The absolutely monolithic symbol of death metal’s advancement, Job For A Cowboy, is back with their newest record (and first since 2014’s ‘Sun Eater’), ‘Moon Healer’. This album sees the band returning in full force, after years of facing the trials of fatherhood, other music projects (such as the supergroup Serpent Of Gnosis), and careers outside of music. After several dozen listens, I’m here to tell you all: this is the single greatest death metal album of the past decade, and won’t be surpassed without a genuine outpouring of creativity and fresh air brought into the stale, odorous world of technical and progressive death metal.

Thematically, this album carries on from what we last heard on ‘Sun Eater’. The lyrics and music pair for an otherworldly experience, pushing us through songs about alchemical wonder, ego death, and psychedelic magical realms.

“I envision this as a death metal album born from the mystical confines of an alchemist’s laboratory. The music acts as potent potions, inducing hallucinogenic journeys that unlock the secrets of the universe.”

Jonny Davy, on ‘Moon Healer’

Each musician on this album portrays a passion we haven’t heard in this niche genre for years. ‘Moon Healer’ gives us genuine exploration of the music at hand. Riffs twist and turn, changing into unpredictable (yet familiar) sections of music that are truly fresh. Navene Koperweis’ (Entheos) drums on this record add a whole new layer to each song, creating some actual “holy fuck” moments to songs such as “Grinding Wheels Of Ophanim” and “Into The Crystalline Crypts”.

I have nothing bad to say about this album. Nothing even close. This is the pinnacle of death metal in recent years, and hopefully bands use this as a learning moment. We need more bands to sound like themselves, instead of recycling Necrophagist and At The Gates riffs from 30 years ago. No other band sounds like Job For A Cowboy, and Job For A Cowboy sounds like no other band.

10/10 and I never use number ratings.

Job For A Cowboy is releasing ‘Moon Healer’ on February 23, 2024 through Metal Blade Records. You can buy it anywhere albums are sold, stream it through the band’s Bandcamp or any number of other services.