 | Tracklist:
1. Misery Reformatory
2. Plastic Idols
3. Execution Parade
4. Signature of Starving Power
Release Date: 06/27/2011 | |
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On 2 Lists
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| Summary: It might do nothing explicitly wrong, but its downfall is that it also fails to do anything right. |
7 of 7 thought this review was well written
It would be heresy to even suggest that Arizona metal act Job For A Cowboy have not made progress since their inception. They have come a long way from their classically generic chug-a-chug bree-bree deathcore roots, even going as far as releasing a relatively decent, if not generic, death metal album in the form of Ruination. They are no longer the same band that crafted the Doom EP, and their latest effort is an attempt by the band to remind the metal community of this fact. In Gloom's 15 minute runtime, Job For A Cowboy seeks to impress, and they succeed in some areas. Killer riffs are scattered throughout, the guitar work is respectably technical, and the bass is impressive. The band's drummer, Jon Rice, might be the most impressive aspect of this release. He has his moments of blazingly fast double-kick action, his fills slay dragons, and his work serves to inject a bit of interest even into the EP's most dull moments.
It may all look good on paper, and Job For A Cowboy are lacking neither technicality nor musical prowess. However, they also fail miserably at putting anything into Gloom that would make it more than an average listen. No matter how many sweeps, double bass lines, or The Black Dahlia Murder-tinged riffs they may throw into the EP's four tracks, they cannot rectify the simple laziness and lack of creativity displayed here. First, there is the problem of originality: we have heard 90% of the material on Job For A Cowboy's latest release pulled off by other acts to a higher degree of success many times before. Derivative music is not inherently evil, for while it may lack original thought it can easily remain enjoyable material, and this is where the next problem with Gloom comes into the equation. Job For A Cowboy, while having no shortage of shred riffs, seem to be clueless as to how to arrange them in a way that makes for enjoyable death metal. Every one of Gloom's four songs sounds exactly the same as the last, and this issue resides on two levels. Not only do they sound identical, but the one song that is copied four times is not actually an interesting song. Job For A Cowboy may have ventured a long way from their mindless deathcore roots, but their death metal reincarnation is, in the end, really not much more interesting than the first iteration that reared its ugly head with Doom. They will never prosper until they realize that songwriting ability is just as important, if not more so, than technical skill. Until next time, boys.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 2.5
haz riffz
| | | Album Rating: 3
Drummer's name is Jon Rice mate, minor typo in the first paragraph.
Aside from that so far, I dig this review, I feel the same way except I enjoy it a little more than that, probably a 3-3.5 from me.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
sweet, thanks for catching that.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
yeah, this was pretty really average/decent.
Digging: Jakob - Solace Digging: Jakob - Solace | | |
I don't plan on listening to this
Digging: The Grateful Dead - Terrapin Station Digging: The Grateful Dead - Terrapin Station
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
ya I have no idea why i checked this out
Digging: Purplene - Purplene | | | Album Rating: 3
Good review, this is kind of what I thought about it as well, cept a little higher than a 2.5. Last two songs are alot better and more interesting overall than the first two imo.
Digging: Danzig - Danzig III:How The Gods Kill | | | Album Rating: 2.5
morbid curiosity? or maybe...
GLOOMY curiosity????
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
and yeah, the last track is a highlight.
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OooOOo
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Great review. I hated Genesis and never listened to Ruination, don't think i'll be checking this out. The Doom EP was alright back before I realized it was complete shit.
Digging: Marilyn Manson - Born Villain Digging: Marilyn Manson - Born Villain
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
also, this site plagiarized the first paragraph of the flagged Doom review here. the reviewer is a staff member. flood the comments section, put the fear of god in them.
http://www.cravemetal.com/?p=5802
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Oops
Digging: I The Breather - Truth and Purpose
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Number is awesome on this list. And i like Carnifex and they are on victory
I think you whoopsied
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
the vox are kind of annoying. the guitar solo parts are good. audible bass in some parts is also good. average release.
Digging: Spawn of Possession - Incurso Digging: Spawn of Possession - Incurso | | | Album Rating: 2.5
dammit, i forgot to mention the godawful vocals in the review. i might go back and edit that in at some point tonight or tomorrow.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
lol. they are the worst part i think.
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Their bassist was toying around before they started playing, he seemed talented.
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This band never sucked, but they were never good either. Probably always gonna be average.
Digging: Steamy Ray Vaughan - A Little Bit of Rattlesnake Digging: Steamy Ray Vaughan - A Little Bit of Rattlesnake
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Everything after Doom has been consistently 2.5
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