MASTER — 1985 Demo (review)

MASTER — 1985 Demo album cover Demo · 1985 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
UMUR
"1985 Demo" is the first demo release by US death metal act Master. The demo was independently released in 1985. Master was formed by lead vocalist/bassist Paul Speckmann and drummer Bill Schmidt after leaving War Cry. Speckmann had a lot of different projects going in those days (Death Strike and Abomination in addition to Master), and he was probably in doubt which project he should focus on, because it took quite a few years before Master released their 1990 eponymously titled debut full-length studio album and only a 1985 rehearsal demo bridges the gap between this demo and the debut album (although a full-length album was actually recorded in 1985 and shelved. It ultimately saw a release in 2003). All five tracks from the demo would be re-recorded and included on the debut album.

Stylistically this is an early extreme metal release featuring elements from both thrash metal, hardcore punk, and the extremity of death metal. It´s certainly understandable that many early death metal pioneers cite this demo as an inspiration to become more brutal sounding themselves. While many other early death metal artists like Morbid Angel, Death, Autopsy, and Obituary all experimented with song structures and creative songwriting ideas, Master is a more simple, effective and pummeling listen. Once a track gets going, the same pounding drum beat continues for the remainder of the song, and most tracks only feature very few riffs, a one-dimensional raw shouting (semi-growling) vocal style, and the occasional screaming guitar solo. In other words this is the most basic and simplistic style of death metal imaginable (and it´s interesting that Master have pretty much stuck to their guns since then).

The demo features a raw, but still detailed and well sounding production job, which helps the material shine. So it´s a good quality 1985 extreme metal demo which deserves it´s reputation as a seminal death metal release. The songwriting keeps it from being a real blast though, and a 3 star (60%) rating isn´t all wrong.
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