Job For A Cowboy

Job for a Cowboy unleashes a relentless fusion of hardcore and death metal with the precision guitar attack of progressive metal. The group was founded by vocalist Jonny Davy, guitarists Ravi Bhadriraju and Andrew Arcurio, bassist Chad Staples, and drummer Andy Rysdam in Glendale, Arizona in 2002; the band cut their first demo CD in 2004. Later that year, Staples and Rysdam left Job for a Cowboy, with Brent Riggs and Elliott Sellers stepping in as bassist and drummer, respectively. In 2005, the band recorded a six-song EP, Doom, which attracted the attention of Arizona independent label King of the Monsters, who distributed the disc after an initial self-released pressing by the band. Doom earned a potent buzz in metal circles, enhanced by extensive touring, and Metal Blade signed the band in 2006, reissuing Doom with a bonus track. Also in 2006, Arcurio dropped out of Job for a Cowboy, and new guitarist Bobby Thompson joined the group. While Job for a Cowboy were writing material for their first full-length album, Sellers left the band, and Jon "The Charm" Rice became their new percussionist. Recorded between road trips with producer Andy Sneap at the controls, the group’s first album, Genesis, was released in May 2007 by Metal Blade. Ravi Bhadriraju left the group the following year to focus on his medical studies, and was replaced by Despised Icon guitarist Al Glassman, who made his studio debut (along with Jon Rice) on 2009′s Ruination. More personnel shifts followed in 2011 with the departures of bassist Brent Riggs and guitarist Bobby Thompson, who were replaced by Nick Schendzielos (Cephalic Carnage) and Tony Sannicandro, both of whom appeared on that year’s digital-only Gloom EP, and on the band’s 2012 long-player Demonocracy. Rice left the fold in 2013, leaving drumming duties for the band’s fourth full-length album to session drummer Danny Walker. The resulting Sun Eater arrived the following year. ~ Mark Deming