Master – The Human Machine

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Master has had an unfortunate career, as far as popularity is concerned. Despite recording an album that would have been released before Possessed‘s genre-defining Seven Churches, Paul Speckmann’s project has always sat on the back-burner of the death metal scene. It’s a shame; all of Master’s releases are great, some are classic, and some, like 2010′s The Human Machine, show that modern death metal can still have just as much bite as it did back in the ’80s. This album is full of what made early death metal so much fun: memorable, groove-laden music. The guitar tone, drumming, and a bit of Speckmann’s own vocals are very reminscent of bands like Autopsy, Asphyx, or some band fronted by Chris Barnes. It’s What Your Country Can Do For You takes the best from the Florida death metal scene (Paul Masvidal of Cynic was in Master at one point), a sprinkling of the Eastern Europe (where Master has relocated to) grindcore scene, and has an outro that would make any Pantera fan proud; modern Master would feel at home on a compilation with Obituary or with Birdflesh. True Colors has a grinding guitar tone and fantastic vocals that almost emulate Ghoul or Impetigo. Another thing that’s so great about this album: it will break your neck. There isn’t a single slow part on this album. No plodding riffs, no boring intro’s, no uninspired music, period. Paul Speckmann has a pretty unique voice for death metal vocals, and it works very well on songs like A Replica Of Invention, where he sounds disgusted and angry with everything in the world. Remember kids, you don’t have to slap the listener in the face with how brutal you are all the time! If you’re tired of the paint-by-numbers technical deathcore bands and tired releases from classic death metal groups in today’s scene, The Human Machine is one album that should give you hope that some bands still take pride in what they do. Master have found a formula that works with this album, and I hope they stick to it. In my opinion, they are the best death metal band from the ’80s that are still making music today. Bless you, Paul Speckmann.

Written by Jackson May
More: 2010, Albums, Black Metal, Quick.Play Reviews, Master