Master
Coolest Beard In Metal

08.01.2011

Let’s make no bones about it – the reason for the interview with Paul Speckmann was just the fact that I really enjoyed Master’s latest album “The Human Machine”. But even if we leave this exciting release aside, Paul's persona is big enough to be covered by our webzine./ The band Master which he created in the mid-80s played an important role in development of death metal in the United States, and its early records still have a cult status. In the early 200s Speckmann suddenly moved to the Czech Republic, where he teamed up with local death metal legend Krabathor and then reformed Master, which he still records and performs with. While we were preparing Paul’s answers for publication, another newsbreak happened – Master will play in Russia for the first time in February this year.

First of all, I’d like to say that the cover art is really very impressive. I personally think it’s Master’s most interesting CD cover ever. How did you get in contact with its designer, Elian Kantor? And what meaning did you want the cover to convey?

I looked over Mr. Kantor's work after he contacted Pulverised Records about his interest in drawing a cover for Master. I thought it was time to do something a bit different. The cover deals with what we face as a society today. The people across this planet have become machines, they look alike, dress alike and are continually trying to be like one another. People have lost their identities. When I grew up back in the day people thought for themselves. Those days are gone and if the younger generation doesn't take a stand against these corrupt governmental officials across the globe then freedom will most certainly be lost forever.

Why do the policemen on the cover have a pentagram on their helmets?

The pentagram on the helmets was a joke as I personally do not indulge in any particular religion. I believe in free thinking and not the church.

In your opinion, what are the differences between “The Human Machine” and the previous album, “Slaves To Society” (2007)? As for me — it seems that “The Human Machine” is more low-pitched, the sound is sharper and heavier…

We try to improve with age, as they say, on every record. Every record must speak for itself. The last several have been really killer actually. We set out to make great records always, but sometimes they just don't come out great. It's like a crap shoot. You roll the dice and hope for the best.

It is more thrash or more death metal in “The Human Machine”? And, in generally, what style does MASTER belong to in your opinion?

I prefer just to call it “metal”. I don't care for the silly categories that have evolved over the years. It's plain metal and that’s it. We write aggressive metal that is dictated by the world around us.

I’ve read the album’s lyrics, but, of course, one needs to have very good knowledge of English to understand everything. How can you describe the message or general line of lyrics at “The Human Machine”?

Remove the police and the governments and we will have a truly free society. Anarchy is the way for the moment. The U.S. government has too much power over the world.

OK, I think, it’s enough with the new album. Let’s fill in some “blank spots” in Master’s history. Was “Let's Start a War” (2002) was the last Master album to be recorded in the U.S. before you moved to the Czech Republic to join Krabathor?

The record was recorded in Europe at the same studio I record all CDs at called Sharrk Studios in Bzenec, Czech Republic. I joined Krabathor in 2000 and have lived here ever since.

BTW, are the names of your band-mates on that album true or it were just pseudonyms (“Ronald Reagan” and “Harry Truman”, I mean)?

Of course that was an inside joke with the president's names.

And in general, why did you decide to leave your homeland?

I found more freedom in Europe in general. America has many problems with corruption and police control. Things are more relaxed for me here. I left my homeland when George Bush became president.

How do you see Master’s way of evolution? How long do you plan to make music under the name of Master?

Master were one of the first to play this brutal metal and will continue to do so as it warrants. I think with the way the world is going at the moment I will be writing for years to come.

What bands influenced you so much that you made up your mind to play death and thrash metal? What contemporary bands do you like and what bands do you strongly dislike?

Black Sabbath, GBH and Discharge were my greatest influences. I like metal in general from Saxon to Accept to the Rolling Stones. If the music comes from the heart and soul, then it must be good. I dislike the clones in the scene today. Originality is thing of the past.

How can you describe the state of the Czech metal scene in general? What can you say about such band as !T.O.O.H!, in particular? And, by the way, what’s up with Krabathor now? Are they dead or alive?

We played a show over the weekend in a village called Chep with a great band called Pandemia and the show was killer and 200 people showed for this small concert. I also played “Obscene Extreme” to 10,000 people a few months back. People support metal here. At the same time, I never heard of this group you speak of. Krabathor finished in 2004 when Christopher (aka Petr Krystof, guitar/vocals) moved to the USA and became a citizen.

What do you think about the socio-political environment in Eastern Europe? Do you feel or see the growth of Muslim inhabitants or it’s all just noise made by journalists?

They are taking over but it's the fault of the countries that let these people in. There may have to be more strict rules, but then this would be a problem as there is too much control at the moment.

I cannot but to ask you about your beard. Why did you decide to make it so long? Maybe it’s a kind of a symbol of an oath taken, just like Cuban leaders did once?

I just decided that having the coolest beard in metal is a great thing, so it continues.

And a kind of traditional questions… Have you heard any Russian metal bands (and Russian band Master, in particular)? What opinion or point of view do you have about our country?

I only know what the media shows me, and I have to smile when you guys march missile through the city at parades to show strength to the world. It's rather funny to watch this on CNN, but again they only show you what they want to. It was bad for sure to see the fires out of control a few months back. I certainly hope that everyone is ok now and things are better over there.  As for Master, they always get great reviews being the Scorpions of Moscow. I would love to play there only we have never been offered a chance to do so.

Master on the Internet: http://www.master-speckmann.com

Special thanks to Pulverised Records for their help with this interview

Kostolom
September 27, 2010
(с) HeadBanger.ru