Moon Healer

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox album | name = Moon Healer | type = studio | artist = Job for a Cowboy | cover = JFAC_Moon_Healer.jpg | released = {{Start date|2024|02|23}} | recorded = | venue = | studio = Audiohammer Studios, Sanford, Florida | genre =  *Progressive death metal<ref name="Metal Injection"/> *deathcore<ref name="Metal Hammer"/> | length = {{Duration |m=39 |s=12}} | label = Metal Blade | producer = Jason Suecof | prev_title = Sun Eater | prev_year = 2014 | next_title = | next_year = | misc = {{singles | name = Moon Healer | type = studio | single1 = The Agony Seeping Storm | single1date = August 28, 2023 }} }}

'''''Moon Healer''''' is the fifth studio album by American death metal band Job for a Cowboy. The album was released on February 23, 2024, through Metal Blade Records. It is the band's first album in ten years, marking the longest gap between releases in the band's history.

==Background and recording== The band's previous album, ''Sun Eater'', was released on November 11, 2014.

In 2016 interview at the NAMM Show, bassist Nick Schendzielos announced that the band was writing new music and hoped to release it sometime in 2017.<ref>{{Cite interview |last=Schendzielos |first=Nick |interviewer=Ken |title=THE NAMM SHOW 2016 Interviews - Nick Schendzielos of Job For A Cowboy |url=http://highwiredaze.com/jfacint1 |publisher=HighWire Daze |date=January 31, 2016 |access-date=February 23, 2024 |archive-date=April 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425090413/http://highwiredaze.com/jfacint1 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, the band would go on hiatus following 2016.

In 2019, Job for a Cowboy members Jonny Davy, Al Glassman, and Tony Sannicandro formed the deathgrind band Serpent of Gnosis with the Black Dahlia Murder bassist Max Lavelle and Deeds of Flesh drummer Darren Cesca.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Metal Injection |last=Pasbani |first=Robert |url=https://metalinjection.net/new-music/listen-serpent-of-gnosis-new-band-from-job-for-a-cowboy-black-dalia-members-unveil-killer-new-track |title=Listen: SERPENT OF GNOSIS (New Band from JOB FOR A COWBOY, BLACK DALIA Members) Unveil Killer New Track |date=May 21, 2019 |access-date=February 23, 2024}}</ref> That same year, it was hinted that Job for a Cowboy would be returning with new music and start performing live again.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ghostcultmag.com/is-job-for-a-cowboy-plotting-a-comeback/|title=Is Job For A Cowboy Plotting a Comeback?|date=May 22, 2019|access-date=February 23, 2024|website=Ghost Cult Magazine}}</ref>

In May 2020, the band alluded to reunion after posting a clip from the 1995 film ''Mortal Kombat'' on Twitter.<ref>{{cite web |last=Neilstein |first=Vince |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2020/06/28/confirmed-job-for-a-cowboy-are-making-a-new-album/ |title=Confirmed: Job For a Cowboy are Making a New Album! |website=Metal Sucks |date=June 28, 2020 |access-date=February 23, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Metal Sucks">[https://metalinjection.net/latest-news/job-for-a-cowboy-fans-the-flames-of-reunion-rumors JOB FOR A COWBOY Fans The Flames Of Reunion Rumors] Metal Injection</ref> Around this time, producer Jason Suecof stated that "Jonny Davy just sang me the whole new album."<ref>{{Cite web|title='Jonny Davy just sang me the whole new album': Job For A Cowboy producer|url=https://gratermag.com/jonny-davy-just-sang-me-the-whole-new-album-job-for-a-cowboy-producer/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713045713/https://gratermag.com/jonny-davy-just-sang-me-the-whole-new-album-job-for-a-cowboy-producer/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 13, 2020|date=May 30, 2020|website=Metal, but Grater|language=en-US|access-date=February 23, 2024}}</ref> In June, Suecof announced that the band would begin recording new music, though the COVID-19 pandemic had slowed down production.<ref name="Metal Sucks"/>

On January 27, 2023, it was announced that Job for a Cowboy would be performing at the Blue Ridge Rock Festival later that year in September, marking the band's first performance in seven years.<ref>{{cite web|title=Job For A Cowboy Will Play Their First Concert in Seven Years at Blue Ridge Rock Festival 2023|url=https://ghostcultmag.com/job-for-a-cowboy-will-play-their-first-concert-in-seven-years-at-blue-ridge-rock-festival-2023/|magazine=Ghost Cult Magazine|access-date=February 23, 2024|date=January 27, 2023}}</ref>

