Master - Slaves To Society

The death metal band Master has been together since 1983, and has been releasing albums since 1990. Serious death metal fans are familiar with their work, but they are still an unknown commodity to the average extreme metal listener. Master, originally from Chicago but now based in the Czech Republic will be touring the U.S. for the first time in a decade in October, 2008.

Slaves To Society was released in Europe last year, and has been picked up for U.S. distribution by Ibex Moon Records. It's old school death metal played fast and furious with thrash influences. The riffs are heavy, and there are plenty of solos. The songs have good melodies, but also a dark atmosphere that keeps them sounding extreme.

Vocalist Paul Speckmann has a very distinctive sound. His raspy vocals are a combination of singing and speaking. Like Master's music, they straddle the line between thrash and death metal. The lyrics deal with social and political issues along with personal experiences.

The U.S. version of Slaves To Society also includes four songs from the 2005 "Everything Is Rotten" demo. Master is an often overlooked but very important band in extreme metal. If you're a fan of the genre, they are definitely a band worth seeking out.

(released September 16, 2008 on Ibex Moon Records)