Watchtower (band)
| Watchtower | |
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| Origin | Austin, Texas, United States |
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| Website | www |
| Members | Doug Keyser Rick Colaluca Ron Jarzombek Alan Tecchio |
| Past members | Jason McMaster Billy White Mike Soliz |
Watchtower is an American progressive metal band based in Austin, Texas. The band was influenced by late 1970s progressive rock acts, such as Rush and U.K., as well as the burgeoning new wave of British heavy metal scene. While Watchtower never reached mainstream success, they have been cited as an influence by many other progressive metal bands, such as Dream Theater, Death, Atheist, Sieges Even and Spiral Architect. The band is also notable for featuring vocalist Jason McMaster, who left after the release of their debut album to form Dangerous Toys. Watchtower has released two studio albums (of which the last was released in 1989), one compilation album, four digital singles, one EP and three demo cassettes, and has been featured on many compilation albums.
Watchtower was formed in May 1982 in Austin, Texas. The quartet made its recording debut in 1983 with an early version of the song "Meltdown", which was included on the Cottage Cheese from the Lips of Death - A Texas Hardcore Compilation LP. It was followed by the debut album, Energetic Disassembly, issued in 1985 on the band's own DIY label, Zombo Records. An earlier version of the album was scrapped after the group's label, Rainforest Records, closed its doors. Energetic Disassembly is notable for its heavy use of time changes and is considered to be a landmark in progressive metal.
In the fall of 1986, guitarist and founding member, Billy White, quit the band in order to pursue different styles of music. He formed the short-lived Khymera with Juggernaut drummer Bobby Jarzombek and former Karion bassist Pete Perez before joining vocalist Don Dokken for the Up from the Ashes album in 1990. With Watchtower's future briefly in doubt, Doug Keyser auditioned for Metallica following the death of bassist Cliff Burton. Similarly, Jason McMaster was approached by fellow Texans Pantera in search of a new vocalist. McMaster eventually exited in 1988 after getting signed to a major label deal with his side project Onyxx, later renamed Dangerous Toys, whose self-titled debut album on CBS scored the MTV hits "Teas N' Pleas N" and "Scared" and reached near gold status.
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