If anything, you have to commend former deathcore (now death metal) scenesters Job For A Cowboy for trying. While a lot of bands fall into the deathcore trap for more popularity, JFAC have used their previous popularity to do the opposite and become less scene-esque. Their desire to lose the deathcore label is fully apparent on their second full length, Ruination. There are two word song titles that don’t really mean anything but sound kind of cool (“Constitutional Masturbation”, “Regurgitated Disinformation” and “Psychological Immorality”), they have more blastbeats than breakdowns, and vocalist Jonny Davy attempts a Trevor Strnad-like combination of shrieking highs and bowel-shaking lows (remember, I said ‘attempts’).
And while the band have improved drastically since their debut Doom EP, it feels as if the band are trying so hard to fit into a new scene that they are imitating more than creating. Still, guitarists Bobby Thompson and Al Glassman aren’t to be messed with. Their guitar riffs may not be entirely original, but they easily prove that they can structure songs and play some catchy – and slightly difficult – guitar riffs. With the help of drummer Jon Rice (who is the highlight of the disc) JFAC also find a decent amount of groove within tracks like “Regurgitated”.
Ruination is certainly a step in the right direction for the quintet, even with its cliche song titles and lack of originality all the way through. They won’t be considered deathcore after this release, but you can’t help but wonder if their previous sound may effect how people go into listening to Ruination.
(6.1/10)
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