Job For A Cowboy call themselves an ‘extreme metal unit’ so we are talking Lamb of God etc. Metal fans either love this stuff or hate it in equal measure – there seems to be no middle ground. This type of metal is all about attitude. It reflects a certain lifestyle, an approach to the modern world and all its ills that says ‘up yours’. At least that’s what granddad ‘ere thinks. 

In truth (if you like this kind of thing) ‘Genesis’, the band’s full-length debut, does the job. It’s full on stuff with the band sounding really tight mainly due to a star turn by drummer Jon ‘The Charn’ Rice (why do all these guys feel the need to have a nickname in the credits these days? I’m perfectly fine with Jon & Rice!). It’s intense, heavy as hell and er, totally like every other band doing this kind of thing right now. 

There seems to be a million of these acts trailing around at the moment and Job For A Cowboy have one of the silliest, most unlikely names for an extreme metal band imaginable. I genuinely thought with a moniker like that I was going to be listening to a poor man’s ‘Fall Out Boy’ but imagine my surprise when vocalist Jonny Davey starts gargling glass and TCP (available at all local chemists – other disinfectant products available). 

The band logo’s a bit weird too. Spelt ‘JOBFORACOWBOY’ in ‘hack and slash’ lettering it is totally unreadable. On first seeing the CD cover I had to refer to the biog just to find out what they were actually called! What good is that if your name is going to be on CD’s and posters etc.? 

Certainly not for me to say change the name and logo of a band but all in all the whole JOB FOR A COWBOY package is very ordinary and they need to give themselves more of a chance in an already over subscribed area of the rock market. As things stand this band can play, but lack any real identity.

Let us know your views on Genesis

Track Listing

Bearing The Serpent's Lamb
Reduced To Mere Filth
Altered From Catechization
Upheaval
Embedded
Strings Of Hypocrisy
Martyrdom Unsealed
Blasphemy
Divine Falsehood
Coalescing Prophecy

Line Up

Ravi Bhadriraju - Guitar
Jonny Davy - Vocals
Bobby Thompson - Guitar
Jon Rice - Drums
Brent Riggs - Bass