Energetic Disassembly is the debut album by American progressive metal band Watchtower, released in 1985. This is the band's only album to feature vocalist Jason McMaster and guitarist Billy White, who were replaced by Alan Tecchio and Ron Jarzombek respectively for their next album Control and Resistance. Energetic Disassembly has been recognized as one of the first albums in the technical thrash metal genre,[1][2] and Chuck Schuldiner of Death had cited the album as a significant influence on the band's transition from traditional death metal to technical death metal on their 1991 album Human.[3]
Energetic Disassembly | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 30, 1985 | |||
Recorded | 1985 | |||
Studio | Cedar Creek Studio and Earth and Sky Studio | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 37:41 | |||
Label | Zombo Institute of Art Monster Rockadrome | |||
Producer | Watchtower | |||
Watchtower chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic |
Overview
editAn earlier version of Energetic Disassembly, recorded at B.O.S.S. (short for Bob O'Neill Sound Studios) for Rainforest Records (home to S.A. Slayer), was scrapped when the label closed its doors. These "lost" recordings have since been released as part of the 2002 Demonstrations in Chaos archives release. The album also contains a re-recording of the song "Meltdown", first recorded in 1983 for the Cottage Cheese From the Lips of Death compilation.
Energetic Disassembly was originally released on the band's own label, Zombo Records. Zombo was the name of the band's then-manager's mute dog. Financed by drummer Rick Colaluca, 3,000 LPs and 1,500 cassettes were pressed up at the time.
In 1993, Germany's Institute of Art label issued Energetic Disassembly on CD for the first time. A further IoA reissue with slightly altered artwork followed in 1997. San Antonio, Texas-based Monster Underground, formerly Monster Records, would reissue Energetic Disassembly in October 2004. The album was re-released for a fourth time in 2008 via Rockadrome, formerly Monster Underground.
Energetic Disassembly is also known to have been bootlegged both on vinyl and CD.
Track listing
editAll songs written by Doug Keyser.
- "Violent Change" – 3:22
- "Asylum" – 3:48
- "Tyrants in Distress" – 5:59
- "Social Fears" – 4:41
- "Energetic Disassembly" – 4:39
- "Argonne Forest" – 4:38
- "Cimmerian Shadows" – 6:35
- "Meltdown" – 3:59
Band lineup
edit- Jason McMaster – vocals
- Billy White – guitars
- Doug Keyser – bass
- Rick Colaluca – drums
References
edit- ^ a b Robert Taylor. "Energetic Disassembly Overview". All Music. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
- ^ "Watchtower – Energetic Disassembly (1985)". The Metal Files. October 5, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ "Chuck Schuldiner: Was He Really Death Metal's Messiah?". Excuse the Blood. Retrieved June 8, 2021.