Paul Speckmann is practically an institution. He’s one of those musicians that gives the illusion that he’s always been around, and always will be. First recognized for time spent in War Cry and Death Strike in the early eighties, Speckmann then committed to Master, the classic death metal band he has carried through countless record label and member changes.
Today the band continues to feed off the growls, blast beats, and tempo changes of yore, citing Slayer and Venom as their main influences. Such comparisons can’t be denied when you hear The New Elite, the band’s eleventh full-length via Pulverised Records, which will be released on August 14th.
The record’s first single will be “New Reforms”, which we have right here for your listening pleasure. A word of warning: headbanging is mandatory.
MASTER – “New Reforms”
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PRE-ORDER MASTER
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Paul Speckmann may be living in the Czech Republic now, but Master will always be one of Chicago’s best death metal exports!
When I was at Chaos In Tejas, Innumerable Forms did a cover of Master’s Funeral Bitch, and when At The Gates, Entombed and Lock Up were in Chicago the last few years, they named dropped Master as well. That goes to show how super influential Master are despite their underground status.
Speckmann is the heavy metal version of Col. Sanders: a heavily bearded dude transmogrified into a symbol that something awesome is in your future.
Master – still better than your favorite band.
It’s funny this track is called “New Reforms” when Master has hardly changed at all since the 80’s. Rippin’ track though!