Entertainment Earth

1/31/2024

Job For A Cowboy Releases Absolutely Killer Video/ Single "Beyond the Chemical Doorway" from Forthcoming Metal Blade Release "Moon Healer" (Feb. 23.)

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Photo by Chris Klumpp

Watch JOB FOR A COWBOY's "Beyond The Chemical Doorway" video HERE.

Experimental death metallers JOB FOR A COWBOY are pleased to unleash "Beyond The Chemical Doorway,” the latest single from their long-awaited new full-length, Moon Healer, set for release on February 23rd via Metal Blade Records. The release marks the iconic outfit’s first new full-length in a decade!


Moon Healer is a vivid illustration of what happens when creativity, aggression, and volatility tangle for the first time in years. Like the band’s critically adored, 2014-released Sun Eater offering, Moon Healer is musically multifaceted, unabashedly brutal, and compellingly conceptual. Featuring a newly refreshed and reinspired lineup of frontman and co-founder Jonny Davy, guitarists Tony Sannicandro and Al Glassman, bassist Nick Schendzielos, and drummer (since 2020) Navene Koperweis, the band seamlessly picks up the mantle where Sun Eater left off.


Compared to past offerings, Moon Healer is as bone-crushing as JOB FOR A COWBOY has ever been. But it’s more consistent and conceptual, composed with the utmost enthusiasm and confidence. “The evolution of our sound has become a big part of the band,” Davy says. “As we mature as musicians, our tastes and interests naturally expand. With age comes more experience and ideas that we wouldn’t have considered in our earlier years.”


When discussing the lyrical genesis of songs like “Grinding Wheels Of Ophanim,” “Into The Crystalline Crypts,” and latest single, “Beyond The Chemical Doorway,” Davy’s writing gets cryptic and elliptical-sounding, part Philip K. Dick, part Timothy Leary. “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.”



With “Beyond The Chemical Doorway,” Davy explores Gnosticism -- an occult teaching based on Gnosis, a state of transcendence achieved through intuitive, unconventional means -- by way of Hieronymus Bosch’s art. Elaborates Davy, “On Moon Healer, we unravel the dismal narrative of a close friend consumed by an unwavering pursuit of enlightenment. They achieve this through a compulsive embrace of hallucinogenic drugs. This storyline emerges from the foundation set in our earlier album, Sun Eater, delving deeper into the intricacies brewing within our friend's psyche.


“When under the influence of these drugs,” he continues, “this individual claimed to encounter entities and find themselves in indescribable worlds that defy rational comprehension. Many who undergo such experiences draw intriguing parallels between diverse facets of Gnostic philosophy, biblical depictions of angels, and the stages of Bardo Thodol delineated in the Tibetan Book Of The Dead. In the album's opener, 'Beyond The Chemical Doorway,' our friend vividly voices his hallucinations, recounting the experience of breaching forbidden, gnostic-like realms, with each account culminating in the utter unraveling of his being.”



Watch JOB FOR A COWBOY's "Beyond The Chemical Doorway" video at THIS LOCATION.

Watch the band’s previously released videos for “The Agony Seeping Storm” HERE and “The Forever Rot” HERE.


Moon Healer was produced by Jason Suecof (Death Angel, The Black Dahlia Murder, Deicide) at his Audiohammer Studios and is the first JOB FOR A COWBOY album to feature session drummer Navene Koperweis (ex-Animosity). Davy previously worked with Koperweis in the progressive death metal side project Fleshwrought, which released Dementia/Dyslexia through Metal Blade in 2010. Koperweis also worked as a session drummer for Machine Head and Whitechapel and is currently in the band Entheos, whose third full-length came out on Metal Blade in March 2023.


Moon Healer will be released on CD, digitally, and on vinyl in the following color variants:


Vinyl US:                          

Purple w/ Black Smoke

Blue And White Marbled

Pink And White Marbled

Magenta Marble (Independent Retailers)

 

Vinyl EU: 

Dark Purple Marbled (1000 copies)

Ice Blue Marbled (500 copies)

White w/ Purple Splattered (300 copies)

Blue/White Split Splattered (300 copies)


For preorders, visit: metalblade.com/jobforacowboy.


JOB FOR A COWBOY:

Jonny Davy - vocals

Al Glassman - guitar

Nick Schendzielos - bass

Tony Sannicandro - guitar


For JOB FOR A COWBOY coverage inquiries, contact liz@earsplitcompound.com.


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8/29/2023

Job For A Cowboy Is Back with Killer New Video/ Single "The Agony Seeping Storm"! Will Release First Album in a Decade Via Metal Blade in 2024!

