by Chris Leibundgut
Playing music for the sake of music and not succumbing to "The Sickness", as Neil Peart of Rush once called it upon seeing first hand how calculating some bands were about being commercial, has always been a guiding principle for Spastic Ink - come hell or high water, and regardless of trends, pressures or lame - brained A&R execs.
But then, conforming and choosing the path of least resistance has never been the modus operandi for the members of this San Antonio, Texas - based triumvirate. In fact, SI mastermind Ron Jarzombek first honed his skills with hometown boys S.A. Slayer (whose line-up also included current Machine Head skinbasher Dave McClain), noted for their rather technical approach, before joining forces with internationally acclaimed fusion metal trailblazers WatchTower and lending his twisted axe-pertise to the band's now classic "Control And Resistance" album.
Similarly, brother / drummer Bobby Jarzombek has played his share of odd-metered music, getting his initial start with another Lone Star state outfit, Juggernaut, before moving on to join NYC metal legends Riot. Quickly earning a reputation as one of the premier talents around, Jarzombek toured extensively and recorded four albums with the group. Most notably, the genre-expanding "The Privilege Of Power" which contained a blistering version of the Al DiMeola classic "Racing With the Devil on a Spanish Highway", in addition to a couple of tracks featuring the Tower of Power horn section, resulting in what was, quite possibly, the first attempt ever at brass-tinged metal music.
Having grown up and played together off and on all their lives, it was only a matter of time before the Jarzombek brothers would hook up again and renew their musical ties. The timing finally seemed right after Ron's recovery from a half-dozen or so hand surgeries, coupled with Bobby's growing disenchantment with Riot. Joined by local bassist extraordinaire, Pete Perez, yet another Riot alum, the duo formed the aptly-named Spastic Ink (as in "crazy, written-out music") in 1993, setting out to further push the boundaries of musical order and chaos.
The trio soon emerged with an initial four-song demo which, although not officially available, quickly found its way into the collective hands of the underground, earning high praise from press and fans alike. Eventually, the band finished up seven more tunes by late '94 in hopes of securing a record deal - only to realize that the label world wasn't in the market for anything bold, innovative, and adventurous, but much rather preferred the tried, formulated, and mundane. Just when it looked like the guys might have to beg, borrow and steal to complete their mission - enter: Dream Circle Records, long a home for musical outsiders, who offered Spastic Ink a platform to operate from. Spastic Ink's colorful soundscapes are as intense as they are captivating. Much more than a trio of out-of-control Shredasauruses, SI display an overall musical maturity that's rarely encountered anymore, leaving no stone unturned in their quest to stir the listener's imagination and emotions.
