Now, for these articles, I usually throw around some opinions and constructive criticisms. I'm going to keep all feelings aside and just report on some need to know facts about these bands to make your experience at the festival a little more enjoyable. If you know of someone going to the festival, pass the articles along and get them just as stoked as we are! For today, AFGM brings you JOB FOR A COWBOY!
***
Returning with their strongest line up to date and armed with Demonocracy, nine tracks of seething aggression and potent disgust, Job For A Cowboy have never sounded hungrier. Over the nine years of their existence the quintet have built a loyal fan base through their devotion to touring and a diehard commitment to creating relentlessly hostile, visceral, and involving music, and in 2012 they stand as one of the most exciting and inspiring bands in death metal.
Now this is a band I haven't had too much time to sit down and form a proper opinion of. I did manage to catch them on Gigantour a few years ago (w/ Bodom, In Flames, Megadeth, etc) in London, ON at the JLC. From what I saw (approx. 1/2 the performance), the band was very much in tune with each other, the songs were tight and the energy was flowing. As for the music itself...it didn't strike me as something I (personally) NEEDED to go out and buy right away. But I can see why fans of JFAC are fans. Their lyrical content has shifted towards a political stand (for example, something along the lines of "March to Global Enslavement", off the album "Ruination") and carries on in their latest album "Demonocracy". Anyways, form your own opinion about them and check out their bio below:
Job For A Cowboy consists of:
Tony Sannicandro - Guitars | Jonny Davy - Vocals | Jon "Charn" Rice - Drums | Nick Schendzielos - Bass | Al Glassman - Guitar
With the critical praise and fan adoration bestowed upon 2009's Ruination, it would have been easy for the band to rest upon their laurels and serve up Ruination Part II. But from the moment Demonocracy roars to life it is wholly evident that this is a far tighter, meaner, and more musically accomplished beast that takes their signature sound to the next level. From the abrasive blast of opener "Children Of Deceit" to the disconcerting strains of "The Deity Misconception" or the brooding, epic closer "Tarnished Gluttony" (which was co-written by former guitarist Bobby Thompson, who retains close ties to the band) everything is drenched in equal parts misanthropy and naked rage, and from start to finish they hold the listener by the throat.
'We approached this record with the mindset of everyone just being as creative as they wanted, and I think the result is something that is quite a bit different to everything we've done before. I still love Ruination, but it just seems immature in comparison to Demonocracy, and we're really proud of that progression.' -Jonny Davy
A key factor in this progression was the change in the band's ranks, which saw Davy, drummer Jon "Charn" Rice, and guitarist Al Glassman joined by guitarist Tony Sannicandro, who met Al when he was a session guitarist for Despised Icon and filled the slot vacated by Thompson, and Cephalic Carnage bassist Nick Schendzielos replacing Brent Riggs. Having initially brought Sannicandro and Schendzielos on as touring musicians, the members immediately gelled, and they first wrote together on 2011's Gloom EP, sealing the deal and securing their places as full-fledged members of the band.
'The addition of these two guys took any and every limitation off of this band. If I could think it, they could play it or think of something even better. Getting to play with Tony every day was the first time in a long time that I have been pushed this hard as a player just trying to keep up. Collaborating with him was fucking awesome in that no matter how ridiculous my ideas were he could play them!' -Al Glassman
(Photo taken by...)
Twenty-one-year-old six-stringer Sannicandro also believes he made a very natural transition into the band's ranks, and he's proud to bring his blistering shredding and punishing riffs to Job For A Cowboy's instantly recognizable sound.
'I think I bring more of an old school guitar approach to the band. Obviously before the band got me there wasn't a lot of soloing or lead stuff, and on the new CD there's a solo on every song, and I think I've done the best work of my life on there. It's really invigorating that the cats in JFAC are into my style because there is such a great expanse of uncharted territory for bass in metal. Cephalic is notorious for our chaotic and vigorous live performances alongside an expansive and dilatant range of metal stylings. I'm bringing all that knowledge and experience with me and combining it with the talents of these phenomenal musicians to make my best bass work to date.' -Nick Schendzielos
Working again with producer Jason Suecof (The Black Dahlia Murder, Whitechapel) who helmed Ruination and Gloom, the band were assured of making a record that emphasized their dynamics and captured the raw energy at the heart of everything they do.
'We just love Jason's input. He's an amazing guitar player, and he knows what he's talking about. He knows how to find the sound you're looking for, and when we're in the studio we really do consider his opinions as if he's another member of the band.' -Davy
(Photo taken by Nathan Katsiaficas)
On Demonocracy Suecof has helped forge an expansive, layered sound that is constantly underpinned by a palpably sinister vibe. It also makes for the band's most cohesive work to date, which was an important factor in approaching the record.