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Photo by Tom Couture

Arizona death metallers JOB FOR A COWBOY return after a near decade long hiatus with their brand new single and accompanying video for "The Agony Seeping Storm.” The track comes by way of the band’s first new full-length in a decade, set for release in 2024 via Metal Blade Records!

JOB FOR A COWBOY released their Sun Eater full-length in 2014. The record received an overwhelmingly positive response, with Decibel Magazine confessing, “Fuck it, I can admit when I’m wrong… while I was busy pointedly not paying attention to them, these deathcore progenitors actually became a pretty damn good band.” In a 4.5/5 review, Alternative Press championed, “a full-on progressive death metal band… the songs have progressive sweep and epic power, at times recalling Opeth’s heavier work,” adding, “Sun Eater is one of 2014′s best metal albums, period,” while Metal Injection hailed an album, “that will be a solid brick in the foundation of the death metal genre with no gimmicks or trends to back it up.”

Ten years later, the band returns with their most volatile work to date. The as-yet-untitled full-length is at once musically multifaceted, unabashedly brutal, and compellingly conceptual. First single, “The Agony Seeping Storm,” is a mathematically mind-blowing hybrid of bludgeoning death metal specializing in unconventional riffing that echoes the resemblance of legendary experimentalists like Cynic, Atheist, and Gorguts. A newly refreshed and reinspired lineup — vocalist Jonny Davy, guitarists Tony Sannicandro and Al Glassman, bassist Nick Schendzielos, and drummer (since 2020) Navene Koperweis — seamlessly pick up the mantle where Sun Eater left off.

Issues Davy, "‘The Agony Seeping Storm’ gives a slice of our upcoming concept record. Regarding the video, the band collaborated extensively with director K. Hunter Lumar (Digital Mile), while our bassist, Nick Schendzielos, co-directed. The concept was inspired by a close friend who embarked on a relentless quest for profound enlightenment through the incessant abuse of hallucinogenic drugs. However, as they delved deeper into their religious-like experimentation they began exhibiting symptoms of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. They came to believe that they could access an alternate, esoteric reality through hallucinogenic intoxication, where they encountered gnostic and biblical figures and imagery.These songs reflect their thoughts, ideas, and experiences.”


Further info on JOB FOR A COWBOY’s new full-length will be revealed in the coming weeks. Stay alert!

JOB FOR A COWBOY’s official comeback show will take place at this year’s edition of Blue Ridge Rock Fest with additional live dates to be announced soon.

JOB FOR A COWBOY Live:
9/08/2023 Blue Ridge Rock Fest - Alton, VA

JOB FOR A COWBOY hails from Glendale, Arizona. Formed in 2003, the band's debut album, Genesis, was released in 2007, peaking at #54 on the US Billboard 200 and selling 13,000 copies in its first week of release. The second album, 2009's Ruination, sold 10,600 copies in the United States in its first week to debut at position #42 on the Billboard 200 chart! The band has been described by The New York Times as "an Arizona band with a guttural, brute-force sound descended (indirectly) from hardcore punk,” and a, "straightforwardly brutal act," by Rolling Stone Magazine. The band has appeared on numerous music festivals both stateside and abroad, including Sounds Of The Underground, Download Festival, Mayhem Festival, Summer Slaughter, Graspop Metal Meeting, and Wacken Open Air, among others.

JOB FOR A COWBOY:
Jonny Davy - vocals
Al Glassman - guitar
Nick Schendzielos - bass
Tony Sannicandro - guitar

For JOB FOR A COWBOY coverage inquiries contact liz@earsplitcompound.com.



8/17/2023

Revocation to Commence North American Co-Headlining Tour with Unearth this Fall- Tickets Now Available!

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Photo by Alex Morgan

Progressive death metal outfit REVOCATION will join Unearth for a North American co-headlining tour this Fall! The journey, which begins on September 29th in Brooklyn, New York, makes its way through nearly two dozen cities, coming to a close on October 20th in Ottawa, Ontario. Support will be provided by High Command and labelmates, Entheos. Tickets are on sale now. See all confirmed dates below.
 
REVOCATION w/ Unearth, Entheos, High Command:
9/29/2023 St. Vitus Bar - Brooklyn, NY
9/30/2023 Lovecraft's - Mechanicsburg, PA
10/01/2023 Frankie's - Toledo, OH
10/02/2023 Reggie's - Chicago, IL
10/03/2023 Pops - Sauget, IL
10/04/2023 Eastside Bowl - Nashville, TN
10/06/2023 Conduit - Orlando, FL
10/07/2023 Orpheum - Tampa, FL
10/08/2023 Respectables - West Palm, FL
10/09/2023 Music Farm - Charleston, SC
10/10/2023 Hangar 18 - Greensboro, NC
10/11/2023 Canal Club - Richmond, VA
10/12/2023 Soundstage - Baltimore, MD
10/13/2023 Preserving Upstairs - Pittsburgh, PA
10/14/2023 The Pit At The L - Horsehead, NE
10/15/2023 Wally's - Hampton Beach, NH
10/16/2023 La Source De la Martiner - Quebec City, QC
10/17/2023 Fairmount Theatre - Montreal, ON
10/18/2023 The Queen Barrie - Barrie, ON
10/19/2023 Velvet Underground - Toronto, ON
10/20/2023 The Brass Monkey - Ottawa, ON
 
