Artist: Master
Orgin: Illionois, Chigago, USA
Genre: Death Metal, Thrash Metal
Label: F.D.A. Rekotz / Soulfood
Link: http://www.master-speckmetal.net/
Bandmember:
Vocals and Bass– Paul Speckmann
Guitare – Ales Nejezchleba
Drums – Zdeněk Pradlovský
Time For Metal / Rene W.:
Hi Paul,
It’s nice that, on the occasion of the release of your fifteenth studio album An Epiphany Of Hate, we have the opportunity to talk about your band Master and the record. Thank you for taking your time to do this interview.
Master / Paul S.:
I always find time for interviews my friend, I enjoy sharing my opinions with others as this is a chance to shoot the shit so too speak! I am not really sure where you got your figures from because there are 12 Master releases unless you count the Unreleased CD demos album from Displeased!
Time For Metal / Rene W.:
You have founded the Cult Death Metal band Master 33 years ago and, what else could it be, since then experienced a lot. It should be possible to write a book about all the stories and the anecdotes. Have you ever thought about writing down the story of your life?
Master / Paul S.:
I actually wrote the story up until 2000 until my move to Europe, but when it comes to the chapter called, „Brushes with fame,“ publishers seem to shy away from the book as the truth hurts and people would rather be lied to! So maybe some brave soul will release the book and we can get on with it. For now, you can purchase, „Speckmann, Underground Survivor, The Pictorial,“ which obviously features pictures throughout my life and career as well as a few stories for your reading pleasure.
You can order this book directly from me at master-speckmetal.net or from the company Weisses Licht in Germany!
Time For Metal / Rene W.:
A long time lies between the first demos and An Epiphany Of Hate. Is there anything that never changed for Master?
Master / Paul S.:
Nothing ever changes brother, we struggle to get on the bigger festivals, and tour every year across the globe successfully and life goes on for the band. We continue to fight the good fight with Master spreading our message of belief in oneself, down with hypocrisy, religion and governmental bureaucracy!
Time For Metal / Rene W.:
Are there certain rituals or approaches in the studio or on stage that remained unchanged from the beginning till today?
Master / Paul S.:
In the studio nothing ever changes brother, recording is done quickly as always with maximum energy, this is the only way to record an album. As for the stage again there are no rituals, Master is not a fictional Satanic band so the rituals never existed with the band! Sorry this was a really great question but I haven’t a good answer for this! Is drinking Jack Daniels at the merch stand before the show a ritual?
Time For Metal / Rene W.:
Now we want to dive a little bit deeper into An Epiphany Of Hate, which you have developed after the last album The Witchhunt three years ago. How did you combine the first ideas for the new songs and how does the songwriting proceed with Master?
This is the same question I get with every interviewer lately and the answer is always the same my friend. I pick up the acoustic guitar whenever I feel the need, which is not often anyways, and play riffs that come into my head for the digital micro recorder and it goes on from there. I never specifically set out to write song, it just happens sometimes. After a year of this when I decide it’s time to record again, I search the recorder and organize tracks. I bring them to the rehearsal room and pick up the electric guitar and jam with the drummer Pradlovsky and we arrange the riffs together. Many times the songs are ready after playing them once, as I am normally prepared. But sometimes we have discussions about the number of times a part should go etc. I then teach the songs to the guitarist Alex Nejezchleba and we go from there. Sometimes Alex will bring in a track or two as well. Then later after some time practicing I may lengthen parts for the vocals or solo parts.
Time For Metal / Rene W.:
Do your colleagues have a full say during the production or is your wish their command?
Master / Paul S.:
We mix the albums together these days, it’s better this way so everyone is happy with the sound of their parts. Mixing has become more democratical over the last few years, but in the end since I write nearly all, my vision is reached! I like to think we are a democracy, regardless of who is really in charge!
Time For Metal / Rene W.:
Platitudinous talking: Are you still celebrating, what is demanded of you, means earthy US-Death Metal of the first generation?
Master / Paul S.:
I never really think about a particular way of writing, I don’t give a shit. I write and record pure Master music every time, and hope for the best! When someone starts to dictate the way you write, you may as well give it up. I hate hearing the same records over and over from some of the bigger bands and also hate hearing the Master clones across the world, man, write your own stuff.
Time For Metal / Rene W.:
What exactly can we expect from the new work?
Master / Paul S.:
Straightforward, aggressive Master metal period! Speckmetal would be the real word here!
Time For Metal / Rene W.:
My colleague has written very positively about your deep growls, which additionally sound very tortured, and by this spread a Death Metal feeling at its best. Is it more difficult for you now to sing like that, or is there no difference at all compared to the earlier days?
Master / Paul S.:
What a silly question my friend, of course everything is easier when you are younger, but on the other hand, I can control my voice better now then when we did the original records. In the beginning we were only experimenting, just yelling. The early shows were difficult and many times I lost my voice, today I’m more careful at shows and on tours as well as in the studio!
Time For Metal / Rene W.:
The album covers of Master may already be designated as a trademark. How did it happen to create such an identification factor?
Master / Paul S.:
I never have anything to do with the artwork, there is no great vision there. I look for a cover I luck and the label purchases it. This time around Artwars approached label owner Rico at FDA Rekotz about the latest masterpiece and after seeing it I immediately liked it and here we are! The logo is the only identification factor in my opinion!
Time For Metal / Rene W.:
You are on the road very often. Will you do a tour or play some festivals in Germany in the coming months to present An Epiphany Of Hate live on stage or are there no plans regarding this yet?
Master / Paul S.:
We have just signed to a company in Italy called Alpha Omega Management, so we will see what is on the horizon very soon.
Time For Metal / Rene W.:
As already mentioned several times, you are an old stager in the business. So how may we imagine the daily life on tour? Do you still have a look at the cities and the places of interest or do you prefer to take a rest in the tour bus?
Master / Paul S.:
This depends on where we are, unfortunately on many tours there are no days off, so there is very little time to explore. I prefer to stay on the bus and read, but if time allows i will got to visit, castles, volcano’s etc
Time For Metal / Rene W.:
Which travels are more emotional for you: The ones in your homeland or the ones through Europe?
Master / Paul S.:
South American travels are among my favorites of course, summer weather in December is always the best. We just returned from there.
Time For Metal / Rene W.:
The 28th December 2015 was the day when Lemmy died. Did you have a personal bond to him or to his music, or did you never meet him in the last decades?
Master / Paul S.:
I met Lemmy many times in the nineties and who didn’t have a bond with he and his music! I am and always was a big fan of the bands he associated with! He was a god among men of course. He always showed nothing but respect for me the many times we met and spoke. RIP my long lost brother from another mother! But let’s face it we are all headed for death, so be it, when the time comes we all go, so people should get over it and move on of course. The past is gone, live for the future, you will all join Lemmy, Philthy, and David Bowie soon enough!
Time For Metal / Rene W.:
Thank you very much for your frank replies.