Artist: Master
Country: USA
Label: From Beyond Records
Formats: LP / CD
Year: 2003
When you talk about pure death metal cult, you are talking about Possessed and Master. Master was founded in 1983 by Paul Speckmann, a legendary figure by now in the American metal scene. Paul Speckmann started in 1980 in a heavymetal band called Warcry, with this he got to open for Queensrÿche and Twisted Sister. He also recorded a song for the Metal Massacre IV LP called Forbidden Evil. This is also where later the well-known heavy metal act Forbidden got the name for its first album. Soon after, he teamed up with Bill Schmidt, but the line-up didn’t really take off. Meanwhile, he founded Deathstrike. The demos Master recorded from the money Paul’s father left him after he died of a brain tumour were a huge influence on the scene and were widely available. And (the now) highly regarded bands like Death began adopting the style. Around 1985, both Master and Abomination (another one of Paul’s bands) were offered a contract by Nuclear Blast Records…
And now here, the long-forgotten recordings of a 1985 album. This album was supposed to be for Combat Records, were it not for Bill Schmidt throwing a spanner in the works because he and his mother wanted to change the contract. After which Combat broke the contract. These recordings were (and still are) quite sought-after in the tape-trading world, and thus popped up everywhere. And rightly so, as far as I am concerned, these recordings were totally unknown to me, but they are not disappointing by any means. The nostalgia and underground feel oozes from them, but without sacrificing listening comfort and enjoyment. In other words, the recordings are good. And the first seven tracks on the CD (which make the album) are great tunes in the Master style we are used to from the band’s first self-titled album from 1990. Nice sloppy drums, primitive vocals and great chaotic solos. Pure class of old school death metal with a thrashy slant. The demo that is also added to this release fits in just perfectly, all three songs in the same style. And the same goes for the last song which is a studio track from 1993, recorded somewhere in Phoenix. Only difference here are the slightly more upfront bass lines and a keyboard in the background.
That this album dangles together with nostalgic sounds should be obvious. And that it is a must-have for any old school metallers is just equally obvious. However, I think this release would also not be a bad choice for people interested in the roots of death metal or people who want to get acquainted with Master in general. Really cool that this kind of stuff is still being dug up from the basements and released on a CD/LP. Good work by From Beyond Productions/Displeased Records.