REVOCATION released their latest full-length, Netherheaven, last September via Metal Blade Records. Four years in the making, the Billboard-charting trio – Dave Davidson (vocals/guitars), Ash Pearson (drums), and Brett Bamberger (bass) – meticulously explore the allegorical and literal aspects of Hell as they dig deeper into the darker, more diabolical side of death metal. In short, where the previous album, The Outer Ones (2018), jettisoned REVOCATION into the horrific maw of the cosmos, Netherheaven bores deftly through the nine rings of Hell to directly confront Lucifer and his multitudinous faces.

Preview and purchase Netherheaven at metalblade.com/revocation.
 
“In a genre where every band wants to tease their newest album as their ‘most heavy,’ Netherheaven finds REVOCATION doubling down on their most ferocious elements. The band achieved impressive levels of power after recording as a three-piece for the first time in thirteen years, while maintaining their tech-metal prestige.” – Metal Injection
 
“…the progressive death metal trio’s darkest and most sinister album yet. This thrilling effort pulls no punches and has no weak spots.” – MetalSucks
 
“Netherheaven is flawless in execution and doesn’t even come close to becoming remotely predictable. The Outer Ones ventured deeper into the realms of death metal but this release has undoubtedly perfected their approach.” – Distorted Sound


1/18/2023

Entheos Announce Their New Album- "Time Will Take Us All" & Share Video- "I Am the Void"

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ENTHEOS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM TIME WILL TAKE US ALL 

ALBUM ARRIVES MARCH 3 ON METAL BLADE RECORDS — PRE-ORDER HERE

BAND SHARES "I AM THE VOID" VIDEO


Pushing progressive death metal in ever more imaginative directions, Entheos continue to stand apart from the pack. Incorporating elements drawn from myriad genres - including death metal, groove, grunge, electronica, slam, gothic rock, jazz, prog and more — they have evolved with every release, and now they return with the follow up to 2017's landmark Dark Future, the diverse and exhilarating Time Will Take Us All. It arrives March 3 via Metal Blade Records. Pre-order it here.

Today, the band has shared the video for "I Am the Void." Watch it here.

"We're incredibly proud to announce our new album Time Will Take Us All," the band states. "The album's concept is one of growth and self-reflection that focuses on the true human commonality — that our time on Earth is fleeting and what we choose to do with that knowledge is up to each of us as individuals. This is beautifully reflected in Eliran Kantor's surreal cover art."

The band furthers, "We're excited to share a new single 'I Am the Void.' This song begins the second half of the album and represents the weight of feeling as though you cannot escape your own fears and anxieties. The video was shot by the incredible David Brodsky, Allison Woest and their team at My Good Eye Visuals

TIME WILL TAKE US ALL TRACK LISTING:
"Absolute Zero"
"In Purgatory"
"The Interior Wilderness"
"Oblivion"
"I Am The Void"
"Darkest Day"
"Clarity in Waves"
"The Sinking Sun"
"Time Will Take Us All"

CREDIT: Eliran Kantor
"We knew when we started writing that we really wanted to make something darker and heavier that was still uniquely Entheos, and we knew that we wanted to make a record that really came from our hearts and captured where we want to take this band," explains vocalist Chaney Crabb.

"The new album also has a strong 'trippy' vibe, not in a generic sense but meaning when you are done listening to it you feel like you’ve gone on a journey," adds multi-instrumentalist Navene Koperweis. "I've always loved albums that gave me that feeling. I can't say we set out to have the experience, it just sort of happened and that's something I'm proud of."
 
Having stripped down to a two-piece in 2020, this has helped to streamline the band and allow the core members to make the music they want to with no compromise, which is clearly to their betterment. Koperweis — who takes the role of drummer in the band's live lineup — has long written most of the guitar parts, so it was not a radically different writing process, but allowed him the freedom of complete control. "I tell people this album is more of everything that we do, except this time it’s deeper in all directions," says Koperweis. "We're no longer dipping our toe in the pool on certain aspects, when we decide to go somewhere, we fucking go there."

