Dave Matrise James Genenz Geoff Bub Spenser Syphers
Past members
Jim Bell Kevin Forsythe Joey Lohr Joe Carlino Shawn Johnson Chris Djuricic Brian Kuhn Mike LeGros Jim Garcia Jim Harte Rob Pandola Neil Zacharek Jerry Sturino Eric House Jesse Beahler Joe Thomas
Jungle Rot was founded in 1992 as a side project by Jim Harte and Joe Thomas, members of the Illinois thrash metal act, Prisoner. The band's name refers to jungle rot, an infection of the skin that occurs in tropical climates. The band recorded their first demo Rip Off Your Face, a fun offering of immature death metal heavily influenced by the likes of S.O.D. and Celtic Frost. Then, they acquired Kenosha-based guitarist Dave Matrise (Num Skull, Nocturnal, Fatal Violence) in 1993. It was not until 1994 when Matrise took over that the band got serious and started to take off. The band refined their style and released their second demo Skin The Living in 1995, which is the year Matrise acknowledges the band began.
After their first two demos, the band was signed to the American independent label Pure Death Records, owned at the time by Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed, where they released their first album, a repackaging of their second demo Skin the Living, in 1996. In late 1997, their second album, Slaughter the Weak was released on independent label Pulverizer Records.
The EP Darkness Foretold was released in 1998 by the small label S.O.D. Records, which was spearheaded by the creator of the underground music magazine Sounds of Death, and featured covers of Slayer's "Fight Til Death" and Carnivore's "Jesus Hitler". The initial pressing of Darkness Foretold came with a limited edition Jungle Rot Comic Book. The next two full-length studio albums, 2001's Dead And Buried and 2004's Fueled By Hate were released by Olympic Recordings in partnership with Century Media Records.
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.[1] With songwriting duties now shared between the three members, and the bulk of the lyrics being forthwith written by Genenz, Matrise was now able to take his band to the next level.
In early 2015 the band played the prestigious 70000 Tons of Metal cruise, and announced via their social media that they were working on their ninth studio album, Order Shall Prevail, to be released later in the year on Victory Records. Pre-orders for the album were announced on May 26, along with the album's track listing, release date of June 30, and a stream for the single "Paralyzed Prey."[6] On May 27, 2015, it was revealed that Max Cavalera (Sepultura, Soulfly, Cavalera Conspiracy) would be lending his vocals on the track "Fight Where You Stand".[7] On June 29 the official music video for the single "Paralyzed Prey" premiered on Vevo.[8]
On March 7, 2016, Jungle Rot released a video for the track "Doomsday" via Victory Records.[9] The band was also announced as part of the 2016 edition of the Metal Alliance Tour alongside Dying Fetus and The Acacia Strain.[10]
In the summer of 2017, Jungle Rot completed a successful US and Canada tour with legendary German thrash band Destruction and California's Warbringer, performed in Central America, headlining shows in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Mexico;[11] and announced that they would be entering the studio in January 2018 to record their 10th studio album to be released in mid-2018. It was also revealed that former drummer Jesse Beahler would perform the drums on this new album.[12][13]
On June 8, 2018, the band announced the upcoming release of their self-titled tenth album. Two singles were released in June 2018: "A Burning Cinder" and "Fearmonger", the latter featuring guest vocal contributions from Destruction frontman Schmier.[14] The album was released on Digipak CD, vinyl, and limited cassette on July 20, 2018.
Later in June 2018, bassist/lyricist James Genenz was assaulted by a group of individuals during the late night hours outside his place of employment which left him with multiple injuries including a shattered ankle. After 2 surgeries, James was forced to sit out of the entirety of touring for the remainder of 2018 which included a North American jaunt with Havok and Extinction AD.[15] In the spring of 2019, James regrouped with the band and they hit the road starting in Europe with a headlining tour with openers Ultra-Violence, where the band played through Austria, Slovakia, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Great Britain and Holland.[16] Jungle Rot returned to the states and immediately hit the road with Deicide, Origin, and The Absence for another month before turning around and heading back to Europe for a few weeks.[17] During this run Jungle Rot performed headlining shows in Holland, Sweden, Poland, Germany, France, Hungary, Czech Republic and made appearances at the metal festivals Brutal Assault, Party San Open Air, Stonehenge Festival, and Poet Fest.[18] Jungle Rot returned home and performed at the Full Terror Assault Festival in Illinois and a hometown show before beginning to work on their next album.[19]
Spenser Syphers was announced as the new permanent drummer for Jungle Rot in June 2019.[20]
On March 22, 2022, the band announced their eleventh album, A Call to Arms, would be released on May 13.[21]
Style
Most of Jungle Rot's music is groove infused death metal. Most of the lyrical subjects deal with war, torture, murder, death, and corruption.
Personnel
Current
Dave Matrise – vocals, rhythm guitar (1994–present)
James Genenz – bass (2005–present), guitars (2004–2005)
Geoff Bub – lead guitar (2005–present)
Spenser Syphers – drums (2019–present)
Former
Joe Thomas – guitars, vocals (1992–1994)
Jim Harte – drums (1992–1997)
Joe Carlino – bass (1993–1994)
Brian Kuhn – bass (1994–1995)
Jim Bell – lead guitar (1994–2000)
Chris "Wisco" Djuricic – bass (1995–1999, 2001–2004), lead guitar (2004)
