Rough Edge: Jungle Rot CD Reviews

JUNGLE ROT

"Skin The Living" (Victory; 1995/2013)

Reviewed by Snidermann

Veteran heavy metal rockers Jungle Rot have reissued their 1995 debut release, "Skin The Living," on Victory Records. This re-issue was my first foray into the band, and what did I find? A fierce, heavy metal that exploded from the release that started from the first chord. It's powerful music with a driving force that was like a nail driving through my cranium and, man, that was a rush!

I could not understand a damn thing this guy was singing -- it was just a strong growl -- however, he did it with such style and command that you really did not need to understand the words to figure out what the band is trying to convey.

The music sounded like something like a jackhammer on speed and that made it all the more fun and bloody all in one stroke.

Having not heard the original CD, I can't compare the two. But I can tell you that I am a new fan.

For more information, check out http://www.junglerot.net.

"What Horrors Await" (Crash; 2009)

Reviewed by Spudbeast

Long Standing death metal veterans Jungle Rot deliver another hard-hitting album with 2009's "What Horrors Await."

Making status quo death metal in the vein of the genre's behemoths Vader and Chaos AD-era Sepultura, as well as boasting some hardcore influence, the album delivers what you'd expect: a no prisoners taken hardcore-tinged effort that never relents.

"What Horrors Await" begins with the mid-paced but hard-hitting "Worst Case Scenario" and then the pummeling "Unstoppable" (where the hardcore influence really becomes noticeable). The next track is an explosive one, "Straight Jacket," that starts off furiously, then slows to some breakdowns. Chunky riffing and cool verses help "State of War" become the best song on the album, with some political lyrics a la Napalm Death. "End of An Age" is another fast neck-wrecker, the fastest song on album and probably one of the best.

"Speak The Truth" has the feel of a more brutal 'Walk" from Pantera, and gets your heart racing with thoughts of revenge fantasies. The title track is thrash fest and delivers with some cool tempo changes. The build-up on "Exit Wounds" is epic, and has an Barnes-era Cannibal Corpse atmosphere. "Invincible Force," a cover of legendary German thrash outfit, Destruction, is pretty amazing, just like all Jungle Rot covers ("Agent Orange" anyone?)

Closing the way it ended with the mid-paced, but hard-hitting "Black Candle Mass," "What Horrors Await" is a solid effort from the reliable Jungle Rot. I just wish they'd pick up the pace more often, as the best songs on this album are the up-tempo ones. I found myself getting bored on some of the more slower pieces. Another interesting note is the lack of blast beats on the album, which produces a distinct sound in a market oversaturated with that sound.

For more information, check out http://www.junglerot.net.

"War Zone" (Crash; 2006)

Reviewed by Mike SOS

Jungle Rot unveils death metal grooves galore on its sixth offering, the 11-track "War Zone."

Content with breaking more bones than breaking new ground, the quartet stay in the mid-tempo metal zone for the duration of this one, opting to pound out some simple, catchy, and in turn, quite effective ditties about the horrors of war.

Chances are if you dig Cannibal Corpse, Six Feet Under, and Torture Killer, you'll be headbangingly happy with the blissful brutality that tracks such as "Savage Rite" and "Ambushed" release.

For more information, check out http://www.junglerot.net.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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