Album Review: Master – Among the Seeds of Death

Album Review: Master – Among the Seeds of Death

Reviewed by Sam Jones

Master are easily the most underrated, longest running band to have never achieved the adamant respect owed to them. Formed way back in 1983 out of Illinois, United States originally, Master led the charge of death metal with their first Demos in 1985 though with sporadic activity, releasing their self-titled debut full length in 1990 since which Master have been continuously churning out record after record, tour after tour, with unceasing and unwavering commitment to extreme metal. Later moving to the Czech Republic Master, fronted by the towering name of Paul Speckmann, has one of the most consistently excellent discographies in death metal. Today brings us to their sixteenth studio album, Among The Seeds Of Death, primed for an October 16th release window. Once again partnered with Hammerheart Records Master are currently set to see their forty-fifth anniversary in just two years, a milestone I’m confident they’ll see and surpass with ease. Let’s dive back into the sordid and calamitous world that is Master.

Master’s furious stance on death metal is derived from their unflinching belief in keeping songwriting simple. There’s never been a Master record where one has come away thinking it were surprising my avant-garde or technical; on their sixteenth full length work they’ve come round to bash your brains in with a bricks and see to it there’s enough left of you for another round of punishment. A multitude of tracks here feature straightforward riff patterns, the kind that allow for ease of access and ease for the vocals to run along. In addition, Master’s straightforward attitude to extreme metal results in keener focus on the audience’s part; we’re not going to feel sidetracked nor pulled on some sudden tangent because the songwriting decides to shake things up. What you experience at the start is likely what you’ll experience towards the end but given Master’s proclivity for death metal excellence and the rapport their name has garnered, that’s going what you’ve come here for.

What their songwriting does champion here which can be lost on those only seeking speed from Master is the band’s surprisingly methodical playing. Yes, the songwriting is predominantly straightforward and isn’t about to flashbang you with unnecessary fat but there are moments where their guitar work slows just enough to warrant attention, showing a change in the flow of things, utilising intricate note playing and leading into a riff pattern more developed than Master typically sport. With that said the tempo Master play with is fast but it’s in fact a little slower than their contemporaries may opt for, therefore they’re able to pack in that little more material into a track that’s not necessarily any longer.

In recent years Master have really gone full bore for a cleaner production. In the midst of so many bands choosing to muddy their sounds and apply a film of dirt and grime to their aesthetic, often to the band’s benefit too, I appreciate Master’s confidence and insistence at stripping away everything that is not themselves on record. Every single thing you hear on album is through their own performance, their own efforts, as their instrumental capacity is able to portray without altering anything to any degree. The polished production also allows us to listen closely to the amazing energy going into even the simplest riff they dish out; it’s not just a chord played but the additional, residual energy going into a string of continuous notes and the fact you can feel their strength too. It’s why their songwriting still strikes as they’ve made sure even the smallest facets don’t go overlooked.

Topping the record off are Paul Speckmann’s irreplaceable vocals. Listening to Master perform, the sludge-laden death metal, that sound groaning with rage and malice and disdain for human life, Speckmann’s vocals perfectly fit that aesthetic. Though Speckmann is fast approaching his mid-sixties his vocals have arguably improved with age as the onslaught of years alters his timbre, ages his vocal cords, deepening the overall feeling of decay and dismay so prevalent in Master’s soundscape. His vocal style has never changed throughout Master’s career, and one will experience such across Krabathor, Death Strike and others, but you don’t listen to his vocals for variety of delivery. It’s an iconic death metal vocal performance full of energy with power at every turn that doesn’t need to be thrown in your face to demonstrate its qualities.

In conclusion, Among The Seeds Of Death is Master’s sixteenth studio album in a discography already teeming with a quality releases. Death metal doesn’t need to be made overly complicated, it doesn’t need to throw in a slew of offbeat elements to catch audiences off guard; it simply needs to sound and feel great to listen. At that Master have always delivered, providing metal exceedingly easy to listen to and follow; Among The Seeds Of Death is ten tracks of no nonsense carnage with total clarity beholding the scope of their arsenal. It’s always a great time with these guys and any announcement of new material from Master is a blessing.

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