WatchTower, from Austin, Texas, was one of, if not the first technical metal band, and they're frequently cited as influences by just about every tech metal band of the last 20 years. Their first album dates back to 1985, and it's just mind blowing when you consider what was going on in music at that time. The playing is frenetic and hyper-adventurous, fast, thrashy and insanely difficult, as their songs feature frequent meter changes at breakneck speed. The vocals suit the style as they're high-pitched and wild. Vocalist Jason McMaster went on to semi-fame with moderate hair band hits "Teas'n Pleas'n" and "Scared" in 1989 with his other band Dangerous Toys.
"Meltdown", in an earlier form, was the first WatchTower song ever to appear on a recording, that being a 1983 Texas metal compilation. It later appeared again, re-recorded, on their 1985 self-funded debut album, Energetic Disassembly. It's representative of their style during their two-album lifespan: hard, fast and wild technical progressive thrash. Keep in mind this is from almost 30 years ago and on a minuscule budget, and just enjoy this jaw-dropping and fun piece of work.
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