Master - Master (1990)

It has often been argued as to which band invented death metal. I'd have to say that there are two clear favourites for the title, Death being one of them, the other Paul Speckmann's Master, a true cult act if ever there was one yet a band who never scaled the heights of Death, or a majority of other death metal acts to be honest. Line-up changes, personal issues and various other projects meant that at the beginning Master were an on/off group, but this record certainly shows why the band were considered the kings of the underground. At the time the record, top me anyway, seemed pretty insignificant, once bands such as obituary, Morbid Angel etc, had found their feet, but this debut album deserves its praise. Master play a mid-paced death metal like a horrible mutation of Motorhead, Venom and possibly Slayer, all rather formulaic but the musicianship remains tight throughout. 'Pay To Die' goes straight to the throat, the bellowing riffs chug throughout, elements of the mighty Possessed here, but overall the album fails to make a considerable mark. A few of the tracks came from the catalogue of Speckmann's previous band, Death Strike, 'Funeral Bitch' certainly remains a cult classic, despite continued criticism of Speckmann's watered down vocals which appeared far more primal in Death Strike. However, Master will always be known as the fathers of the scene, even if their recorded output fails to match the legend surrounding them. An average record that remains light years behind the likes of Possessed and Death. To say that 'Master' was recorded and released at the wrong time is a huge understatement.
6.5/10