Job for a Cowboy

Job for a Cowboy
Job for a Cowboy performing at 2008's Hellfest.
Background information
Origin	Glendale, Arizona, United States
Genres	Death metal, deathcore
Years active	2003–present
Labels	King of the Monsters, Metal Blade
Associated acts	Despised Icon, The Faceless, Knights of the Abyss, Austrian Death Machine
Website	www.jfacmetal.com
Members
Jonny Davy Brent Riggs Bobby Thompson Jon Rice Al Glassman
Past members
Ravi Bhadriraju Chad Staples Andy Rysdam Andrew Arcurio Elliott Sellers

Job for a Cowboy is an American death metal band from Glendale, Arizona, formed in 2003. They released their first EP, Doom in 2005, and later that year signed with Metal Blade Records. Their official debut album, Genesis, was released in 2007, peaking at #54 on the Billboard 200 and selling 13,000 copies in its first week.

Job for a Cowboy started as a deathcore group, and evolved into a predominantly death metal sound with their full-length debut Genesis.^[1][2] Their influences include bands such as Decapitated, Hate Eternal, Mastodon, Nile, and The End.^[3] They have been defined by The New York Times as "an Arizona band with a guttural, brute-force sound descended (indirectly) from hard-core punk"^[4] and "straightforwardly brutal act" by Rolling Stone magazine.^[5]

The band has played in several festivals, including Download Festival, Sounds of the Underground, Mayhem Festival and Wacken Open Air. The current line-up of the band consists of vocalist Jonny Davy, guitarists Al Glassman and Bobby Thompson, bassist Brent Riggs, and drummer Jon Rice, with Davy being the only original member.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Formation and Doom (2003–2006) 1.2 Genesis and Ruination (2007 onward) 2 Band members 3 Discography 4 Videography 5 References 6 External links

History

Formation and Doom (2003–2006)

Job for a Cowboy was founded in Glendale, Arizona during December 2003^[6] by vocalist Jonny Davy, guitarists Ravi Bhadriraju and Andrew Arcurio, bassist Chad Staples, and drummer Andy Rysdam.^[7] In 2004, they created a MySpace profile, posted songs online, and immediately began to connect with several worldwide fans.^[8] Later that year, Staples and Rysdam left Job for a Cowboy and were replaced by Brent Riggs and Elliott Sellers respectively as bassist and drummer.^[7] Traffic to the band's MySpace profile increased exponentially in late 2005 when the band released their first EP, entitled Doom.^[8] The EP attracted the attention of Arizona independent label King of the Monsters, who distributed the disc after an initial self-released pressing by the band.^[7]

Job for a Cowboy extensively promoted their debut EP, including three performances on the Sounds of the Underground tour.^[8] By the end of the year, the band obtained professional management and signed a deal with Metal Blade Records,^[8] who reissued Doom with a bonus track.^[7] During the same year (2006), Arcurio left the band, and Bobby Thompson joined the group.^[7] While Job for a Cowboy was writing material for their first full-length album, Sellers announced that he would be leaving the band to go back to school immediately after recording the album.^[8] In search of a permanent drummer, the band then posted a bulletin on Blabbermouth.net,^[9] which was seen by Jon "The Charn" Rice. He made a video of himself, posted it on YouTube, and sent the link to the band.^[8] Soon after, Rice was announced as the new drummer.^[10]

Genesis and Ruination (2007 onward)

In March 2007, Job for a Cowboy completed their debut full-length album, Genesis.^[11] The album was recorded at Blue Light Audio Media in Phoenix, Arizona with producer Cory Spotts. It was mixed by Sabbat guitarist Andy Sneap; released on May 15, the album peaked at #54 on the Billboard 200, and sold nearly 13,000 copies in its first week, which made Genesis the best-selling heavy metal debut since Slipknot's 1999 debut album.^[8] The album received generally positive reviews, with Kerrang! magazine saying, "an album that quite literally obliterates everyone else currently residing within the death and grind scenes" and "one of the year's most essential metal purchases".^[12]

In June 2007, the band performed at the Download Festival in Donington Park, England.^[13] The group also played at the Sounds of the Underground festival along with Amon Amarth, Chimaira, Gwar, and Shadows Fall.^[13] In October, Job for a Cowboy co-headlined the 2007 Radio Rebellion Tour, teaming up with Behemoth, Gojira and Beneath the Massacre.^[14] The band featured on the 2008's Gigantour with headliners Megadeth, Children of Bodom, In Flames and High on Fire.^[15] In addition, they have been confirmed for a number of festivals during 2008, including Wacken Open Air in Germany^[16] and a second appearance at England's Download Festival.^[17] Job for a Cowboy have embarked on a U.S. headlining tour in November and December 2008 with supporting acts Hate Eternal and All Shall Perish.^[18] In late-2008 guitarist Ravi Bhadriraju left Job for a Cowboy to return to school because want to pursue a more rewarding career in the medical field, in his words "reinvent the pacemaker"; he was replaced with ex-Despised Icon guitarist Al Glassman.^[19]

On May 1, 2009, the band announced that they completed recording their second studio album, Ruination, at AudioHammer studios in Sanford, Florida with producer Jason Suecof.^[20] The album marks the debut of drummer Jon "the Charn" Rice, who has actually been with the band since the tour for Genesis, and also of guitarist Al Glassman.^[20] Ruination, was then released on July 7, 2009 worldwide through Metal Blade Records.^[21] Job for a Cowboy will take place in the second Mayhem Festival, playing on the Hot Topic stage along with bands such as Cannibal Corpse and Whitechapel.^[22]

Band members

Current Jonny Davy – vocals Al Glassman – guitars (2008–present) Jon "The Charn" Rice – drums (2007–present) Brent Riggs – bass, backing vocals (2004–present) Bobby Thompson – guitars (2006–present)

Former Chad Staples – bass (2003–2004) Andy Rysdam – drums (2003–2004) Andrew Arcurio – guitars (2003–2006) Elliott Sellers – drums (2004–2006) Ravi Bhadriraju – guitars (2003–2008)

Discography

Studio albums

• Genesis (2007)
• Ruination (2009)

EPs

• Doom (2005)

Videography

Year	Title	Director
2006	"Entombment of a Machine"	Richie Valdez[23]
2007	"Embedded"	Popcore[24]
2008	"Altered from Catechization"	Doug Spangenberg[25][26]
2009	"Unfurling a Darkened Gospel"
2010	"Ruination"	Kevin McVey[27]

References

External links

• Official website

Job for a Cowboy Jonny Davy  • Brent Riggs  • Bobby Thompson  • Al Glassman  • Jon Rice Ravi Bhadriraju  • Eliot Sellers  • Chad Staples  • Andrew Rysdam  • Andrew Arcurio Studio albums Genesis  • Ruination EPs Doom Demos Demo '04 Related articles Metal Blade Records  • Music of Arizona