Job for a Cowboy released the song "The Agony Seeping Storm" on August 28, 2023, the band's first new song in nine years.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hear Job For A Cowboy's First New Single Since 2014|url=https://www.theprp.com/2023/08/28/news/hear-job-for-a-cowboys-first-new-single-since-2014/|publisher=ThePRP|access-date=February 23, 2024|date=August 28, 2023}}</ref> On October 24, a second single was released, "The Forever Rot", and announced that the album would be titled ''Moon Healer'' with a release date of February 23, 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theprp.com/2023/10/24/news/job-for-a-cowboy-to-release-new-album-moon-healer-in-february-stream-the-forever-rot/|title=Job For A Cowboy To Release New Album "Moon Healer" In February, Stream "The Forever Rot"|publisher=ThePRP|access-date=February 23, 2024|date=October 24, 2023}}</ref> The album's third single, "Beyond the Chemical Doorway", was released on January 31, 2024.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/job-for-a-cowboy-shares-music-video-for-beyond-the-chemical-doorway |title=JOB FOR A COWBOY Shares Music Video For 'Beyond The Chemical Doorway' |date=January 31, 2024 |access-date=February 23, 2024}}</ref>

== Reception == {{music ratings | rev1 = Blabbermouth.net | rev1score = 8.5/10<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |last=Gorania |first=Jay H. |url=https://blabbermouth.net/reviews/moon-healer |title=Reviews - Moon Healer |date=February 20, 2024 |access-date=February 23, 2024}}</ref> | rev2 = ''Metal Hammer'' | rev2score = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="Metal Hammer">{{cite magazine |magazine=Metal Hammer |last=Lawson |first=Dom |url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/job-for-a-cowboy-moon-healer-review |title='This is highly evolved, ferociously intelligent brutality.' Job For A Cowboy have returned after a decade away with a modern deathcore masterpiece in Moon Healer |date=February 23, 2024 |access-date=February 23, 2024}}</ref> | rev3 = Metal Injection | rev3score = 8/10<ref name="Metal Injection">{{cite web |publisher=Metal Injection |last=Heilman |first=Max |url=https://metalinjection.net/reviews/job-for-a-cowboy-moon-healer |title=Album Review: JOB FOR A COWBOY Moon Healer |date=February 21, 2024 |access-date=February 23, 2024}}</ref> | rev4 = MetalSucks | rev4score = {{rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Metal Sucks |author=C. C. Delorean |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2024/02/16/review-job-for-a-cowboy-continue-to-build-their-legacy-with-moon-healer/ |title=Review: Job for a Cowboy Continue To Build Their Legacy with Moon Healer |date=February 16, 2024 |access-date=February 23, 2024}}</ref> }} ''Moon Healer'' was praised by critics upon its release. C.C. Delorean of MetalSucks awarded the album 5 out of 5 stars and stated "Simply put, ''Moon Healer'' is one of the best, most perfectly balanced technical death metal albums I've ever heard, an instant classic all but guaranteed to stay in regular rotation for quite some time."<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeLorean |first=C. C. |date=2024-02-16 |title=Review: Job for a Cowboy Continue To Build Their Legacy with Moon Healer |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2024/02/16/review-job-for-a-cowboy-continue-to-build-their-legacy-with-moon-healer/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=MetalSucks |language=en}}</ref> Blabbermouth writer Jay H. Gorania stated "Until now, the band's creative apex has been ''Sun Eater'', and although at times it is too self-referential to the band's last couple of albums, ''Moon Healer'' reaches its predecessor's high-water marks in every regard."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=2024-02-20 |title=Moon Healer |url=https://blabbermouth.net/reviews/moon-healer |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}}</ref>

==Track listing== {{track listing | all_lyrics = Jonny Davy | all_music = Job for a Cowboy. | title1 = Beyond the Chemical Doorway | length1 = 4:10 | title2 = Etched in Oblivion | length2 = 4:14 | title3 = Grinding Wheels of Ophanim | length3 = 5:52 | title4 = The Sun Gave Me Ashes So I Sought Out the Moon | length4 = 4:03 | title5 = Into the Crystalline Crypts | length5 = 4:21 | title6 = A Sorrow-Filled Moon | length6 = 5:37 | title7 = The Agony Seeping Storm | length7 = 4:11 | title8 = The Forever Rot | length8 = 6:40 | total_length = 39:12 }}

==Personnel== '''Job for a Cowboy''' *Jonny Davy – vocals *Tony Sannicandro – lead guitar, guitar recording *Al Glassman – rhythm guitar *Nick Schendzielos – bass

'''Session musician''' *Navene Koperweis – drums

'''Production''' *Jason Suecof – mixing, engineering, recording *Ermin Hamidovic – mastering, additional engineering *Ronn Miller – additional engineering, drum technician *Evan Sammons – additional engineering *Tony Koehl – artwork, layout

==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! Chart (2024) ! Peak<br/>position |- {{album chart|UKDigital|73|date=2024-03-01|rowheader=true|access-date=10 March 2026}} |- {{album chart|UKIndependent|43|date=2024-03-01|rowheader=true|access-date=10 March 2026}} |- ! scope="row"| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/rock-and-metal-albums-chart/20240301/112/ |title=Rock & Metal Albums Top 40 - 1st March 2024 |publisher=Official Charts |access-date=2024-03-01}}</ref> | 17 |}

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:2024 albums Category:Job for a Cowboy albums Category:Metal Blade Records albums Category:Albums produced by Jason Suecof