Energetic Disassembly

後にDANGEROUS TOYSを結成するJason McMasterがボーカルを取っているUSテクニカル/プログレッシヴ・スラッシュ・メタル、WATCHTOWERが自らのレーベルZombo Recordsを設立し自主制作でリリースした1985年作1STアルバムに、2009年にオリジナルの2インチ・マルチトラック・テープをTop Hat Studioでデジタル化した2009 Remix+ボーナス・トラックを収録したボーナス・ディスクを付随した2枚組仕様で2025年再発。当時余りにも革新的すぎる音楽性が商業的に受け入れられずメジャー・レーベルから注目を浴びなかった物のマニアや他ミュージシャンから絶賛され一躍脚光を浴びた、テクニカル・スラッシュの始祖的作品である。

Watchtower's debut is generally considered to be the recording most responsible for the development of the progressive metal genre. Full of complex time changes, breakneck tempos, and wailing solos, Energetic Disassembly remains an impressive but difficult listen. The falsetto vocals of Jason McMaster and electronic drumming of Rick Colaluca date the session and the production quality is less than average. Around the time of this release in 1986, the band's popularity grew mostly from tape-trading among fans. Ironically, a decade later this recording's renewed interest was once again attributable to trading, this time in the form of mp3s over the Internet. A fresh listen reveals that Energetic Disassembly set the bar for complexity and technique for all who followed, including future prog metal legends such as Dream Theater and Fates Warning. While it may not be as consistent as Control and Resistance, fans of truly progressive metal are encouraged to do their homework and check out one of the genre's cornerstone recordings. ~ Robert Taylor