'We wanted the songs to fit together and flow more – not in a concept album kind of way or through having similarities between the songs, but we wanted it to be a record that has a very deliberate progression, rather than it sounding like a bunch of songs thrown together, and I think we achieved that. I just don't see any 'core influence in there anymore. Maybe there was a little, once, and if you really want to call it deathcore I don't care, but everything on this record is metal, through and through, and I think people hearing it will realize that pretty quickly.' -Sannicandro
Alongside such a savage sonic battery, Davy worked to once more write lyrics that have genuine meaning, and that might give listeners reason to stop and think.
'Ruination was a very politically themed record and this one is as well. I'm a guy who loves bands like Napalm Death and Misery Index, bands that stray away from talking about blood, gore, and murder – the stereotypical themes of what you'd normally think of as death metal. Don't get me wrong, I love that in other bands, but I guess I have kind of a punk rock attitude, and I try to cover topics that have a bit more meaning to them.' -Davy
On Demonocracy the themes of media propaganda, the 'war industry' that seemingly drives contemporary political and economic policies, and the crippling debts faced by America are all touched upon, Davy providing an honest and caustic commentary on these issues, holding nothing back.
Having torn up the road with contemporaries such as Whitechapel, Devildriver, and Between The Buried And Me as well as metal legends Slayer, Megadeth, and Cannibal Corpse amongst countless others, in 2012 the band will once more be stirring up mosh pits the world over. As crowds get their first exposure to the scathing sounds of Demonocracy they will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is the work of a band determined to leave their mark on metal through constantly pushing themselves to do better and better.
'The band has progressed an amazing amount with each release, and I hope that people are expecting just that, because that is what we busted our asses to do. The hunger to keep pushing ourselves and progressing drives us. We are extremely confident that nothing the band has done in the past can stand up to this new album. We're very proud of these songs, and we believe that they deserve to be played to as many people as possible.' -Glassman
Job For A Coboy will be touring in support of their latest LP, "Demonocracy", which was released on April 10th, 2012 via Metal Blade Records:
1. Children of Deceit
2. Nourishment Through Bloodshed
3. Imperium Wolves
4. Tongueless and Bound
5. Black Discharge
6. The Manipulation Stream
7. The Deity Misconception
8. Fearmonger
9. Tarnished Gluttony
"It may seem a minor point, but you notice it, and it is one thing separating JFAC from the very best death metal that’s around right now. The other – as painful as it is to admit – is how far the bar has been raised, both by new bands and old, in the time since Genesis. When that came out, Job For A Cowboy were one of the most exciting extreme bands around. That’s not the case any more, simply because there’s so much good brutality available." -Thrash Hits
***
(Photo taken by Nathan Katsiaficas)
"However, despite the fact that it flows very well, Demonocracy can get a bit hard to follow from time to time, which is the only negative thing about this album. From the production side, regardless that the production team is very similar to the team that worked on Ruination, this album sounds impressively different, with a very interesting output being generated by Jason Suecof (Producer). On a general note, this is the best work that Job for a Cowboy has produced so far. The band seems to be in a great shape and they are definitely rising the expectations for their next work, to a brand new level." -Peek From The Pit
***
"Striking a balance between technicality and brutality, Job for a Cowboy launch a no-frills, death metal attack on listeners with their third full-length, Demonocracy. With their deathcore period well behind them, it feels as though the band has settled in a groove with their sound, and while they haven't been doing anything particularly revolutionary, they've become a highly tuned, rock-solid beast of a band capable of delivering some precision heaviness on demand. While this approach may not appeal to people looking for someone to reinvent the wheel, it certainly makes for a refined album of galloping death metal capable of scratching that itch for some cathartic, mosh-ready mayhem. With their sound growing increasingly refined, it's only a matter of time before Job for a Cowboy makes another creative breakthrough. Until then, fans will just have to be satisfied with their incredibly consistent output of thundering sonic violence." -All Music
***
"Overall, if you are a Job For A Cowboy fan then you will enjoy every moment of “Demonocracy”. The bar has been set even higher for the Metal Blade veterans with their latest production. If you are a fan of The Black Dahlia Murder, The Red Chord, and/or Cattle Decapitation then Job For A Cowboy is worth your time looking into. “Demonocracy” scored a very respectable 9/10. Jason Suecof did a phenomenal job producing the album, and was able to accurately portray Job For A Cowboy’s message through the production. You may now stop reading this review to go purchase this death metal masterpiece at your nearest record store." -Real Metal Reviews
(Photo taken by Face The Show)
You can find out more about these guys through some of their official sites:
*JFAC WILL BE PERFORMING ON SUNDAY (THE 12TH) AT THE JAGERMEISTER EAST STAGE FROM 15:00-15:30*
No comments:
Post a Comment