Job For A Cowboy
Demo


4.0
excellent

Review

by Si1v3RfaNg USER (17 Reviews)
December 3rd, 2008 | 81 replies


Release Date: 2004 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Job for a Cowboy create one of the more interesting Deathcore releases, making for an enjoyable listen.

Job for a Cowboy- Demo

Once in awhile a band comes along and develops a new type of music, whether it be through combinations of former genres or just a whole new idea completely. Job for a Cowboy (or JFAC) have been awarded the not-so prestigious title of the creators of Deathcore, a combination of Death Metal and Metalcore. While almost every band in this specific genre of metal is generic and boring, Job for a Cowboy bring and interesting sound with crushing breakdown on this short demo. The quality may not be up to par with modern-produced metal, but what can you expect from a demo?

This band’s formation is actually quite interesting, as they basically gained almost all of their fame through the internet juggernaut, Myspace. JFAC formed in Glensdale, Arizona in December of 2003. Founders consisted of Jonny Davy(Vocalist) and Ravi Bhadriraju(Guitarist), which were soon joined by Andrew Arcurio on guitar, bassist Chad Staples and drummer Andy Rysdam. This band has some obvious amounts of success in such a short amount of time, considering they had over five million fans only a year after this demo was released. Now they have loads of fame, but do they truly deserve it?

To answer that question, yes they did, but the key word in that sentence is “did.” They don’t really deserve it anymore, as they seem to be getting a little dulled out with their recent release, “Genesis.” But this is getting off topic, they definitely have the potential to be an amazing band, they just need to exercise that potential, as seen on the “Doom EP” and this demo. Now onto the review:

One could describe this demo very easily, as it’s basically “Doom” with less impressive drums and slightly less awesome vocals. Probably the most annoying quality of the demo is the fact that Rysdam’s drumming doesn’t really fit the genre of Deathcore. He’s just not fast enough: it’s like combining rock drums with Death Metal, which obviously doesn’t work. But this isn’t that big of a distraction, as Andy does get the job done, just not very well.

Now Jonny Davy has got to be one of the best metal vocalists of modern days, he just has such an incredible range going from death growls, to pig squeals or even high pitched, ear-piercing screams (and he was the only vocalist on this demo by the way). But while it’s easy to enjoy his vocals, it’s also kind of annoying listening to this after listening to “Doom” in the past. As he does no pig squeals on any of these songs, but then again some people might actually enjoy the plain old, straight up death vocals. One thing that actually impressed on this was the fact that his vocals had a better tone and you can actually understand him sometimes. While it’s not really important to understand the lyrics in Deathcore, it’s nice to understand what he’s screaming sometimes.

Probably one of the most stand-out features of the demo is the guitars: while it’s nothing mind-blowing or technical, this demo has some of the most crushing and devastating riffs ever written. This makes it all the more exhilarating when one of their pounding breakdowns come blasting through your speakers, which there is quite of few of on this short demo. I definitely found myself headbanging to this a few times, it’s just so addicting.

The single best instrument of the demo is the bass guitar; that’s right I said bass guitar. Most of the time, in metal that is, the bass is practically inaudible. But on this album you will hear it constantly, and it’s definitely a positive element to the demo as a whole. Staples creates some of the best bass lines written in modern metal, he’s just so fast and jazzy. I suggest any bass guitarist check this guy out, you’ll probably become a fan right off the bat.

The best track is probably “Dead Stale Endings:” it features all of the best riffs and breakdowns on the demo, creating an almost perfect Deathcore track. This isn’t to say the other two tracks are bad, they just don’t meet the standards of the first track. But the whole demo features ridiculously heavy breakdowns and bridges, which is enough to suffice for the bad drumming.

It’s really challenging to describe this demo in one word, but if I could pick one I would have to say Devastation. The whole time I was listening to this images of destroyed, sinking cities filled my mind. One might take it differently, but that is my personal take on the sound of the demo. I suggest fans of Death Metal or Metalcore give this a solid listen, despite the fact that Deathcore has a bad reputation, because it’s definitely worth listening to.

Pros:
+Excellent vocals, but without pig squeals
+Bass guitarist is amazing
+Crushing breakdowns
+Excellent Deathcore

Cons:
-No pig squeals, although some might enjoy it that way
-Drummer isn’t that good
-Some poor production, but not unbearable

I recommend all three tracks for download.



