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. White's replacement was Ron Jarzombek, formerly with S.A. Slayer, while fellow Austinite Mike Soliz (ex-Militia, Assalant) was recruited in place of McMaster, but eventually replaced by former Hades vocalist Alan Tecchio. Newly signed to Noise Records, Watchtower flew to Berlin, Germany in the summer of 1989 where the band recorded their second album, Control and Resistance, at Sky Trak Studios, which was released that November. Control and Resistance received positive reviews by the press and fans alike, and saw Watchtower mix their style with progressive metal, thrash metal and jazz fusion, thus creating a sound that would influence the technical death metal genre. In support of the album, the band opened for Coroner in Europe on their No More Color tour, and also played with Dark Angel, Loudblast, Tankard, Prong, Fates Warning, Mordred, and Whiplash. After first and only European tour (opening for Noise Records labelmates Coroner) in the spring of 1990, Watchtower continued to promote Control and Resistance with a few East Coast shows but lost Tecchio soon thereafter. The remaining members of the band spent more than two years searching for a new vocalist, which proved to be a difficult task, although several candidates – including Scott Jeffries (Confessor) – were at least considered. Adding to the band's woes, Jarzombek developed severe hand problems which required multiple surgeries, effectively putting Watchtower on ice indefinitely and with it a proposed third album, which was to be titled Mathematics. Split (1993–1999) After failing to find a reliable replacement for vocalist Alan Tecchio, Watchtower finally disbanded around 1993, and the members went on to pursue their own individual activities. Bassist Doug Keyser and drummer Rick Colaluca joined colorful local rock/funk/rap outfit Retarted Elf who released the album Trick Quigger on Pony Canyon in Japan. Jarzombek returned with Spastic Ink, akin to an all-instrumental version of Watchtower, who issued their debut album, Ink Complete in 1997, while McMaster continued with Dangerous Toys before making Broken Teeth his main band in the late 1990s. Tecchio reunited with his former Hades bandmate Dan Lorenzo in