Job For a Cowboy “Demonocracy” review
Job for a Cowboy
Johnny Davy – Vocals
Nick Schendzielos – Bass
Tony Sannicandro – Guitar/Vocals
Al Glassman – Guitar
Jon Rice – Drums
review by Daryl BK
@DarylBK
I saw Job for a Cowboy the first time in 2005 at Nightmare Fest, they were just beginning their upward swing to the giant death metal band they are now. I think this is truly one of the first bands in the loogie logo genre that is a pure product of the social media age. You have 5 dudes recording music, uploading it to their Myspace page and immediately getting requests to go on tour and produce studio albums. I remember the show well; they went on after a little band by the name of Dynasty who tore the walls down dressed as the ghostbusters. Then JFAC took over the small stage and I remember the room filling up faster than a drunk tank outside of a trailer park in Alabama. I then remember leaving in pure disappointment about an eighth into the show. Today will be the first time I’ve listened to JFAC since.
4.10.12
Tracklist:
1. Children of Deceit – 4:37
2. Nourishment Through Bloodshed – 3:43
3. Imperium Wolves – 4:48
4. Tongueless and Bound – 4:04
5. Black Discharge – 3:56
6. The Manipulation Stream – 4:41
7. The Deity Misconception – 4:41
8. Fearmonger – 4:19
9. Tarnished Gluttony – 6:16
I must say that I was surprised to hear the change that six years had brought on. They have changed from the pig squealing pile of junk that I heard to a polished and technical death metal band just like the rest of the lot on Metal Blade Records who released all three of JFAC studio albums.
I blame my ignorance, but I have to ask the question, how do you tell the difference between these bands, and how can you tell when you have a good one? Demonocracy Starts as most albums do, fast, in your face and enough blast beats to seizures to a deaf kid. Maybe it’s because I have known Suicide Silence for so long that I use them as my measuring stick when it comes to “death metal”.
JFAC’s opening track Children of Deceit does a good job of peaking my interest and even vocally reminds me of SS. The first thing that I noticed was the bass play, it is not your typical do as the guitar player does and follows along. Nick riffs on his own laying down tracks that would be just as comfortable on a jazz album. This was extremely cool to hear as it is usually the guitar players who are featured in these types of bands.
Nourishment Through Bloodshed has the unwanted second slot that is tasked with following up the opening track and attempt to keep the listener from pushing skip. Although the bass gets a bit lost in this track it is still pretty solid featuring the pick a bit more with some very technical solos. Drums remain solid with double base triggers and heavy downbeats.
Bass comes back into its own on the third track Imperium Wolves. Without liner notes and lyrics to read, there is no way I can even begin to tell you what this song is about. Rough translation of the title tells me that it is about wolves with the power to command. JFAC plays around with timing as well as different filters over the vocals. Add features that are unneeded yet come through as a great touch.
Tongueless and Bound, not exactly a situation I would prefer, sonically however this in my opinion is one of the stronger tracks on the album. I’m having some difficulty pinpointing the reasons, but the vocal range demonstrated is a good start. The echo effects used subtly to tail the vocals was used well. The music structure has a very grandiose feeling to it complete with breaks just long enough to reel you in for the epic crescendo.
Black Discharge starts off with a soundtrack that kind of sounds like a demonic Toga! Toga! Toga! Chant. I can’t help but think of Beluschi and Animal House. Guitars shred on this track but that is about it. I rather watch Animal House again than listen to this song.
The Manipulation Stream hooks me back in with the vocal ranging again. Guitars and drums are the sonic strength of this song. I feel that with all the technicality that is going on in this song you can get a bet overwhelmed trying to find an identity in what is to be liked or hated. This song is a wash.
By the seventh track The Deity Misconception I’m a bit tired of having this guy yell at me and JFAC is beginning to sound a bit like every other death metal band I have ever heard. My opening argument about trying to distinguish yourself in this genre begins to creep back into my brain. The drum track is so good though. I wonder how Jon is even able to play another song after this. When I visualize him playing, I see Animal the Muppet when he plays, just a mess of hair and arms flailing around somehow producing well timed tempos.
Fearmonger sets you up for the album closing. When I first saw that this was only a nine song album I thought they could have done and EP and a couple B-sides, however this seems to be just the right length and there really is not a single track that you would be able to relegate to a B-side. This song has so much production in it that I wonder how if even they are able to perform it live. Another very strong track.
The album closes with the tailor made to fit Tarnished Gluttony. From the first note struck this track was made to be the close for the album with such and epic feel. Drum beats are sporadic but held together masterfully with a slower chug from the guitars not demonstrated previously on the album. This is probably one of the best closing tracks with regards to knowing song and album structure that I have ever heard. And now it is my favorite song on Demonocracy.
It’s a good album if you’re into that type of thing, I’ll stick to hardcore.
Job for a Cowboy is currently on tour in support of Demonocracy, check them out when they barrel through your town.
Apr 01 Studio Seven Seattle, WA
Apr 03 Hawthorne Theater Portland, OR
Apr 05 The Pound Oakland, CA
Apr 06 House of Blues W. Hollywood, CA
Apr 07 Marquee Theater Tempe, AZ
Apr 08 El Rey Theatre Albuquerque, NM
Apr 09 The Summit Music Hall Denver, CO
Apr 10 Sokol Auditorium Omaha, NE
Apr 11 7 Flags Event Center Des Moines, IA
Apr 12 Pops Sauget, IL
Apr 13 New Daisy Theater Memphis, TN
Apr 15 Granada Theater Lawrence, KS
Apr 16 Cain’s Ballroom Tulsa, OK
Apr 18 Dos Amios Odessa, TX
Apr 19 House of Blues Dallas, TX
Apr 20 Emo’s East Austin, TX
Apr 21 House of Blues Houston, TX
www.Myspace.com/jobforacowboy
www.Facebook.com/jobforacowboy
www.MetalBlade.com
About the Author
Denise Borders 39, Los Angeles. Denise founded PWV in 2008 and remains the primary manager and photographer/videographer. She is not secretly obsessed with Joey Cape.
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