Job for a Cowboy will never be able to shake their association with deathcore, having pioneered the sound with their polarizing — and now classic — 2005 Doom EP.
But JFAC haven't been a deathcore band for roughly 15 years. They started dabbling in more traditional death metal on 2009's Ruination, and then went full tech-death on 2012's Demonoracy and 2014's Suneater.
Even though many fans retain a fondness for their more simplistic deathcore years, JFAC have proven themselves to be more-than-capable maestros of brain-scrambling, tempo-leaping, fretboard-scaling extremity, and that's the sound they conquer on their long-awaited comeback album, Moon Healer (out February 23rd via Metal Blade).
With the band's mighty return underway, we asked JFAC vocalist Jonny Davy to pick what he considers the five greatest technical death-metal albums of all time.
From " no-nonsense death metal" to "a true masterpiece," see all of Davy's picks below.
5. Gorguts - From Wisdom to Hate
Without a doubt, this stands as my favorite Gorguts album — a flawless accompaniment to the descent into madness, a soundtrack to losing one's sanity.
Raw and unapologetic, it serves as the epitome of their sound, seamlessly merging the elements of their earlier "classic death" works with the otherworldly sounds found in their album Obscura.
It's the perfect blend, capturing Gorguts at the pinnacle of their artistic expression.
4. Origin - Informis Infinitas Inhumanitas
This album firmly secures its place among my all-time top five favorite death-metal records. It's a lean, no-nonsense death-metal album — a blizzard of chaos that has consistently drawn me back, dating back to my teen years.
James Lee, the vocalist at the time, stands out as a significant influence on my journey as a death-metal vocalist. The sheer brutality of this album is unparalleled and comes with a resounding recommendation.
3. Martyr - Feeding the Abscess
As it approaches its 20th anniversary, I still haven't encountered a progressive/tech-death album as intricate and distinctive as this one.
Without a doubt, it firmly holds its place in my constantly rotating top five death-metal albums. The Canadian creators took no prisoners, and even after two decades, this album maintains its excellence in production, songwriting and performance.
2. Anata - The Conductor's Departure
Anata's 2006 release is a piece I deem a true masterpiece. The unique ability of this band to seamlessly blend constant melodic dissonance is unparalleled. Although "melodic dissonance" may sound contradictory, those acquainted with this album would grasp the essence of my description.
The music induces a surreal fever dream, a descent into something that eludes easy expression. To truly comprehend, one must experience the album firsthand.
I've caught wind of murmurs about their potential comeback, and if that indeed materializes, it stands as my most eagerly anticipated album.
1. Nile - Annihilation of the Wicked
Annihilation of the Wicked stands out as, in all likelihood, my all-time favorite death-metal album. Back in my early teens, a mere youngster, I somehow acquired a physical copy of their debut, Amongst the Catacombs of Nephren-Ka.
During that period, the album proved overwhelming, beyond my comprehension, and even elicited a hint of fear. Fast-forward a few years, and I developed an obsession with their work, particularly the album Annihilation of the Wicked, now etched permanently in my memory.
Its relentless intensity is undeniable, making it a top recommendation in my esteem.