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user ratings (129)
3
good
other reviews of this album
Undead (3.5)
Job for a Cowboy did a great job for their demo. These songs should be either re-mastered or re-reco...

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Comments:Add a Comment 
joshuatree
Emeritus
December 4th 2008


3744 Comments


lol review

Si1v3RfaNg
December 4th 2008


823 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

lol review? Is it good though?This Message Edited On 12.03.08

Si1v3RfaNg
December 4th 2008


823 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Thats a slightly confusing statement...

bastard
December 4th 2008


3432 Comments


it's really not that hard to get...

Si1v3RfaNg
December 4th 2008


823 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I looked at it wrong thats why.



Come on guys give me some feedback.This Message Edited On 12.03.08

Essence
December 4th 2008


6739 Comments


Let's play the "why this review is lol" game, where I point out why this review is lol.

[quote=lolreview]
Once in awhile a band comes along and develops a new type of music
+
Job for a Cowboy (or JFAC) have been awarded the not-so prestigious title of the creators of Deathcore
=
lol
[/quote]

Also

[quote=lolreviewlol]The quality may not be up to par with modern-produced metal[/quote]
This IS modern produced metal. It was made in 2004. Slayer's Reign of Blood, for example, is in album that does not have modern production.


[quote=roflreview[/quote]Probably one of the most stand-out features of the demo is the guitars: while it’s nothing mind-blowing or technical, this demo has some of the most crushing and devastating riffs ever written. This makes it all the more exhilarating when one of their pounding breakdowns come blasting through your speakers, which there is quite of few of on this short demo. I definitely found myself headbanging to this a few times, it’s just so addicting.
[/quote]
That whole paragraph screams lol.

I could go on, but maybe you understand now (unlikely, though).




charlesfishowitz
December 4th 2008


1792 Comments


cerebral lawlzy

foreverendeared
December 4th 2008


14741 Comments


JFAC created deathcore?? this is news to me!

Essence
December 4th 2008


6739 Comments


I actually lol'd when I read that.

Doppelganger
December 4th 2008


3124 Comments


posting in a si1v3rfang reviewThis Message Edited On 12.03.08

foreverendeared
December 4th 2008


14741 Comments


i lol'd at "the most crushing and devastating riffs ever written." probably because i see that written more and more these days from reviewers who obviously haven't listened to that much metal

Si1v3RfaNg
December 4th 2008


823 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

i've listened to a lot of metal, and they are the creators of deathcore, google it, you'll find a lot of info.

foreverendeared
December 4th 2008


14741 Comments


To si1v3rfang, i would honestly suggest deleting this review and maybe do a lot more digging into the metal scene. Your writing is fine, it's just your ideas are a bit juvenile. There's nothing wrong with liking this band, but saying things like JFAC created deathcore is just not true, besides, i'd doubt there is one band that can be credited with that. Also, saying these riffs are the best YOU'VE heard is fine, but definitely expect some lol's at that because it suggests you haven't heard very many riffs.

Si1v3RfaNg
December 4th 2008


823 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I didn't say best, I said heaviest, in the deathcore genre(should have stated that). And I wasn't saying like they aren't up to modern standards with the production in that way, I just meant they could have produced it better with more expensieve modern equipment.

foreverendeared
December 4th 2008


14741 Comments


I don't know what your internet sources are, but JFAC did NOT create deathcore. They may have popularized it (even though they aren't deathcore anymore) but they did not create it. Also, even within the genre of deathcore, these riffs are between average and above average. I'm not a huge deathcore fan, so i'll leave the rest of this conversation up to someone who knows the ins and outs of the genre

Si1v3RfaNg
December 4th 2008


823 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I'm just saying from what i've heard, because I generally hate deathcore, but the vocalist attracts me to this band.

Essence
December 4th 2008


6739 Comments


[quote=silveridiot]
I just meant they could have produced it better with more expensieve modern equipment.
[/quote]

Job For A Cowboy Demo


Si1v3RfaNg
December 4th 2008


823 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

God I know! I'm just saying the DEMO would have been better with better quality, because this demo is great, good production would have made it better.

SKUDstorm
December 4th 2008


136 Comments


review + comments = my lols of the day

foreverendeared
December 4th 2008


14741 Comments


but if it had better production it wouldn't be a demo, it would be an EP.



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