Jungle Rot - Order Shall Prevail (2015)

In a time when the trend is to create technically challenging music, simplicity is refreshing. And in the case of metal, it’s amazing how keeping something simple is endlessly appealing. Old-school death metal has always been about its aggressive yet modest nature. American old-school death metal act Jungle Rot’s latest album ‘Order Shall Prevail’ is about that lost-out, soulful aggression in metal, all while keeping it relatively simple.

The album features Dave Matrise on vocals/guitar, Joey Muha on drums, James Genenz on the bass and Geoff Bub on lead guitar.

The album opens with the crushing tracks “Doomsday” that instantly leaves you in the mood for wanting more and more of those haunting old-school death metal riffs and extreme drumming. There is no turning back from here. Moshing forward, tracks like “Paralysed Prey”, “Blood Revenge” and the title track are nothing short of an assault to the senses. Talking about the title track, “Order Shall Prevail” is a mix of old-school absolutism with a contemporary perspective. The song is a work of sheer skill. The amazing work on the drums will leave one starstruck. The urge to mindlessly headbang is strong here!

The album is also made special by the song “Fight Where You Stand” which features Max Cavalera (Soulfly, Sepultura, Nailbomb) on vocals. It’s a song that is composed of the fire which ignites a sense of patriotism in anyone. The song “Nuclear Superiority” is a fine ending to an album which seems to be in constant overdrive at top speed. The fine work on the lead guitars and drums will certainly leave you smiling in fascination.

The blend of old-school death metal riffs combined with an aggressive rhythm section on the bass and drums, all topped by ear-crushing growls result a wonderful album. Although, one may argue about the band’s lack of technical composition in the music is odd and loses out where other death metal bands make a mark. The inclination towards old-school musical techniques relying purely on aggressive playing does make the music sound a little predictable here. Maybe that is what some fans of such a genre look for. There seems to be a connection in the music despite the lack of mindless multifaceted compositions.


What is remarkable on the album is the work on the guitar solos. One would notice the variance in the music and its contemporary tastes in the guitar solos in the midst of the hard orthodox rhythm sections. The music certainly makes you want to get your mosh boots on! Come in with the expectation of the best of traditional death metal arrangements. The 90’s have come calling (or growling)!