordian Knot) and Asgeir Mickelson (Spiral Architect) fell through due to scheduling issues. As the new album remained stalled, Ron released a solo effort titled Solitarily Speaking of Theoretical Confinement, featuring programmed drums and solo instrumentation. Subsequently, he renewed focus on Spastic Ink by bringing in drummers Dave Penna and Jeff Eber from Dysrhythmia, with Bobby contributing intermittently between his Halford duties. The project also featured guest appearances from guitarist Marty Friedman (formerly of Megadeth), vocalist Daniel Gildenlöw (Pain of Salvation), Watchtower colleagues Jason McMaster and Doug Keyser, bassists Pete Perez, Sean Malone (Cynic), Ray Riendeau (Halford, Machines of Loving Grace), and Michael Manring, as well as keyboardists Jens Johansson (Stratovarius), Jimmy Pitts (Scholomance, The Fractured Dimension), and David Bagsby. Their follow-up album, Ink Compatible, was issued in 2004 through EclecticElectric and Avalon/Marquee for the Japanese market.
Musical style
The sound of Spastic Ink is rooted in intricate instrumental fusion metal, distinguished by irregular and frequently shifting time signatures alongside unconventional melodic structures. A prime example is the track "A Wild Hare," which sonically depicts a scene from Bambi, with guitar lines imitating spoken dialogue without words. This approach creates a unique auditory experience that might appear discordant or cacophonous unless one understands its cartoon reference.
Albums
- Ink Complete (Dream Circle 1997; EclecticElectric 2000)
- Ink Compatible (EclecticElectric / Marquee/Avalon 2004)