From Olympic to Crash to Napalm to Victory (and that’s only since 2004), Wisconsin’s death metal war machine soldiers on without missing a beat, much less taking prisoners. If you’ve not dug it to date, then Kill on Command may not change your mind nor does Jungle Rot have any intention of changing their patented style of grooving death for you or anyone else anyway. That’s pretty much what you’d expected me to write, isn’t it? Not so fast! Such a statement pertaining to resolute dedication to a style template would be a bit of an oversimplification this time around, as Jungle Rot has turned in one of the most varied albums of its career, relatively speaking of course.

What this all means is that Kill on Command offers plenty of the kind of death groove fans have come to expect, but this time there is more meat on the compositional bone. The overall flow is a seamless one that moves from mid-tempo to fast paced, while the nuanced guitar work of vocalist Dave Matrise and Geoff Bub makes the album more than a one trick pony. “Bloodties” is a good example of the band’s demonstrated progression within the Jungle Rot construct. Though never an act to haphazardly slap together riffs, the accents and slight twists on the quick-paced killer (and several other songs for that matter) make a noticeable impact. On the mid-tempo chunk of “Rise Up and Revolt” it is the insidious leads that grab attention. On the up-tempo “Demoralized it is a particularly ripping solo. There is just something about the attention to detail on Kill on Command that makes the album a memorable one. Oh, you want quintessential Jungle Rot? How about the rolling tank-column groove of the title track? Yes indeed, it’s a tough little bastard. Finally, the gang shouts from Sgt. Rot’s Hate Chorale on several cuts are smartly incorporated to ensure maximum impact.

Above all else, Kill on Command is one heavy death metal album, perhaps amongst the heaviest of Jungle Rot’s career. Maybe all that touring with Deicide had an influence. That Kill on Command is so well written, not to mention sonically savage, makes it that much more enjoyable. The war ain’t over yet, at least as far as Jungle Rot is concerned. Be thankful for it. Now lead, follow or get the hell out of the way!

 

 

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