Review Summary: While ultimately the album succeeds as a solid addition to their otherwise boring catalog, Jungle Rot have just made another album.
Jungle Rot hail from a town known as Kenosha, Wisconsin. The band has been active roughly since 1994 and have been consistent in their groove-laden death metal approach, releasing a new record every 2-3 years. Kill on Command marks their eighth studio album and continues the sound Jungle Rot have carved out for themselves in the death metal world. Jungle Rot is...
Dave Matrise: Vocals/Guitar
James Genenz: Bass/Backing Vocals
Geoff Bub: Guitar/Backing Vocals
Jesse Beahler: Drums
The album opens up with “
Their Finest Hour”, which doesn't waste any time at all jumping straight into what the record has to offer. The guitar/bass work has always been a focus for Jungle Rot, not that its anything special or technical, but the band knows how to write a memorable riff that'll have you headbanging or at least tapping your foot along to the tune. Unfortunately for the band, this isn't without error as solos are few and far between, it'll seem like the band spends too much time chugging along with pseudo-breakdowns rather than churning out a prime-cut solo to balance the otherwise stale riffing. The drum work also has always been a bit lacking but given the technicality (or lack thereof) of the remaining instruments, its understandable why the drum work never seems to shine.
Dave Matrise definitely has an interesting vocal style, he's quite monotonous throughout the entire record but he has a defining voice amongst the rest of the band. His growls are quite low but he doesn't seem to go much above or below his comfort zone. He's comparable to Piotr Wiwczarek (of Vader fame). This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but for vocal purists this may throw them off quite a bit. Lyrics are again, typical Jungle Rot material. Lyrical subjects tend to include war, revolution, anti-establishment and death. While these lyrics could be interesting considering the genre they're being played in (a genre typically known for mindless gore, pestilence, etc) it instead comes off as horribly executed and literally comical. If taken seriously, these lyrics may hamper your ability to enjoy the record. For example from the track “
Rise Up & Revolt”:
“Our country is so fucked
Corruption the norm
Revolution is near
Uprising must come
Will take no more
We no longer ignore
Rebellion arise... To defy!
RISE UP
REVOLT “
While ultimately the album succeeds as a solid addition to their otherwise boring catalog, Jungle Rot have just made
another album. It's nothing special, does nothing to change the face of death metal, nothing. It's Jungle Rot.
