Interview: Jungle Rot - Debut New Zealand Shows

In less than four days, Wisconsin extreme metal icons Jungle Rot will finally be storming local stages for the first time in a cacophonous career spanning three decades and eleven studio albums. Singer / guitarist Dave Matrise answered questions rapid-fired in his direction by Aotearoa metal force Chris Calavrias of Stälker, who are playing with Jungle Rot and earhole-pummelling special guests Dole Bludger this Sunday at Pōneke's Valhalla. Super city denizens can also catch Jungle Rot opening for touring US death metal pioneers Suffocation at Tāmaki Makaurau's Galatos the night before. Brought to you by Your Mate Bookings, get tickets immediately if you haven't done so already and read onwards...

Jungle Rot

Saturday 27th April - Galatos, Auckland, supporting Suffocation*
Sunday 28th April - Valhalla, Wellington w/ Stälker, Dole Bludger

Wellington tickets available HERE via UTR
*Auckland tickets available HERE

Chris Calavrias: YO DUDES. How and who came up with the name?

Dave Matrise: The name Jungle Rot was discovered by my original drummer one day in history class in 1992 in school. The class was having a test that day on war and one of the multiple choice answers on the paper was Jungle Rot for an answer. My drummer came to practice the next day and told everyone he had a name for the band and it's called Jungle Rot. We all loved it and decided to go with it.

What's all the obsession with war etc. with the band?

Having a name like Jungle Rot it's easy to go with a war / gore theme. For those that don't know Jungle Rot was a serious issue in the Vietnam War, with the soldiers on the front lines having their feet rot away from having wet boots on all the time and not being able to keep their feet dry.

Have you ever had jungle rot?

Lol no I have not but my uncle had it in the war and use to show me pictures when I was younger. Really gross and painful!

Why has the songwriting and production changed so much since Slaughter The Weak (2002)?

I think when you're go into writing a new album each time you are trying to write better songs and get better production as well. I don't think our writing style for songs have changed so much — more so better all-around sounding I feel over all the years.

How do you find touring the world now, compared to pre-Covid?

The underground scene has been strong, I feel stronger after the come back of Covid. I think a lot of people missed a lot of things they couldn't do anymore during that time. Sometimes you have to take something away to appreciate what you have and I feel a lot of people realised that, when they lost what they had and not being able to go to live shows anymore.

What was one of the worst shows where everything kept going wrong on stage? technical issues?

Hmmm really can't remember anything major over my career we must be lucky.

A lot of issues can happen at festivals not being able to play on your own gear etc. Its always harder just being thrown up on the stage to play and having everything in such a rush trying to stay on time for the start of your set.

It's pretty much a ready set go vibe just being thrown up there.

Why did it take so long for you to tour New Zealand and Australia — 30 years man?

We never had an offer till Anthony at Your Mate Bookings decided to work with us. We couldn't be happier enough that this work out for us. We are hoping to win as many people over as we can so there is a demand for us next time to return.

What's a good band at the moment that everyone needs to know about?

I would say the band Molder. They are hitting the scene hard right now with there brand of old-school death metal. It is really working good for them I definitely recommend any old school death metal fans to check it out.

Last question, from our friend Mikey from Chicago: ketchup on your hotdog? Yes or no.

Come to think about it the only time I see my self using ketchup is on French fries. I definitely use more mustard on my food then ketchup. I am going to have to dig deeper into this to find out why so many people don't including my self. Lol.

Hmm I really don't know why, I was brought up on that always being a sin putting ketchup on a dog.