With Job For A Cowboy's last release, we saw a rather dramatic change in the band's sound, jumping from straightforward deathcore that couldn't stick to one beat more then fifteen seconds a song it seemed like, to deathcore tinged death metal. Now, with their 2009 release Ruination, the band continues to progress forward with recording more of the same boring music, just amped up.
Ruination is definitely a step forward once more with this band. The music is much tighter then it was on any previous album, and everything just seems to be more aggressive as well. The guitars have are much sharper and aggressive then on the previous album, the drumming is much faster, and the vocals have a more tenacious bite to them then they ever have. All of this could very well be the result of the production on this album, as there seems to be more layering done on this release. But, regardless of the reason, this album is a tight death metal release that seems to be void of their deathcore roots and the typical "core" technical aspects that have adorned every release thusfar.
With all that said, it should be noted that not all the songs on this release are absolute gems. This release also has it's share of filler sounding tracks. "Constitutional Masturbation" can get a little old after a couple listens, "March To Global Enslavement" is a rather boring song right from the start and just feels extremely drawn out about half way through, the same can be said about the title track "Ruination", and "Lords Of Chaos" has some slower moments that just seem like the band couldn't figure out something worthwhile to place there. Luckily, there are a good deal of songs that will take you by surprise, such as "Summon The Hounds", the blistering "Regurgitated Disinformation", and the somewhat technical throwback "Psychological Immorality" which has a more technical aspect at times in the guitar chords.
| iTunes Edition: |
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For anyone interested in obtaining the iTunes edition of this album, it does come with the bonus track "The Matter Of Splatter", which was originally done by the gore metal band Exhumed. Believe it or not, the band does a hell of a job covering the song. Granted it's not as good as the original, but it'll still make you want to start moshing wherever you are. With this as a bonus track for this edition, it's definitely worth grabbing, unless you're able to just get this track. |
If you're still not sure if you're going to enjoy Ruination, then check the album out somewhere and decide for yourself. Job For A Cowboy seems to have progressed their musical sound since their Doom EP, and if this spike in tighter, more well written material is an indication that the band has not done maturing as a group, then their next album will definitely be one to keep an eye out for.
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Digital review copy of this release provided by:
Personal funds. |
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