Reviews

CD review: JOB FOR A COWBOY, "Ruination"

Posted on July 14th, 2009

job_for_a_cowboy_-_ruination_coverJOB FOR A COWBOY may be death metal's answer to MATISYAHU. Both victims and beneficiaries of an overwhelming amount of hype, JFAC have roped in a inordinately large audience for a death metal band. Like the world's most famous Hasidic reggae act, Job for a Cowboy's music is authentic but average. It never sounds as watered down or polished as one'd expect for a metal band on the charts, but also never distinct or exciting enough to be more than a passable metal band.

Nothing on Ruination, the band's follow-up to their commercial breakthrough Genesis, is particularly bad, but there's nothing musically or stylistically memorable about it. New drummer JON RICE has some impressive fills, although his presence isn't enough to distinguish Ruination from the band's earlier music. First track and video "Unfurling a Darkened Gospel" is chaotic without settling on a direction, offering enough tempo changes and a decent solo. But as with the rest of the album, the riffs can't match the brutality. The music on Ruination is as original as song titles like "Lords of Chaos" and "To Detonate and Exterminate," and Job for a Cowboy's lack of sonic direction isn't helped by their inability to find anything catchy or jaw-droppingly aggressive enough for their technical talent.

Press for Ruination indicates that there's something political about it. Whether or not anyone is counting on metal bands to articulate current world affairs, Job for a Cowboy's messages about mass genocide and propaganda would have some genuine force if given the right music. JFAC  should be commended for bringing death metal to a larger audience, and they still have plenty of time to develop some good ideas. Until then, great American death metal is a job for someone else.

2 High Plains Drifters out of 5
- Ben Apatoff

  • Raise Your Horns 6 horns up

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Comments (14)


  1. 's Avatar July 14th, 2009 at 1:56 pm metalmonger666 says:

    couldnt agree more. love that last line


  2. 's Avatar July 14th, 2009 at 5:10 pm mrsaucytrousers says:

    I couldnt agree less. I absolutely love this album and i believe they have seperated themselves completely from the deathcore crowd and have become a legitimate death metal band and will continue to flourish in this scene.


  3. 's Avatar July 14th, 2009 at 10:19 pm Stooet187 says:

    Listenin to this album is painful , and not in a good "Cannibal corpse, Morbid Angel, Slayer way…..way to much goin on……….alot of the new bands have lost the ways of producing good ear tearing metal …….4/10


  4. 's Avatar July 14th, 2009 at 11:02 pm jsc315 says:

    Death Metal? Really? I would not go that far to call them at all. But this review pretty much sums up how i feel about this band.


  5. 's Avatar July 14th, 2009 at 11:45 pm munkysauce13 says:

    great review. I like Job for a Cowboy but theyre nothing really special and Theyre really overrated.
    I saw a myspace advertisement for them saying theyre one of the most innovative metal bands today (not quoted, just like it was part of their bio or somethin) which is simply wrong and completely retarded.


  6. 's Avatar July 15th, 2009 at 4:27 am `1` says:

    I'm actually enjoying this album more than their every other release.
    I think they have great ideas and Originality(Yes Originality!!).
    Their sound has come so far, and the guitar work on this album is just Genius.I can't understand why some hate this album so much, just give it a few more listens.
    Fav. tracks:"Lords Of Chaos", "Regurgitated Disinformation","March to Global Enslavement","Ruination".
    Really the album may be one of 09's top releases.


  7. 's Avatar July 15th, 2009 at 5:57 pm mc_lovin81 says:

    I gotta say i thought JFAC was overhyped, I also thought Genisis sucked, but Ruination is pretty damn good. If you were a hater before, u really should give this album a listen and judge for yourself.


  8. 's Avatar July 16th, 2009 at 3:11 am Tyranny64 says:

    I totally disagree with this review. In my opinion their new album is 100% pure originality. People are just shutting them down because they dont have a breakdown every 30 seconds, also because they dont sound like every other generic band today. For one thing their drummer is extremely talented. Their guitarist are completely original and are not repetitive like most guitarist today. People definatly need to widen their horizons.


  9. 's Avatar July 16th, 2009 at 4:31 pm WARBORN87 says:

    Whoever wrote this review is an idiot. i love new album and i love the way the do the new vocals. its almost like cradle of filth and growls on top of hit and i like how it mixes great. The new drummer also is great in this album as i knew he would be. I neve thought i would say it but i think they topped genesis. cant wait to see them at mayhem now


  10. 's Avatar July 16th, 2009 at 4:33 pm jsc315 says:

    100% original? I think that is goin a bit far.


  11. 's Avatar July 17th, 2009 at 2:02 pm Mothmonsterman says:

    It's not a bad song to be honest. At least they're better than the hideously overrated Devildriver.


  12. 's Avatar July 17th, 2009 at 2:16 pm ashleymsaxon says:

    i seriously dig this album but i do agree that it's not musically genius. i think they'll be popular and around for a long while…hopefully


  13. 's Avatar July 22nd, 2009 at 8:05 pm Kenoske says:

    They pulled in the scence kids with their pig squeels.
    Then tried to convert all those fagets into death metal.

    As simple as that. Yes overrated. Yes average, It's death metal damnit. =]


  14. 's Avatar August 29th, 2009 at 11:30 pm sarahpalin says:

    jfac is boss. who really cares if their shit isnt up to dudes standards. we are talking about DEATHmetal here right, not KISS (not hating on Kiss). palm mutes and burst riffs? not ted nugent am i wrong. do we have this backwards. is our deathmetal supposed to make us want to dance with your girlfriend, as opposed to kick a midget. metal makes your blood pump and your hair stick up on the back of your neck every time a relentless machine gun attack from a double bass peddle is breaking the silence. plus jfac has some pretty fucking amazing artwork anywhere.

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