Relying less on synths and electronic production than on previous releases, a lot of the more atmospheric elements are contributed by guitar, and there is even an acoustic guitar for the first time on an Entheos record. Crabb has also pushed herself harder than ever before, interested in consistently practicing to find new pitches and timbres in her voice, and she has most certainly extended the range of her screaming. Using pitched screaming to add melodic lines in many places, this is also the first Entheos record on which she has sung.
 
When it came to penning the lyrics, Crabb knew that she was going to write about her own "experience as a human" and approach the album based on the lingering awareness many people have, that there is so much world out there and there are so many different experiences to have — but there is so little time. However, this idea really hit home in August 2021 when she got into an accident on her electric scooter on the day she started tracking vocals.

"I do not remember how I fell, but when I woke up I was really badly hurt. Gravel was embedded in my lower lip and had severed the inside of my chin from my face, my upper lip was completely split open to the point that my teeth were visible, my nasal septum bone was split in two and my nose was completely bent to one side — I ended up with 100 stitches in my face and was unable to do vocals for three months. I lost all abilities to move my nose and lips for those months, and to this day I still haven't regained complete control." 

Because of this accident she found herself in a strange place mentally, juggling between feeling truly happy and grateful for every second that she was alive and got to spend with the people who she loved, but also feeling completely depressed, because of all of the uncertainty surrounding her injuries. She shares, "The album took form as a journey from the depths of depression into gratitude, but ultimately as an examination of our time and how precious it is."
 
With Koperweis handling production duties and Mark Lewis (Whitechapel, The Black Dahlia Murder) mixing the record, all of the drums were tracked by Zack Ohren at Castle Ultimate, and Koperweis tracked guitars and vocals. They also recruited former member Evan Brewer to supply the bass. Though committed to their status as a two-piece, the band does have a live lineup with Brian James (ex-Fallujah) and Robert Brown (ex-Slaughter to Prevail) providing guitar, maintaining their reputation for being a killer live band. Having delivered the best record of their career they are also in a very good place mentally, but they do not get ahead of themselves.

The album will be available in the following formats:
Digital / Streaming
CD Jewelcase 
Vinyl — Dark Gray & White Marble (US exclusive)
Vinyl — Clear with Gold Metallic & Black Marble (US exclusive)
Vinyl — Red / Gold Melt (A Side B side) (EU exclusive)
ENTHEOS ONLINE:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Spotify
YouTube

4/12/2019

Rivers of Nihil/ Entheos Live at Saint Vitus- Brooklyn, NY 04/06/19

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On April 6, 2019, Rivers of Nihil/ Entheos had a sold out and truly killer show at Saint Vitus in Brooklyn, NY, and I was on hand to bring you all the brutal details! Both bands played, in entirety, their last releases resulting in an absolute ass kicker of a night!

Entheos, the first band I got to catch on this night, is a progressive death metal act comprised of members of various other metal bands. I have been a huge fan of them since their excellent debut album The Infinite Nothing . Their second and latest release is the complex, yet groove laden Dark Future (2017). It is an album that gets better and better with every listening, and one which they played all of, on this night.
The band totally decimates live! They are fierce and superbly talented, playing music that is incredibly technical with true proficiency. Singer Chaney Crabb is one of the best vocalists in extreme metal, today. She has an awesome sounding variety of screams, which drive the musically brutality further (even more so live!). And, she has one hell of stage presence with a ton of energy to spare. The audience responded in spades with a brutal as fucking hell mosh pit!






 



Up next were the headliners, Rivers of Nihil. Finally the band that had been the opening acting for countless of other bands are headlining. This is thanks to the modern masterwork that is Where Owls Know My Name. This absolutely amazing and spectacular work of technical death metal made mine and many others lists of the best metal of last year. Like the Entheos album, it, too, was played in its entirety om this night (as it has been during this whole tour). They even bought their saxophone player which makes them sound and look so unique in the death metal world.




Rivers it is not hyper-boil when I say that Rivers is one of the very best live acts in metal, today. They also inspired one of the greatest pits that I have ever been in or seen, and perhaps the greatest ever in a small venue. It is very likely the best pit that Saint Vitus has ever had, in fact, every single person there that night was a part of it. There was even a fucking wall of death! Your intrepid reporter has bruises all over my right leg, and I can fucking tell that it was well worth them! Why? Because, I had an absolute motherfucking blast at the show.


And, that's the thing about Rivers. For despite how unquestionably heavy they are, they're also a lot of fun. And, it is clear that they, themselves are having a good time. Despite the complexity of their music, they never come off as pretentious. The fact is that everybody, from fan to band to press, had an awesome time.
   

 This fan got onstage with both Entheos and Rivers of Nihil and sang with both band's respective signers. 


In all, this ranks as one of my favorite live shows that I have ever attended. If you are a fan of either band or love extreme metal, you need to catch Rivers of Nihil and Entheos, the first chance that you get!
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