LP Review: "The Germs of Circumstance" by Johansson & Speckmann

In an effort to keep the people interested, I'm going to continually change how I do my reviews. So, in lieu of the round up, I'm going back to slightly longer reviews.

Up today, it's the latest released by the death metal super power ultra duo, Johansson & Speckmann. The former, Rogga Johansson, is a member of Paganizer, Revolting, and Riffspreader. He's definitely putting himself out there.

The latter is one, Paul Speckmann, of Death Metal royalty, Master.

It may be patently obtuse to even say this, but this album is going to be heavy. If you like that sort of thing, there's little to be disappointed about.

Unlike traditional death metal it's a bit more raw to my ears. It's got a lo-fi kind of feel. Almost, punk rock.

Speckmann is more proto death metal than the real thing, perhaps the missing link between Lemmy and Death, so nothing he does will be standard issue death metal.

Damn does he have a sound though. Johansson's riffing and solos keep it closer to the signposts of the genre, but there's nothing like that hate Speckmann brings to anything he's doing.

This album really has it all. It's angry, rough, and polished all at the same time. The only thing, it's going to leave you wanting more.

Rating A Purchase

Concert Review: Master with Claustrofobia and Dusk 8/16/19

Paul Speckman of Master

It doesn't seem likely that my having a routine when it comes to concerts would make me unique. This one went as many of them do, especially when the intrepid Danny Nichols is in attendance. The big difference tonight was that I drove instead of him.

Danny, myself, and my daughter started our evening at Steve's Hot Dog's Tower Grove East. If you live in St. Louis and don't love this place, I'd ask you to kindly leave.

After dinner, it was time to drop off the kiddo and head down to Fubar. She's been to a few shows, but this didn't seem like the best idea for her first club show.

Upon arrival at Fubar, I did the first thing I needed to get done, I walked over and bought a Master T-shirt. Now, this would seem to be a breach of journalistic ethics, but I already like Master, so if they laid an egg, I'd say so and still proudly wear my new bad ass death metal t-shirt.

News: Master Announce Final Tour Dates in Support of "Vindictive Miscreant"

I'm happy to announce that Master is returning to the United States and even more so that they're back in St. Louis, MO.

Check it out below and keep an eye out for a review of the St. Louis show at Fubar.

Death Metal legends MASTER in cooperation with ADHD Entertainment have announced the final dates of the Vindictive Miscreant U.S. Tour with Brazil's CLAUSTROFOBIA on all dates, plus regional support by Dusk (08/09 - 08/17), Psykotribe (08/18 - 08/25) and Taipan (08/26 – 09/01)! 

The tour, which begins August 9 in San Diego, marks MASTER's triumphant return to the U.S. after a three-year absence! Tour dates are below!

LP Review: "Vindictive Miscreant" by Master

Vindictive Miscreant

Fifteen years ago, you were able to see basically the plurality of heavy metal's founders live on stage: Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, etc.

If you fast forward to no, it's gotten harder because time waits for no one. What we're very lucky to have is the (in my mind) Second Wave of Metal's founders still crushing it.

Obituary, Napalm Death, Metallica, Morbid Angel (kind of), Mayhem (ditto), Deicide, and Master are still going.

Unlike some names listed, Master has continued to record and release new music, Vindictive Miscreant is the group's thirteenth studio record and their first for Transcending Obscurity Records.

If you're a Tampa Bay Death Metal purist, this album might not do much for you, but if you dig heavy, angry, and serious music, get your knife and fork. It's time to dig in.

Vindictive Miscreant features are the things that make Master great, and a few surprises. Paul Speckmann's helmed this proto death metal band for decades and decades. He's never taken it away from what they are.

It's almost wrong tag Master as Death Metal, but they're something and you need to hear it, if nothing else, to pay your respect to the those who blazed the trail, but seriously, this album rocks.

Release: 11/28/18 BANDCAMP FACEBOOK

Split Review: "Decay Into Inferior Conditions" by Master and Dehuman

Decay Into Inferior Conditions

When you've got a good friend, you can trust them to be around and have your back.

It's always wonderful to think back to all of those times we had as children, teens, and twentysomethings when our best friend was right there making sure we did precisely what, well, we probably shouldn't have done.

There are a great many stories about what a good friend of mine and I did in Northern Illinois especially...like that time we bootlegged beer.

At least by the way I understand the letter of the law in Smokey & The Bandit. So, let's head forward into a split by two similar bands.

Around these parts we are always looking into every make and manner of split releases.

Today, we're looking at our first split live LP.

Interview With Master's Paul Speckmann & Concert Review

From The Master Website by Adamovsky.

On April 23rd, Master played at the Fubar on Locust Street in St. Louis.

This is a band that has been around from the beginning of death metal. The band originally formed in 1983 and since then, Paul Speckmann and cohorts have been blasting out their brand of death metal, which has aged very, very well.

Walking into the Fubar, I found Speckmann sitting at the far end of the bar drinking a Budweiser. I realize now I should have asked him about Budvar Beer. He was wearing a Master hoodie. His long hair and beard both greying now.

He's speaks with a slight tinge of the dialect often heard in Eastern Europeans now and is quite funny. Throughout our conversation and the night I often laughed.

What I found most striking about Paul Speckmann wasn't his hair, his out and out metalness, his Explorer styled bass, his musicality, but his drive. He is driven because he loves what he does.

As he and I discussed Master has released 12 studio albums. I can name three other death bands that have such a catalog: Cannibal Corpse (12), Napalm Death (15), and Deicide (11). Strong company indeed.