Energetic Disassembly

1. Asylum
2. Meltdown
3. Tyrants in Distress
4. Argonne Forest
5. Energetic Disassembly
6. Violent Change
7. Social Fears
8. Cimmerian Shadows

Having a sronger to kinship to jazz fusion that strict metal, Watchtower are a band definitely not afraid to show off their chops. On Energetic Disassembly, the band rips through some of the most progressive material ever written for the metal world. Outlandish rhythms, unpredictable time changes, some fierce guitar work and the air raid siren vocals of Jason McMaster (later of Dangerous Toys) are all thrown in apot and boiled, the result being a musical feast for the ears. But it's not only the suberb performances and choice of material which separates this form the pack, for the band also chose to use some truly innovative guitar and drum sounds (they sound electronic) here. Not much actual "song" here, which tends to turn off a lot of potential listeners, but all i have to say is that these guys rip, and Rick Colaluca is on of the best drummers in metal, period. I'm not as big on this as the follow-up, but if you get into say, Cynic or Atheist, you must have this. Re-released by Rough Trade at some point, this once impossible to find album may now see the light of day again.
8 out of 10

Control and Resistance

1. Instruments of Random Murder
2. The Eldrich
3. Mayday in Kiev
4. The Fall of Reason
5. Control and Resistance
6. Hidden Instinct
7. Life Cycles
8. Dangerous Toy

\ I first heard this band on the Doomsday News 2 compilation, and was completely surprised by the intricacies placed forth here. All of these guys are virtuosos, and just let it fly on this, their second release. Half the old band is gone, but new super-shredder Ron Jarzombek more than ably fills the guitar slot, and Alan Techhio is a dead ringer for the departed Jason McMaster. This album tops the previous one in terms of progressiveness, refusing to be stay in one time signature for more bar. Much of this due to Colaluca, who just drums in a circular fashion here, never playing the same thing twice, which I've heard pisses off more than one non-drummer I know. Anyway, it doesn't get any better than this, the ultimate play-along album for the budding musician. The vocals do get a little old for me (not the biggest fan of Tecchio's style, but he can sing, and the music more than makes up for it. Simply put, if you're into highly progressive metal, you must seek this out. Like nothing else out there.
10 out of 10