Jungle Rot – A Call To Arms
8/10
If you do something that is working, is it necessary to change stuff and do it in a different way just because? If you ask the guys in Jungle Rot, I would think that they would all like to keep doing what they do and obviously like.
Eleven releases in and it sounds like it usually does. Is that bad? No, not if the base to stand on is good. In this case it is and my humble opinion is that I am fine with when I do not get surprised listening to a new release with a band I like.
This is grinding, gory death metal. With some Bay Area influences. “Vengeance & Bloodlust” or “Death Squad” could have been Exodus songs. In some songs the only thing that sets the genres apart is the vocals by Dave Matrise. Guttural but with clarity if you like.
It is almost like hearing one of the evil characters in Power Rangers singing. This might sound like I am knocking the vocals, but I am not. It is just what I think about when hearing it. I like the mix of guttural and that I can also make out the words without a text pamphlet.
Going more towards heavy death metal you have songs like “Maggot Infested” and “Haunting Future”. Headbanging friendly little numbers that almost makes you a bit happy.
Production, mix & mastering leaves little to improve. Co-producing has advantages in that you can straight away with some weight have an input to the guy steering the mixing table. In this case Chris Djuricic. Mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö bargains for a quality end product. This constellation is not new either and the different players seem to know what is expected from them.
The length of the album is absolutely fine. Just over half an hour of pure mayhem from all sides. This band does not take wide, huge turns in variation in their music. They play death metal, simple as that and 33 minutes of that without frills is a great dose of good music.
For me it is confusing that Jungle Rot is not bigger as a band then they are. The quality is high, the songs are good, the delivery of the songs have structure, and the production is more or less flawless. I say more Jungle Rot to the people!!!
Band: Jungle Rot
Title: A Call to Arms
Label: Unique Leader Records
Date of release: 2022-05-13
Rate: 8/10
Stand Out Track: Vengeance & Bloodlust
Country of Origin: USA
