Review by UnhinderedbyTalent for Master - Master (1990)
Master's sophomore album (if we include the eventual release of their debut in 1998) is a record I am proud to say that I now own on vinyl. That bright red, white-edged (and embossed on my version) logo across that pitch black background underlines the simplicity that the record screams in its completely primitive auditory assault. This is death metal done with a real punk-driven thrash metal vision and as such I think this record stands out from the rest of the early death metal records of the late eighties and early nineties. It is not an atmospherically threatening album either; overwhelming menace and threaten retain their razor sharp intent by sheer intensity and zero-value production quality alone without the need for keys or string arrangements.
Yes, it is sloppy as hell and it sounds like it was recorded in garage, but that's why we like it, right? They even completely butcher one of my favourite ever Black Sabbath songs (Children of the Grave) but they toy with it with a random and totally clumsy bass solo beforehand. The raging tempo sounds nothing like the original and is probably one of the poorest choices of cover song I could have thought up for the band, but they deliver it with their trademark ugliness and truly do try to make the song their own. Those ridiculous keys in the middle of the song are well and truly hammed-up and bring a dry smile to my face at least.
Whilst I really adore the honesty of this record my biggest criticism is its random construct with two instrumentals bridging that BS cover (although on my version there is an additional track after the BS cover) just feels like they were short on lyrics and so Terrorizer relies on the (fitting) intensity of the riffs to drive it forward as opposed to having any real structure. Sonically though, the album is a super-charged beast of twisted leads and contorted fretboard incantations of absolute torture. Although not quite on the levels of Mr Azagthoth, they suit the aesthetic of Master's sound perfectly. Imagine the bludgeoning sloppiness of Autopsy with the razor sharp terror of Possessed with more than a hint of Scream Bloody Gore thrown in and you essentially have the sound of this record down to a tee.