Job for a Cowboy: Demonocracy

It's common in heavy metal to describe certain bands as hardworking--bands like Metallica, for example, are famous for their endless touring cycles. Other bands are gifted at promoting themselves by keeping their name, their sound, their brand before the public eye. A classic example of this could be Kiss, though I don't want to get sidetracked into a conversation about them in a review about an extreme death metal band. My point is that Job for a Cowboy is one of those bands that have something of that magical touch that leverages work and self-promotion into solid record sales. For almost ten years, these guys have been growing not only in popularity, but also in critical acclaim. These guys are on the rise and audiences are paying more and more attention. Their last two releases, including Demonocracy, are charting higher than similar work by other metal bands. Audiences are hard to predict, but they are quickly turning their attention to Job for a Cowboy. Fortunately, Demonocracy is a solid release, one that should reward old fans and bring out curious new ones. I don't know much of the back catalogue, but my first impression of these guys is that they aren't creating gimmicky metal or acting out for easy attention. Instead, they seem to be committed to developing solid, aggressive, music.

For readers unfamiliar with Job for a Cowboy, their sound fits broadly into the tradition of bands like, say, The Dillinger Escape Plan, that blend together certain elements of Punk and Death metal with highly technical, sometimes melodic, guitar, bass, and drum parts. I wonder, too, if comparisons to recent work by The Black Dahlia Murder would work. These bands, obviously, aren't doing the same kinds of things musically or thematically, but they all capture a similar mood or tone or feel. Job for a Cowboy, in my opinion, is easily the most melodic of the bunch, and they sound better as a result. As I listened to Demonocracy the first time, I found myself drawn particularly to the musicianship. These guys play really well; the guitar and bass parts are especially strong, technical, and intense. The vocals are likewise good, but I'd suggest checking these guys out primarily for their instrumental playing. I enjoy Death metal vocals, but they occasionally detract from the listening experience when gifted guitarists are playing killer leads. Demonocracy is a good album for guitar fans and it deserves to be heard. Listeners should check out tracks like "The Deity Misconception," "Tarnished Gluttony," "The Manipulation Stream," and "Black Discharge" for examples of how well these guys use their dual guitar harmonies and passages to establish an overall strong sound. One more thought: Not all albums end well, some slow down and move far away from their opening strength. Demonocracy saves its best track, "Tarnished Gluttony," to the end. This is an album to listen to start to finish. You won't be disappointed.

Track Listing:
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

Added: April 19th 2012
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Myspace Page
Hits: 2165
Language: english

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