Jungle Rot- Jungle Rot (Album Review)

Musician: Jungle Rot
Album Title: Jungle Rot 
Genre/ Subgenre: Death Metal
Label: Victory Records
Release Date: July 20, 2018

Death metal masters Jungle Rot's self titled and latest album is a pummeling musical experience. Incorporating their trademark groove filled sound with a use of brutal and driving hooks, have resulted in one of the most listenable and thoroughly enjoyable death metal releases of 2018. It's crazy to think that they have been around for 25 years, and yet, they seem to keep getting better and better with age.

Like driving multiple fists to your face this album hits you from the very start and doesn't stop until, you are left in a bloody pool, only to keep beating you down. The thing is that unlike an actual ass whooping, you will enjoy the fucking shit out this experience!

Practically every song on here is an absolute killer and a winner. "Delusional Denial" starts off with a Slayer like riff and grooves in a way that will get you moving immediately. It combines with mercilessly driving drumming beat. "A Burning Cinder" will have you headbanging with its killer and pummeling riffing. The anger filled "Triggered" is one of the most ass kicking and angry death metal songs of the year. Just listen to that fucking chorus, especially every time signer/ guitarist Dave Matrise screams " Trigger the violence!" is enough to get the blood pumping hard! It is filled with such genuine piss and vinegar! 

Another strong contender for death metal track of the year comes in the form of the blistering "Fearmonger" which has guest vocals from Schmier of motherfucking Destruction! Hard to believe but even better than those tracks is the killer "Stay Dead". Sounding like an unholy riffing mix of Arise era Sepultura and Kill era Cannibal Corpse "Stay Dead" kills everything in site. With its chorus of "We will not stay dead!", it'll stay in your head for days to come. The album closes off with a cover of Kreator's "Terrible Certianty" that will absolute melt whatever you hear this album on.

Jungle Rot ranks among the band's best work. It is catchy, heavy, groove-laden, and fucking badass. This is the most fun you will have getting your ass kicked this entire year! 

4.5 out of 5

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Jungle Rot- What Horrors Await (Reissue) (Album Review)

Musicians: Jungle Rot
Album Title: What Horrors Await
Genre/ Subgenre: Death Metal
Label: Victory Records
Release date: Jan. 19, 2018 (digital download), April 6, 2018 (CD with vinyl release later in April)

What Horrors Await is the sixth studio release by death metal band Jungle Rot and has long been very hard to find. Thankfully, though Victory Records have just released a reissue of this much sought after and blistering release.

Originally released in 2009, this is Jungle Rot at its fucking best. Fast and driving this fucker will get you going and pumped up. But, the album was a one time deal with a different label and never made it to the US, being sold only in Europe. Hence, fans here have been dying to own it ever since.

Your Jungle Rot, and death metal collection in general, will not be complete unless you add this classic to it. And, now is your chance is to do so. Every song on here has is great. They all have a kick ass and pounding in your face death metal grove and are filled with anger and ferocity.

It opens with the fast and pulverizing "Worst Case Scenario".  The driving "Unstoppable" is the perfect name for this juggernaut of a song. The wicked speed of the blast beat and shredding guitar filled "Straighjacket Life" will beat you into a bloody pulp. "End of an Age" comes at you like a tank mowing everything in site with furious drums and a groove that truly fucking kills! Speaking of groove, it is in full swing in what might be my favorite track, the thundering "Speak the Truth". The title track is a face smashing ass kicker from hell. I could really go on and on, as I said every track is a barn burner, including a fucking awesome and shredding cover of German thrash metal masters Destruction classic "Invisible Force".

This reissue has excellent production. It sounds thick, clear, and deep with a truly crushing sound all around. It is complemented by the classic artwork by Gyula Havancsak, who would go on to work on the next three albums by the band. This one is cool and badass as fuck, as his art for the band tends to be.

A rollicking slab of groovy death metal, Jungle Rot's What Horrors Await can finally be owned by US fans of the band. It already hit digital download and will hit CD on April 6, to be followed by a LP release later that same month.

5 out of 5

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