Only leaving one day to go, this is where we separate the men from the boys. After having already seen twenty two albums of sonic shapes and sizes we now are left with the last two. Unknowingly to almost all the metal scene it seems, the band retired to their respective homes to hone techniques on their instruments. Slowly building their chops until they entered the studio this year. With death metal mastermind Jason Suecof in charge of production duties the band were onto a winner. Breaking the silence in September Job For A Cowboy gave us a slice of what we were in for. It was flawless.
Job For A Cowboy – Sun Eater
Coming from a deathcore background with their now almost ten year old Doom EP the band had been rigidly stuck in the tedious category, beginning as a fairly throwaway act the band matured. As with age many differences occur, previous guitarist Bobby Thompson was replaced by Tony Sannicandro, the first step of the evolution was beginning… Recording the vicious Demonocracy the band bounced back, surprising and surely alienating some fans of the knuckle head deathcore variety that they had now fallen into the death metal ilk.
After this we saw the departure of drummer John “The Charn” Rice , the band decided to take a step back until Sun Eater emerged. Potentially one of the most interesting acts in metal, so drastic is the change from their previous metal allegiance. From the opening of “Eating The Visions Of God” and follow up “Sun Of Nihility” this is progressive metal territory. With each members technique on a higher game than ever before bassist Nick Schendzielos winds his away throughout the songs dancing to his own tune. In charge of drum duties Intronaut sticksman Danny Walker delivers a stellar job. Along with the demonic sermons spouted by Jonny Davy who’s vocals truly have grown into their own, engulfing worlds a particular highlight being the “The Celestial Antidote“. Not only showcasing Davy‘s vocal talents but the bands slow build up of songwriting, giving the album a sense of dynamic flow, in turn giving more pace to the album.
Mixing the pace up between relentless onslaught “A Global Shift” containing some monumental breakdowns. Executed with flair making them a welcome sight rather than a boring distraction. “The Stone Cross” brings the thrash with some exceptional solo’s and a sweet trade off between Jason Suecof. With guest vocals on “The Synthetic Sea” from none other than Cannibal Corpse‘s own George “Corpsegrinder” Fischer a nice easter egg for those death metal fans. Tony Sannicandro wails throughout, with harmony laden intro “Buried Monuments” after the exemplary use of melody in the chorus of the multi dimensional “Encircled By Mirrors“.
Job For A Cowboy have single handedly reinvented their entire ethos as a band. Beginning as a deathcore band that, had promise, but was in a dying art the band slowly but surely transformed. From the deathcore catterpillar to the beautiful progressive death metal butterfly the band have become. Sun Eater will go down as the album that solidified their fierce reputation as one of modern death metal’s most exciting bands.
