GALACTIC COWBOYS

As corny as the name of the band is, this is still pretty decent metal music, though on this their first album, the prog is not as prevalent as it would be later. But, this is still a great listen for lovers of heavier music. Many people compare the Galactic Cowboys sound to King's X, mostly because their soundscapes are somewhat heavy like King's X. But, GC has a Beatlesque 3 part harmony that sounds nice at first, however, it tends to wear out because of the extensive use of it in their songs. This harmony, used a little more sparingly, would have had a better impact overall, but most people may not even notice this because of the awesome guitar work on here which is loaded with heavy riffs and plenty of great hard music.

Starting off with the 2 first tracks namely "I'm Not Amazed" and "My School", it seems that the best prog moments come along early. Anyone listening to this the first time will think they have their hands on a great progressive metal album because these are great songs with just enough of a progressive edge to make one seem that they have their hands on some great sophisticated metal here, but the next 3 songs lean too much on straightforward heaviness and not enough inventiveness, plus the extensive use of the harmonies with the metal background tend to make the sound a little too dense while also leaning towards the commercial side of metal instead of the progressive side. These tracks become more enjoyable with more listenings as they take on their individuality, but really don't rise to far above the straightforward metal sound.

"Sea of Tranquility" is another animal altogether however. This is a very dark and heavy song that at times even becomes abrasive, but not overly obnoxious. This one is a masterpiece of metal, and even though it still tends to rely on the commercial sound, it is probably a little too experimental for the typical metal lover. It is songs like this one that kept GC from having a huge following because the sound is a little too sophisticated for the typical listener of the genre, but probably not quite inventive enough for the prog head. I absolutely love this track though and it is a very heavy track with a few rhythm changes as it enters the bridge of the song and then returns to the theme. A definite 5 star song here. Next, the band leans towards a thrash metal sound with "Kill Floor" which is about a butcher turned serial killer. Again, this is not quite hard core enough to be considered pure thrash, but it is close at least and a respected attempt at the sound. There are 2 short pieces that come next that sound nothing like filler at all and still retain the heavy sound. Any kind of reprieve from the heaviness comes on the last track "Speak to Me" which is a more dynamic sound as it moves from heaviness to a more laid back sound and, like the first few tracks, hints at a more progressive sound.

Definitely a valiant try for a debut album. More progressiveness and a better use of the harmonics would have made this a better album. But it is still a fun album in that hints of humor lie throughout the lyrics, the music is a little more sophisticated than most run of the mill metal, but not quite inventive enough for hard core prog nuts. If you go into the album not expecting anything ground breaking or out of the ordinary, you may find you like this better than you think you would have. I do like this one, and would give it 3.5 stars, but I will round it down because it leans too much on the commercial side of music. But it is a respectable debut for certain.