GALACTIC COWBOYS

Galactic Cowboys self-titled debut album was released in 1991. Considering the music it contains I´m pretty surprised that I haven´t been introduced to this album before now. This is the kind of music I would probably have enjoyed greatly in the early nineties.

Galactic Cowboys don´t play progressive metal as I think of that genre. Which means that this is not Dream Theater, Queensrÿche or Fates Warning influenced in any way. The style is rather a mix of primarely traditional heavy metal and hard rock with a few hints to thrash metal. In addition to that, there are a few odd-ball moments here and there that makes this album a bit different from your usual metal album. Those moments are very few though and personally I don´t consider this to be progressive metal.

I hear influences from as different bands as Extreme, Anthrax ( the rare thrashy riffing sounds so much like the grovy thrash riffing that Anthrax is known for), Guns´n´Roses ( just listen to Monty Colvin´s vocals in My School), Waltari, Suicidal Tendencies, Ugly Kid Joe, King´s X and Faith No More. The music is generally very melodic and this is especially due to Monty Colvin´s very melodic vocal lines and his background choirs which by the way are very well done. Some of the songs are pretty good and I´m enjoying I´m Not Amused, My School, Kaptain Krude and the most thrashy song on the album Sea of Tranquility while I´m having a hard time enjoying the suckery Someone for Everyone ( a bit too much like Extreme when they are most commercial and cheesy). Galactic Cowboys is the kind of band that is serious one minute and add odd-ball humour to their music the next and that kind of behaviour is pretty surely and aquired taste. I´m biased about it if I have to be frank. I guess it depends on my mood.

The musicianship is good but the drumming could have been a bit more subtle. It´s way too loud and clumsy in the quiet parts.

The production is exactly the kind of production that I associate with the early nineties and I like it. Again the biggest flaw is the drums though. They sound wrong in the mix somehow ( Maybe too loud).

I´ve listened a lot to this album and I generally enjoy it but it doesn´t really do that much for me. Overall it´s a pretty average album seen with today´s eyes but I´m sure that I would feel differently about it if I had purchased it back then. 3 stars is my rating. Fans of any of the above mentioned bands might get something out of this. I put it on, on occasion but it never gets two spins in a row.

GALACTIC COWBOYS are from Texas and share a lot in common with fellow Texans KINGS X. Both were managed by Sam Taylor in the early days and played a lot of shows together.They also have a similar heavy sound with harmonies and Christian based lyrics. I would say GALACTIC COWBOYS are heavier, funnier and more complex though.

"I'm Not Amused" is a good track. Love the way it opens with that cow bellowing followed by cricket sounds and breaking glass. Not your typical intro eh ? Heavy riffs follow then vocals before a minute as it settles.These contrasts continue. Check out the ripping guitar solo after 4 minutes followed by bone crushing riffs. "My School" opens with laid back guitar as reserved vocals come in. A fuller sound 1 1/2 minutes in and it sounds so good. Very KINGS X-like before 3 minutes. Nice harmonies as well. It turns heavy 3 1/2 minutes in. Gorgeous guitar solo before 6 minutes then the thunder comes in. Nice. "Why Can't You Belive In Me" opens with heavy riffs but it levels out quickly so that we get this heavy undercurrent throughout. Love the heaviness 3 minutes in as it slows down. Blistering guitar solo 4 minutes in. "Kaptain Krude" is the heaviest yet ! The tempo picks up as they offer up an all out assault. Vocals and harmonies follow. Crushing track. "Someone For Everyone" opens with gentle guitar before the heaviness arrives quickly. When the vocals come in the heaviness eases up a little. Amazing sound from before 6 minutes to the end.

"Sea Of Tranquility" is almost SABBATH-like in it's gloomy heaviness.The tempo picks up a minute in and vocals 1 1/2 minutes in. Doom-like sound 3 1/2 minutes in as it slows right down.The tempo continues to shift. Themes are repeated. We get some samples from the first man on the moon event. Vocals are back after 5 1/2 minutes. "Kill Floor" opens with aggressive guitar as drums come in like a stampede then vocals. This is very heavy a times. Great chorus and tune ! "Pump Up The Space Suit" sounds like samples from Nassau as this relentless and powerful soundscape carries on.Vocals come in.Very heavy late. "Ranch On Mars (Reprise)" is an excellent song. The vocals are passionate as the guys sing in harmony "Galactic Cowboys" over and over.

"Speak To Me" is the 11 1/2 minute closer. Strummed guitar and reserved vocals open the proceedings. Nice harmonies too. Some power 2 minutes in as the vocals get rougher. Harmonica after 3 minutes. It settles before 6 minutes as they sing "Speak to me" over and over. Ripping guitar 8 1/2 minutes in. So it stops 10 minutes in then this very jazzy soundscape comes in with horns and piano. What !? Then a teacher gives out the lunch menue for the day. Haha !

This is a really good album but the harmonies wear a little thin after a while and i've tired quickly of some of the songs.

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.