Interview by Kris Peters
After the disappointment at having to postpone their debut Australian tour in 2023, US death metal outfit Jungle Rot have stuck true to their promise of making it out here as soon as possible with the news they managed to find suitable dates with German black metal pioneers Rotting Christ this May.
While Rotting Christ will be celebrating 35 years of servitude to the Metal Gods, Jungle Rot will be savouring the opportunity to showcase their music to a new audience, with a plan to capture the attention and support of as many of their Australian fans as possible.
Frontman Dave Matrise joined HEAVY recently to discuss the rescheduled tour and more. With the tour just two weeks away we start by asking if he has already packed and readied himself for the long trip Down Under.
"I'm gonna start tomorrow, actually," he smiled. "We're running down the list tomorrow, and we're gonna start doing it, and I'm gonna start mentally preparing myself. That's the hardest thing, mentally preparing myself for that flight (laughs)."
Once here Jungle Rot have a brutal schedule, playing the whole run without a day off, which beckons the question does someone in their booking team dislike the band for some reason?
"No, that's how we like it," he grinned. "We'd rather be playing every night, man. When you're on tour you wanna be playing every night because if you're not, you're going to spend money, so we'd rather try and make some money and work every night (laughs)."
In the full interview, Dave discussed the band's upcoming tour in Australia, shared details about the tour schedule and his preparations for the shows and expressed his excitement for the band's first tour in Australia. The conversation also delved into the band's preference for playing shows every night and their determination to make the most of the tour.
Matrise provided insights into the band's musical style, emphasizing their old-school death metal roots and the intense, raw energy of their live performances. The chat also revolved around Jungle Rot's music and career evolution, with a focus on their songwriting process and commitment to their sound.
Additionally, they talked about their 11th studio album, A Call To Arms, and outlined their plans for future tours and new music, emphasizing their continual dedication to their craft.