Moon Healer
Moon Healer | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | February 23, 2024 | |||
Studio | Audiohammer Studios, Sanford, Florida | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 39:12 | |||
Label | Metal Blade | |||
Producer | Jason Suecof | |||
Job for a Cowboy chronology | ||||
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Singles from Moon Healer | ||||
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Moon Healer is the fifth studio album by American death metal band Job for a Cowboy. The album was released on February 23, 2024, through Metal Blade Records. It is the band's first album in over nine years, marking the longest gap between releases in the band's history.
Background and recording
[edit]The band's previous album, Sun Eater, was released on November 11, 2014.
In 2016 interview at the NAMM Show, bassist Nick Schendzielos announced that the band was writing new music and hoped to release it sometime in 2017.[3] However, the band would go on hiatus following 2016.
In 2019, Job for a Cowboy members Jonny Davy, Al Glassman, and Tony Sannicandro formed the deathgrind band Serpent of Gnosis with the Black Dahlia Murder bassist Max Lavelle and Deeds of Flesh drummer Darren Cesca.[4] That same year, it was hinted that Job for a Cowboy would be returning with new music and start performing live again.[5]
In May 2020, the band alluded to reunion after posting a clip from the 1995 film Mortal Kombat on Twitter.[6][7] Around this time, producer Jason Suecof stated that "Jonny Davy just sang me the whole new album."[8] In June, Suecof announced that the band would begin recording new music, though the COVID-19 pandemic had slowed down production.[7]
On January 27, 2023, it was announced that Job for a Cowboy would be performing at the Blue Ridge Rock Festival later that year in September, marking the band's first performance in seven years.[9]
Job for a Cowboy released the song "The Agony Seeping Storm" on August 28, 2023, the band's first new song in nine years.[10] On October 24, a second single was released, "The Forever Rot", and announced that the album would be titled Moon Healer with a release date of February 23, 2024.[11] The album's third single, "Beyond the Chemical Doorway", was released on January 31, 2024.[12]
Reception
[edit]Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Blabbermouth.net | 8.5/10[13] |
Metal Hammer | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Metal Injection | 8/10[1] |
MetalSucks | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Moon Healer was praised by critics upon its release. C.C. Delorean of MetalSucks awarded the album 5 out of 5 stars and stated "Simply put, Moon Healer is one of the best, most perfectly balanced technical death metal albums I’ve ever heard, an instant classic all but guaranteed to stay in regular rotation for quite some time."[15] Blabbermouth writer Jay H. Gorania stated "Until now, the band's creative apex has been Sun Eater, and although at times it is too self-referential to the band's last couple of albums, Moon Healer reaches its predecessor's high-water marks in every regard."[16]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Job for a Cowboy
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Beyond the Chemical Doorway" | 4:10 |
2. | "Etched in Oblivion" | 4:14 |
3. | "Grinding Wheels of Ophanim" | 5:52 |
4. | "The Sun Gave Me Ashes So I Sought Out the Moon" | 4:03 |
5. | "Into the Crystalline Crypts" | 4:21 |
6. | "A Sorrow-Filled Moon" | 5:37 |
7. | "The Agony Seeping Storm" | 4:11 |
8. | "The Forever Rot" | 6:40 |
Total length: | 39:12 |
Personnel
[edit]- Job for a Cowboy
- Jonny Davy – vocals
- Tony Sannicandro – lead guitar
- Al Glassman – rhythm guitar
- Nick Schendzielos – bass
- Session musicians
- Navene Koperweis – drums[17]
Charts
[edit]Chart (2024) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[18] | 17 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Heilman, Max (February 21, 2024). "Album Review: JOB FOR A COWBOY Moon Healer". Metal Injection. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ a b Lawson, Dom (February 23, 2024). "'This is highly evolved, ferociously intelligent brutality.' Job For A Cowboy have returned after a decade away with a modern deathcore masterpiece in Moon Healer". Metal Hammer. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ Schendzielos, Nick (January 31, 2016). "THE NAMM SHOW 2016 Interviews - Nick Schendzielos of Job For A Cowboy" (Interview). Interviewed by Ken. HighWire Daze. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ Pasbani, Robert (May 21, 2019). "Listen: SERPENT OF GNOSIS (New Band from JOB FOR A COWBOY, BLACK DALIA Members) Unveil Killer New Track". Metal Injection. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ "Is Job For A Cowboy Plotting a Comeback?". Ghost Cult Magazine. May 22, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ Neilstein, Vince (June 28, 2020). "Confirmed: Job For a Cowboy are Making a New Album!". Metal Sucks. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ a b JOB FOR A COWBOY Fans The Flames Of Reunion Rumors Metal Injection
- ^ "'Jonny Davy just sang me the whole new album': Job For A Cowboy producer". Metal, but Grater. May 30, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ "Job For A Cowboy Will Play Their First Concert in Seven Years at Blue Ridge Rock Festival 2023". Ghost Cult Magazine. January 27, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ "Hear Job For A Cowboy's First New Single Since 2014". ThePRP. August 28, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ "Job For A Cowboy To Release New Album "Moon Healer" In February, Stream "The Forever Rot"". ThePRP. October 24, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ "JOB FOR A COWBOY Shares Music Video For 'Beyond The Chemical Doorway'". Blabbermouth.net. January 31, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ Gorania, Jay H. (February 20, 2024). "Reviews - Moon Healer". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ C. C. Delorean (February 16, 2024). "Review: Job for a Cowboy Continue To Build Their Legacy with Moon Healer". Metal Sucks. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ DeLorean, C. C. (February 16, 2024). "Review: Job for a Cowboy Continue To Build Their Legacy with Moon Healer". MetalSucks. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
- ^ Blabbermouth (February 20, 2024). "Moon Healer". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
- ^ "Job For A Cowboy Confirm New Album Drummer". ThePRP. February 23, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
- ^ "Rock & Metal Albums Top 40 - 1st March 2024". Official Charts. Retrieved March 1, 2024.