Master (band)

Master is a death metal band formed in Chicago, USA in 1983 as the band Warcry fell apart. Shortly after however, the band was put on hold due to internal problems. Paul Speckmann then formed the band Death Strike, which in 1985 he renamed to Master. Master is one of the earliest death metal bands [ [http://www.metalstorm.ee/pub/article.php?article_id=73 The Categorization of Death Metal - Metal Storm ] ] [ [http://www.masterful-magazine.com/interview.php?wyw=516 Masterful Magazine - Death Metal and Black Metal Magazine. Metal Interviews, reviews, death metal mp3 ] ] along with bands such as Possessed, Necrophagia, Death and Morbid Angel, however they are quite often overlooked.

In 1985 Master obtained a record deal with Combat Records and recorded an album, which was not released until 2003 by Displeased Records as "Unreleased 1985 album". In 1990 the band was signed by the German label Nuclear Blast Records, who also had contracted Speckmann's other band Abomination.

The actual debut album of Master, titled simply "Master", was recorded twice; first with Jim Martinelli on guitars and Aaron Nickeas on drums. This recording was not accepted by the record company Nuclear Blast. Hence it was re-recorded with Schmidt (drums) and Mittelbrun (guitar), which was eventually released. The first recording was later released under the name Speckmann Project in 1992.

In 1991, the second album was released: "On the Seventh Day God Created ... Master", featuring Paul Masvidal on lead guitar, followed by the "Collection of Souls" in 1993 both on Nuclear Blast. Thereafter their record deal ended and Master went on hiatus to find a new record label. Five years layer, "Faith Is in Season" was released on Pavement Records. Speckmann then focused on several other projects, including the resurrected Abomination and eventually joined the Czech band Krabathor, for which Speckmann relocated to the Czech Republic. In 2002 the next album was released, titled "Let's Start a War" by System Shock, which also contracted Krabathor. In 2003 "Spirit of the West" followed, and "Spirit of the West" in 2004, on the same label. Master then switched labels again, to the German label Twilight Vertrieb and released "Four More Years of Terror" in 2005. The new album "Slaves to Society" was released in May 2007. The band will embark on a European tour in May and June, followed by yet another tour with Chicago legend Lividity beginning on September 8th 2007 until the 30th.

Discography

*"Fuckin' Death" (1985) as Death Strike
*"Master" (1990)
*"On the Seventh Day God Created ... Master" (1991)
*"Speckmann Project" (1992) - Different recording of the debut album released under the name Speckmann Project.
*"Collection of Souls" (1993)
*"Faith Is in Season" (1998)
*"Let's Start a War" (2002)
*"Spirit of the West" (2003)
*"Unreleased 1985 album" (2003)
*"Masterpieces" (2005)
*"Four More Years of Terror" (2005)
*"Slaves to Society" (2007)

Members

* Paul Speckmann - bass/vocals
* Ales "Alex 93" Nejezchleba - guitars
* Zdenek "Zdenal" Pradlovsky - drums

Former members

* Petr "Christopher" Krystof as Ronald Reagan - guitars (on "Let's Start A War" album)
* Chris Mittelbrun - guitars
* Paul Masvidal - guitars
* Jeff Kobie - guitars
* Brian Brady (musician) - guitars
* Sage Gonzalez - guitars
* Libor "Skull" Lebanek as Harry Truman - drums (on "Let's Start A War" album)
* Bill Schmidt - drums
* Aaron Nickeas - drums
* Sage Johnson - drums
* Spencer Harris - guitars

References

External links

* [http://www.master-speckmetal.com/ Official Master website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/masterspeckmann Official Master Myspace page]
* [http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=4280 Metal Archives entry]