Galactic Cowboys

Item: At The End Of The Day
Author: Marco Povervest

At The End Of The Day

(1998)

Reviewed by Marco Povervest

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Music

Label Metal Blade RecordsArt for the Ears1999

alternative metal hard rock progressive metal progressive rock

I remember exactly the first time when I heard music from this band. I was in a store listening to one of their albums. It was a hot day in August 1996. The sun was shining brightly and I was in the best of moods. And then I heard beefy metalriffs just like they have to sound, combined with powerful vocals and harmonic sung choruses, a solid rhythmsection and intelligent lyrics. Music full of feeling and melodies and still full of power. I was blown away and totally with my head in the clouds I traveled home. There I put the CD in the player and played the first song aloud in my room. My idea was, 'program the first song and then select "repeat" and scream along with Feel The Rage from the Machine Fish album. This was the same song with which I made a week later my deejay-debut. So, shortly, these are the memories that come to mind when I think of the Galactic Cowboys. And now there is At The End Of The Day, the fifth album from the Cowboys. On the cover other memories are brought to mind too because covers from previous albums are used in it as well as song titles from this album. It's a painting from bass-player Monty Colvin. Thematically the band brings memories to mind too through The Machine Fish Suite consisting of seven songs that describe the band's history starting from the days when they were taken up by a major label, their high expectations and the sobering after all. Musically this record continues where they stopped with the previous album (The Horse That Bud Bought). But at the same time I hear some aggressive elements that I missed on that one. This time they choose to do it more poppy so that several songs sound 'catchy'. A good example of that is Shine with (as always) good singing, happy lyrics and good music. If I had something to say I would choose this one to be a single to hit the charts. At The End Of The Day ends with a semi-ballad from former drummer and producer Alan Doss in which he exposes his feeling concerning the fiasco of his marriage (Thoughts): "There were times when I had faith, when I'd see something in your face, then it all blew away, and turned to hate." A great and honest album. Just like when I heard Machine Fish I'm heavily impressed. Splendid!