Job for a Cowboy, one of the most influential and respected extreme metal bands, has announced their highly anticipated return to the stage with a set at the Blue Ridge Rock Festival in 2023. This will be the band’s first performance since 2016 and will take place from September 7th-10th at the Alton, Virginia festival.
Job for a Cowboy is a Glendale, Arizona-based extreme metal band that formed in 2003. Vocalist Jonny Davy, guitarists Tony Sannicandro and Al Glassman, bassist Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Navene Koperweis make up the band.
The band’s musical style is a fusion of melodic and technical death metal, with influences spanning from early death metal acts such as Morbid Angel and At the Gates to modern metalcore bands such as The Black Dahlia Murder and Lamb of God. The band has become well-known for their fast-paced, intense live shows as well as their energetic video performances.
On December 6th, 2005, Job for a Cowboy released their first EP, ‘Doom.’ The EP, which merged death metal, grindcore, and technical death metal, received favorable reviews from critics.
‘Doom,’ Job For A Cowboy’s debut EP, is a terrific example of modern death metal and a must-have for fans of the genre. The production of the record is superb, with a deep, heavy sound that enhances the band’s dark and aggressive style.
The EP is a mishmash of death metal, grindcore, and technical death metal, and each track demonstrates the band’s ability to combine these various subgenres. ‘Doom’ is heavy, fast-paced, and punishing, but it also has moments of melodic beauty that add an unexpected amount of variety to the overall sound.
The record is jam-packed with catchy riffs, pounding rhythms, and aggressive vocals that will have fans of the genre headbang and mosh along with each track. Highlights include the epic and blistering track ‘Knee Deep,’ which is considered one of the best in the genre, and ‘Entombment of a Machine,’ which takes a more melodic approach to their sound.
Overall, Job for a Cowboy’s ‘Doom’ is an impeccable record that clearly shows the band’s ability to blend various metal styles into something unique and powerful. Death metal fans should definitely check out and listen to this record. It is a punishing, intense, and thoroughly satisfying listen.
Job for a Cowboy’s ‘Genesis,’ released on May 15th, 2007, through Metal Blade Records, is a thrilling and progressive death metal album that stands out from the crowd of more typical deathcore records. With its searing melodic riffs and thunderous drumming, the opening track ‘Bearing the Serpent’s Lamb’ immediately grabs the listener’s attention. ‘Genesis’ is a strong collection of death metal that demonstrates the band’s evolution and growth. The production is excellent, with a thick and heavy sound that encapsulates the intensity of the music.
The album is more focused and streamlined than their debut EP, and the band distills their sound into a more obtainable and melodic version of death metal. The riffs are more memorable, and the songs are more tuneful, but the band still packs a punch in terms of aggression and brutality.
‘Ruination’ is the follow-up to Job for a Cowboy, an album that has been making waves in the metal music industry since its July 7th, 2009 release. The album hits off with a bang, with the opening track ‘Unfurling a Darkened Gospel’ establishing the tone with its melodic yet aggressive sound. The song is catchy and memorable, and the middle breakdowns will have you banging your head in no time. This is followed by ‘Summon the Hounds,’ an ominous track with some technical guitar shredding.
As the band showcases their musical prowess, the album continues with its mix of deathcore influences and technical death metal. With its ripping guitar solos and guttural vocals, ‘Regurgitated Disinformation’ is a standout track. Other top contenders include the thrash and groove of ‘Constitutional Masturbation’ and the progressive aspects of ‘Butchering the Enlightened,’ which features some of the album’s best guitar riffs.
‘Ruination’ will undoubtedly appeal to fans of Job for a Cowboy. The band has succeeded in producing an album that is heavy and technical while still remaining melodic. It featured a more progressive and experimental approach to the genre, whether it was the more progressive sound of ‘Summon the Hounds’ or the classic ‘Constitutional Masturbation,’ and received critical acclaim.
Following this, on April 10th, 2012, they released their third studio album, ‘Demonocracy,’ an album full of relentless headbanging and confrontational riffs that makes it an impressive addition to their discography. The album comprises a variety of styles, running the gamut from thrash to death metal, and is packed with memorable riffs and chugging rhythms. ‘Tongueless and Bound,’ with its thrash-influenced riffs and melodic chorus, is a great example of the band’s adaptability. ‘The Deity Misconception,’ with its intricate guitar solos and punishing breakdowns, is another noteworthy piece.
‘Sun Eater,’ Job for a Cowboy’s fourth album, was released on November 11th, 2014, and it is an impressive and impactful release. The band has returned to their deathcore roots, culminating in an album full of intense and heavy music designed to impress their fans.
‘Eating the Visions of God,’ the album’s opening track, perfectly captures the band’s blend of deathcore and progressive death metal. The album’s mix of hard-hitting riffs and soaring melodies continues, with tracks like ‘The Synthetic Sea’ and ‘The Celestial Antidote’ among the highlights.
Job for a Cowboy have been busy preparing for their long-awaited return to the stage at the 2023 edition of the Blue Ridge Rock Festival. Nevertheless, the band has also been hard at work on their upcoming new album, which is set to be released this year.
“Reuniting for their only performance for the foreseeable future, death metal powerhouse Job for a Cowboy returns to the stage for the first time in 7 years at Blue Ridge Rock Festival 2023!” said festival organizers.
“A name synonymous with heavy music, Job for a Cowboy was a constant on Mayhem Festival, Summer Slaughter, Download Festival, Wacken Open Air and more – becoming one of the largest torchbearers of heavy metal in the U.S. The band is rumored to be releasing their first album in 9 years in 2023. Experience this monumental, rare opportunity to see Job for a Cowboy once more at Blue Ridge 2023!”
For the past few months, the band has been working on their fifth studio album, and while details about the album have yet to be revealed, fans can expect to hear some new and exciting material from the veteran metal act.
Job for a Cowboy have been a mainstay of the metal scene since 2003, releasing five critically acclaimed albums and touring all over the world. Their brand of technical death metal has earned them a large and loyal fan base, who will no doubt be looking forward to their new album and their return to the stage.
With the band’s return to the stage and the release of their new album this year, Job for a Cowboy fans are in for a treat.
