Jungle Rot - What Horrors Await

July 27, 2009

Reviewer: Rottenbucher

It's hard to believe that in 2009, Jungle Rot is unbelievably refreshing in a genre currently being plagued by heaps of excessive extremes.  Having toiled around the in the depths of the underground for over a decade, this furious four-piece has never tinkered with their tried and true sound, never sold out and never not delivered. It's mid-paced Death Metal at its brutal best. Sure, Obituary has been doing it longer and Six Feet Under sells more CDs, but Jungle Rot rarely reeks.

In fact, What Horrors Await finds the band blessed with a thicker production, chunkier and heavier songs, better artwork and vocalist Dave Matrise at his most guttural.  From the openings of "Worst Case Scenario" to the groove-laden stomp of "The Unstoppable," Jungle Rot proves this album is inspired, intense and well worth the wait. Things pick up with "Straight Jacket Life" as the band seems to focus more on speed for a change.  But that doesn't prevent them from churning out a neck-wrenching breakdowns and crunchy chaos.  "State of War" may be Rot by rote, but the band has decided to layer the songs a bit more with alternating riffs and more tempo changes. "Two Faced Disgrace" gets a bit surprising with some sections that are a nod toward a more modern 'Core sound and style while "End of an Age" finds the band at their fastest pace to date and even includes a guitar solo.

The title track finds the standard Jungle Rot tune beefed up with steroids and "Nerve Gas Catastrophe" explodes with expanded song structures. No longer relying on simple mosh pit pleasers and brief bursts of gore and groove, Jungle Rot shows a welcome maturity on the second half of the disc. "Braindead" keeps up the creativity by fusing skull liquefying groove with snarly speed and room for guitar solos while "Atrocity" rages with a sick collision of thrash hysterics and deadly grooves. And speaking of groove, the ground shakes with the dense and destructive "Exit Wounds."  Perhaps one of the best tracks on the disc, the song rises to the top with more creativity rarely seen before. Jungle Rot nails trash with their excellent cover of Destruction's "Invincible Force" and seals the album with the grinding and impressive "Black Candle Mass."

Those not paying attention (or just dismiss the band) will think What Horrors Await is just another Slaughter the Weak or Dead and Buried. While the aforementioned albums are usually hailed as their best, What Horrors Await is better.  Not only has the better production helped, the fact that the band decided to allow their songs to breathe kicked things up several notches. Yes, there are guitar solos!  Anyone familiar with Jungle Rot knows what they are getting, but this time there are plenty of surprises coming from the more mature songwriting. What Horrors Await will find longtime Rot fans rejoicing and eagerly awaiting many more horrors.

Release Date: May 19th, 2009
Label: Napalm Records

TRACK LISTING

1. Worst Case Scenario
2. The Unstoppable
3. Straight Jacket Life
4. State of War
5. Two Faced Disgrace
6. End of an Age
7. Speak the Truth
8. What Horrors Await
9. Nerve Gas Catastrophe
10. Braindead
11. Atrocity
12. Exit Wounds
13. Invincible Force
14. Black Candle Mass

Total playing time:  34:12

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