Jungle Rot – A Call to Arms
Release Date: 13th May 2022
Label: Unique Leader Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Death Metal
FFO: Kreator, Vomitory, Exhumed, Deicide, Bolt Thrower, Sodom.
Review By: Rick Farley
Formed in nineteen ninety-two, Jungle Rot is an American Death Metal band hailing not from Florida or New York but from the upper Midwest of Kenosha Wisconsin. They’re known for combing Thrash, Hardcore and Crust Punk influence into their hugely infectious and memorable Death Metal. Without spending too much time on an introduction, I will say this much, Jungle Rot is about as reliable as a band as you can get. They have never released a bad album; they’re highly regarded globally and feverishly scratch a rotting itch for just straight up jamming primal Death Metal. After twenty-five plus years, these legends are still hitting their prime with their savage new record.
A Call to Arms is an absolute beast from beginning to end. It sounds fresher and more inspired than their previous album. The strength of the band is their consistency. Their huge groove based crunchy riffs, memorable hooks, fast-paced and throat stomping songs full of brutal no frills Death Metal are always threatening and present. Thrashy drum tempos, raw vocals, sing along choruses and Hardcore crossover breakdowns all forcefully knock the living snot out of anyone listening. These songs deliver a stronger punch than their two thousand eighteen self-titled album. Adding extra little bits of guitar melody make the riffs hit even harder, and the drums explode with a youthful energy. The band sounds truly inspired. Also, the production this time around sounds cleaner and more polished, but still packs that raw gut punch. Co-produced by the band and Chris Djuricic. Then mixed and mastered by the legendary Dan Swanö. Quite possibly the best the band has ever sounded without being overproduced. Ten blistering tracks ready to triumphantly destroy the Metal world once again.
Second single and embedded review track A call to Arms kicks the album off in brutal fashion. Heavy crunchy old school groove with some tremolo picked licks shape the main riff of the song. Precise razor-sharp guitars ramp up to a faster thrashy, crusty punk style buzzsaw guitars and a verse where Dave Matrise bellows in his hoarse and throaty delivery. The drums keep an attacking downbeat style pace, with fits of double bass adding to the savage beating you’re receiving. Spenser Syphers does an amazing job of bringing some intensity to the band, and he’s a hell of a drummer. The rhythmic fast-paced stomping of the track never relents and delivers a scorching taste of things to come. With its nasty hooky pit crudeness and simple sing along chorus, this track will be a fan favourite at live shows for years to come.
Fiercely looking for prey, Death Squad is a pure thrashing good time. Full on gas pedal pace pushes headbanging to a neck breaking frenzy. Galloping guitars and a hefty backbone from bassist James Genenz is about as subtle as a Molotov cocktail. Every riff strikes with aggressive intent. A simple but hooky guitar melody after the verses leads to some shreddy style licks from Geoff Bub and a very short but cool whammy filled solo. Their take no prisoner approach to Death Metal truly shines on this track, heavy as fuck, catchy and makes you want to break shit.
Jungle Rot is the kind of band that doesn’t give one fuck about trends or being current, they’re only concern is serving up a giant slab of thrashy, filthy and groovy Death metal. They epitomize Old School in every way. Back when music was much simpler, less technical and complex. It was all about the live shows and getting the listener to fucking headbang, pound their fist in the air and scream along to the chorus. For them, and thankfully so, it’s still about that. A potent mixture of bands like Obituary, Autopsy, Madball and Discharge. Jungle Rot take these attributes and crushingly created a timeless sound of their own, set on smashing everything in sight. They are the torchbearers of a genre that’s constantly and currently imitated, but never bested. Eleven albums in and the band is still going strong. Blissfully punishing!
(5 / 5)
