BELOIT ' S VERY OWN
Jungle Rot
B
eloit , Wisconsin metal juggernaut Jungle Rot has been churning out dependable , “ meat and potatoes ” death metal for 26 years , so you expect certain things when you spin one of their albums . It ’ s the old “ if it ain ’ t broke , don ’ t fix it ” mentality the band has always maintained . On their 10th self-titled album ( out July 20 via Victory Records ), guitarist and vocalist Dave Matrise , bassist James Genenz , guitarist Geoff Bub and drummer Jesse Beahler carve out a bludgeoning path of sonic carnage . The album features ten classic Jungle Rot-style death metal tracks ,
By Kelley Simms
including a blistering cover of Kreator ’ s “ Terrible Certainty .” And keeping the Teutonic thrash metal love going , the album also includes a guest appearance by Destruction ’ s Schmier on “ Fearmonger .”
Fans will have two chances to see the Rot this month at Reggie ' s in Chicago when they open for Kataklysm on June 4 , and again when they perform as part of Wookfest on June 16 . Dave Matrise spoke to Mosh about the new album and their unabashed approach to making music .
Mosh : The trademarked Jungle Rot sound has been consistent throughout the band ’ s existence . But , do you think that could also be your downfall among listeners ?
Dave Matrise : I hear it both ways . We get applauded , but we hear backlash as well . I ’ ve always stated that a band like us should be applauded for staying so true to ourselves and not steering into different directions of what ’ s hot today and the fashion of today . We found our niche , and when we get together , it ’ s what we like to do . It ’ s who we are . We strictly write for ourselves , I think , and not in a selfish way . But it ’ s what we feel .
Mosh : Why did you decide to self-title the new album ? Dave Matrise : I ’ m glad you brought that up because when we got done with the album , we were throwing it out there and deciding what to call it . We all kind of just looked at each other , and I said , ‘ Why don ’ t we just self-title it ?’ We all thought the same . This is our 10th CD now — we did Skin The Living , we did Kill On Command , we did Order Shall Prevail — we did all these titles , and we just didn ’ t do Jungle Rot yet . I think we earned it . To do it [ once ] in our career ; to just be labeled Jungle Rot . The name should say it all .
Mosh : Was there anything you wanted to experiment with or try doing differently ? Dave Matrise : No , it ’ s strictly what we do . We ’ re not trying to reinvent anything . I hate to say that , but it ’ s what we feel . Everything I write is what I love and what I really feel . I don ’ t look at writing as trying to push it to the next level ; I just write what ’ s us . We ’ ve been asked those questions our whole life . I look at ( the band ) Obituary , what have they changed ? They ’ re still flying the flag of the old school . Old school is old school . We ’ re here to represent . We want to take our scene back !
Mosh : Once again , the album cover art by Hungarian artist Gyula Havancsak is an absolute stunner . Did you have to give him any direction on a theme or concept ? Dave Matrise : No , we never really do . That ’ s how good the guy is ! We gave him the name , and that ’ s what he gave us . Basically , it ’ s a guy rotting in the jungle ! I mean , he couldn ’ t have nailed it any better . We love working with him ; every album , we just can ’ t wait to write when we get the new cover [ and ] see what he comes up with . I think this one is better than all of them . He just keeps getting better and better .
Mosh : How did you get Schmier from Destruction to sing on “ Fearmonger ”? Your vocal lines work so well together . Dave Matrise : It ’ s a dream come true to me . Twenty-five years ago I started out listening to Sodom , Destruction , and Kreator , that ’ s what took my soul . Who would have thought years later I ’ d be playing with Schmier . We basically did the last tour with them - last summer with Warbringer - and he started inviting me up to do guest vocals for “ Invincible Force ” and him and Mike ( Sifringer ). [ They ] were blown away by my vocals . And we were writing the album at the same time , and I just mentioned it right on the spot , and he was down for it . I kind of wrote the perfect song for him . Right away when I started it , I knew it had to be close to that old school German thrash style just for him . And that ’ s exactly how I think it came out . Mosh : There ’ s even more Teutonic metal love with a cover of Kreator ’ s “ Terrible
Continued on page 46
VESSEL OF LIGHT
out now
Featuring
Dan Lorenzo HADES / Non-Fiction guitars / bass Nathan Opposition
Ancient VVisdom Vocals / drums
Distributed in America by Cobraside
34 illinoisentertainer . com june 2018
2nd cd / dd / Vinyl out september 2018
“ Son of Man ” single / video out now on iTunes , amazon and YouTube
@ DanLorenzoCK • @ VesselOfLightMusic