JIGSORE TERROR
World End Carnage
(Listenable Records)
36:06min

According to the info sheet, JIGSORE TERROR from Sweden formed in 2001 to p(l)ay tribute to their favourite oldschool Death / Grind acts like REPULSION, TERRORIZER and early DEATH. If this triumvirate belongs to your faves, chances are likely that JIGSORE TERROR might appeal to you, too. They fiercely blast through 15 songs and intersperse angry mid-tempo mosh parts. The level of songwriting does not reach the genius of the old heroes, but is still intense enough to kick ass immensely. As for the production, NASUM's Miezko Talarczyk did a good job and delivered a raw and dirty sound which fits perfectly to the oldschool approach. To keep a short review short: this is an excellent Death / Grind release in the tradition of the late 80s / early 90s and if you can't get enough of crushing blasts and riffs, you'll find a lot of them on this record. To get your own impression, you can download the opening track 'Gorging On Exposed Arteries' from the sounds section of www.listenable.net.

Christoph Göbel

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JUCIFER
If Thine Enemy Hunger
(Relapse Records)
56:34min

This is no Metal! Beware! No crazy Grind, no Egyptian Death Metal, no Hardcore-Stoner-whatever Crossover, possibly nothing you would expect from Relapse Records! But you should! Relapse was, is and will be different, and no release can be bought without gaining further information! The times when you bought "Been Caught Buttering“, studied the (Nuclear Blast) flyer and grabbed DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, SINISTER and DISMEMBER straight from the shelf AND liked them are over! Sad... but true. One girl on guitars and vocals, one guy on drums rock themselves through 15 tracks, Stoner Rock Sludge Drone guitars, Alternative vocals and groovy Doom drums in their pockets. On their way in their tourbus (in which they live!) they meet THE WHITE STRIPES, SONIC YOUTH, PJ HARVEY and the MELVINS. They listen and learn and release an album. If we were another magazine focusing on that type of bands and genres I would recommend them to you - for it has a cool vibe. Now I will only recommend the newest ROTTEN SOUND to you a leave you with the decision to lend the low-fi independent duo JUCIFER your ear... or not. www.jucifer.com, www.relapse.com. On sale here.

Tim Klöcker

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JUDGEMENT DAY
40 Minutes To Impact
(New Aeon Media / Kamageddon)
47:34 min

After 15 years of activity in the underground Dutch JUDGMENT DAY finally come up up with their second album “40 Minutes To Impact” – roughly nine years after their debut. I remember one live show in Leer some years ago and I was quite impressed by their Thrash-influenced Death Metal bearing slight resemblances to older DEICIDE or MORBID ANGEL and that certain Dutch extra element… perhaps a more European style of composition. The only aspect that marred the effectivity of this great live band were some rather uninspired semi-melodic / technical riffs thrown in here and there. And now back to the present: JUDGEMENT DAY present us a mixture of old and new songs, dating from 1995 to 2002. To be honest, the result is not really what one would called outstanding. Even though there are plenty of cool moments in their songs - some groove, straight brutal parts, thrashing riffs - the band still uses these above mentioned riffs that sound neither really technical nor dark nor brutal, therefore leaving a mixed impression… certainly no big impact on the listener, I am afraid. The production itself (done by the band) is quite clear but could have been more massive in my opinion as there are no technical aspects on this record which could get drowned by too much distotion and punch. In a way this thin and transparent production even underlines the weaker side of JUDGEMENT DAY which is sad as the band has potential. I recommend you check these guys out in a live situation which is much more impressing than this CD. Let's wait for the next one… One question is left: When “New Aeon Media picks up talent (sic) from the underground and supports new acts” then why did they sign this band? After 15 years of existence in the underground I wouldn't call them talents (rather veterans, hehe) and certainly not a new act.

Ulrich Kreienbrink

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JUNGLE ROT
Dead And Buried
(Olympic Records)
37:41min

JUNGLE ROT are back to follow up their last album, "Slaughter The Weak". With that album the band proved to be old school traditional Death Metal, not much has changed since. 13 tracks of old school, SODOM, CELTIC FROST, slower CANNIBAL CORPSE, SIX FEET UNDER influenced Death Metal are here for our audible pleasure. Vocalist Dave Matrise bears an uncanny resemblance to Chris Barnes but with more variance. For the most part the music is slow and very heavy. What sets this band apart from the rest is the fact that they use traditional Death Metal song structures. While bands like CRYPTOPSY and NILE are reinventing Death Metal as we know it, JUNGLE ROT are here to satiate the needs of the old school fans. If you are a fan of well played slow and Heavy Metal then this is for you.

Dimitri Ganatsios 

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JUNGLE ROT
Fueled By Hate
(Remission Records)
30:53min

Even though their name was already familiar to me for quite some time now I never really felt the urge to check out any releases by Chicago's JUNGLE ROT so far... for no particular reason. But thanx to the guys at Remission Records this situation has changed now, as they kindly sent over a free copy of the band's newest album "Fueled By Hate" for review. So, what can I say? If the band remained faithful to their style over the years (which I suppose), this new record is a good prove, that I personally didn't really miss out on anything yet... It's not that the eleven tracks on "Fueled By Hate" are bad in any way (they actually offer a very solid playing and overall good production), it's just that their style tends to bore me quite a bit. JUNGLE ROT deliver a very basic, mainly midpaced and often very groovy form of Death Metal, somewhere in between MASTER (for the simplicity), OBITUARY and SIX FEET UNDER (for the groovy elements). Always nice to listen to, but considering the amount of weekly releases, not really something that I would spend my money on! There's already so many bands offering something similar and in direct comparison (judging them just by this record here, of course) JUNGLE ROT are simply still lacking in real stand-out tracks, I'm afraid. But hey, if you should belong to those type of oldschool maniacs that totally dislike the new breed of ultra brutal, technical, highspeed Death Metal, make sure to give this record a listen. It's traditional to the bone! More info at: www.junglerot.net, Label contact: www.remissionrecords.de

Frank Stöver

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JUNGLE ROT
War Zone
(Crash Music)
32:05min

I was quite impressed by the show these guys put on stage some time ago (I think it was a tour with INCANTATION, FUNERUS and CATASTROPHIC - multiple orgasms, I'm tellin' ya!). As I was pretty broke that time I didn't buy any of their merch (after plundering the FUNERUS booth, that is). For some reason I never bought any of their stuff afterwards, either. So "War Zone" is my first JUNGLE ROT album. Definitely a mistake. Don't look for innovation but for exactly what oldschool maniacs love: SONGS and a neck breaking groove that doesn't bore you after a short while - at least not me. Not like SIX FEET UNDER - at all. There is simply a lot more variation in the songwriting and in the singing as well. Either this CD is a lot better than "Fueled By Hate" or Mr Stöver is slightly more critical than me: "War Zone" not only makes me wanna move (and if you know my opinion about movement and sports in general that'll surprise you) - it split my skull, bloodily penetrated the brain and got stuck right there. Welcome to the jungle! One more thing: check out these guys live - for at least in Emden, Germany, they were a blast! And take along enough money for merchandise, hargh! More info at: www.junglerot.net, Label contact: www.crashmusicinc.com. On sale here.

Ramon Claassen

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