Jungle Rot — Warzone

intothewellsabyss
Jun 27, 2023
3 min read

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…

17 years ago today, Jungle Rot were once again prepared for War!

On this day (June 27) 2006, Jungle Rot released their fifth full-length studio album, “Warzone” via Crash Music Inc. This recording marked the first album to feature the now current Jungle Rot core of Matrise, Genenz, and Bub.

Background:

In 2005, the current core of Jungle Rot came together when Matrise enlisted the talents of Chicago native James Genenz (Fleshgrind, Avernus, Dead For Days, Reign Inferno, God Dementia) on bass guitar and Geoff Bub (Destiss, Putrid Dissentary) on guitar. With songwriting duties now shared between the three members, with the bulk of the lyrics being written by Genenz, Matrise was now able to take his band into uncharted territory.

Subsequent touring ensued with bands like Deicide, GOATWHORE, Cattle Decapitation, Krisiun, The Black Dahlia Murder, 25 Ta Life, Hate Eternal, Incantation, and Vital Remains, with Jungle Rot releasing their first and only album via Crash Music Inc. entitled “Warzone”.

The album received writing contributions from Shaun Glass (Terminal Death, SINDROME, Broken Hope, Soil) on "Ready for War" and Jim Bell & Jim Hart on "Decapitated" & "Killing Spree". As per usual, the bulk of the lyrics are centered around the topics of war and mass destruction. “Warzone” is chock-full of crusty, groove-laden Death Metal similar to that of their album "Dead and Buried" (2001), combined with the minor hints of Hardcore that permeated from their release "Fueled by Hate" (2004).

Critical Reception:

Blabbermouth.net gave “Warzone” 7.5/10 stars, saying; “We need bands like Jungle Rot and the aforementioned (Obituary & Bolt Thrower) heavyweights to keep reminding us that groove-based bludgeon is as important in Death Metal as technical savagery. "Warzone" is a fine example of the form.

While, a little more critical, Alex Henderson’s review for AllMusic stated;

“…on Warzone, one can generally understand the dark, morbid lyrics coming out of Matrise's mouth without consulting the lyric sheet. A frequent complaint about Death Metal (as well as Black Metal) is that so many of the vocalists are not understandable, but Matrise has a deep, guttural, demonic-sounding growl that does not render the lyrics indecipherable. “Warzone” is unlikely to win over anyone who heard previous Jungle Rot albums and wasn't converted, but die-hard fans of their made-in-the-USA approach to Death Metal will find this 31-minute disc to be a worthwhile (although brief) addition to their catalog.”

Jim Brandon at Last Rites raved about “Warzone” saying;

“The earth-rupturing rhythm of the “War Zone” is a reminder how just because an album isn’t performed with 220 bpm’s of horribly produced extremity, or flying into five different directions stylistically, that Metal of this nature can still be quite stimulating. I’d put Jungle Rot’s latest right alongside the new Dismember, Lair of the Minotaur, Vore, and Sodom as some of the best examples of pure, crunchy mid-paced heavy-duty quality I’ve heard this year. Sheer badassery, without the excesses, and sometimes that’s all you really need, isn’t it?”

The mood of “War Zone” has been described as; Bitter, Bleak, Brooding, Freewheeling, Malevolent, Nihilistic, Ominous, Outrageous, Somber, Visceral,

& lastly… Volatile..

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

Click this link to listen to “Warzone” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/war-zone/163387231

Click this link to listen to “Warzone” via Spotify: War Zone https://open.spotify.com/album/3UQoE3rQGfPaw5i4IIHm6L

Click this link to watch the official music video for “Victims Of Violence (Directors Cut); “https://youtu.be/im19vUIHIac

Click this link to follow Jungle Rot on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/igotjunglerot

Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells

Jungle Rot — Warzone

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