GALACTIC COWBOYS

1991 was supposed to be the year of the death of heavy metal thanks to some flannel-clad bands emerging from the Pacific Northwest. However, down in Texas, heavy metal was going down swinging. Enter Galactic Cowboys, the second brigade of faith rock soldiers from Katy, TX-based producer Sam Taylor's bevy of talent (the first being King's X). Their self-titled debut featured some familiar sounds, especially to those already indoctrinated to the Katy Sound. Sure, there were pretty Beatles-inspired melodies, tight harmonies, and lyrics of faith, but these guys rocked harder and with more complexity than their contemporaries. With the thrash of the opening track I'm Not Amused to the uber-heavy Sea of Tranquility, it was clear that Galactic Cowboys looked up to Watchtower every bit as much as they did King's X; the time signature and tempo changes coupled with the tight riffing come straight from their Austin, TX brethren. Other standout tracks such as Kaptain Krude, Kill Floor, and Speak to Me drive this point home. Although different from other progressive metal acts from the early 1990's, Galactic Cowboys found their niche somewhere between tech metal and classic progressive metal thanks to their melodic approach while remaining heavy and eschewing conceptualism. Although not their best effort, this debut album is highly recommended and receives a rating of 4 stars.