Master Interview

1. Can you update us with what is going on with Master these days?
Well, this is an easy question. I just returned from playing 20 dates in Brazil followed by 25 dates across Europe and then 4 dates in Finland. We are busy as hell these days. Life is good. We will also visit the USA very soon this fall. The Human Machine continues
.
2. When can we expect new material?
The new CD will be released on the 26th of this month. The title of the new CD is called The Human Machine. It will hit America on May 25th. For those who don't know, we signed a new contract in the fall of last year with Pulverised Records in Singapore and things are going very well at the moment.

3. You have been around for almost 30 years what is it that keeps you going? The music and the touring are the secret to my stability. I live for the music, from the music and spend time on the scene continually. When I am not touring with Master, I travel with bands like Six Feet Under and Ill Disposed for example and sell their merchandise. This helps sustain my living. I live in the underground and will always be a part of this culture my friend.

4. What is going on with the other projects these days?
There are no projects at the moment, I am only concentrating on keeping Master alive. This is not too say that something won't come up again as I am in contact with many famous musicians, but most are too busy at the moment like myself.

5. What are some of the best shows that you have played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
This is a silly question, there are too many stories to tell about this. I guess you'll have to wait for the book, Speckmann, Surviving the underground to be released most likely in the fall of 2010. We deliver straight forward aggressive music onstage.
There 's no posing if you mean that and no theatrics whatsoever, just straight forward hard hitting energy.

6. You have taken an anti christian stance throughout your career, where do you draw your anti christain views?
This comes from my own mind and personal experience. It's disgusting to see people giving money to the church and helping the Pope to live like a king or a God as he's driven around in the bullet-proof Pope mobile. He is nothing but a man living on false pretenses. If church would distribute its wealth maybe more people wouldn't be suffering in the poorer regions of the world. Man created God as well as Satan. These are certainly great myths to live by.

7. Alot of famous death metal or death/thrash bands cite you as an influence, what influence do you think Master has on extreme metal in 2010?
We shall see with the release of The Human Machine, time will tell.

8. You are originally from the United States but relocated to Europe, what made you decide to make this move?
First of all the scene is and always will be greater in Europe, but the real reason at the time was to join a band called Krabathor. An artist will travel anywhere to perfect his art and find work. This was the best move I ever made as I have been on tour in some form or another since 2000 when I arrived for good. I laso found a job with Kraft Evention working for Metal for the last 8 years and this works for me.

9. What is the meaning behind the band's name? You are the Master of your own destiny and you should strive to be your own Master. You don't need any idols or false gods, You can Master your own destiny yourself.

10. How would you describe the lyrical content of the newer material?
The latest CD deals with reality. We are all becoming Human Machines working for our governments so they can become stronger and dominate the world. Society has become bunch of machines. Free thinking is a thing of the past and all the youth of today will be led to the slaughter which will come soon, inevitably. It's time for a revolution before your freedom's taking all away.

11. How would you descibe the musical progress over the years and what direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?
We have always used the same formula. There is no need to change something that already works. The band writes its own original music and never follows trends as many of the bigger bands do. We believe in what we are creating and will continue to do so. There is no reason to jump on the newer trendy bandwagon. On future releases you will continue to hear straightforward Metal music. As I always said," Less is more."

12. Out off all the albums that you have recorded so far which one are you the most satisfied with?
Again this is silly question. We put the same effort in every recording, just some come out better due to the budget, the studio or the players. The last few CDS are certianly my favorites. Slaves to Society and the Human Machine are my all time favorites for sure ok.

13. What are some bands or music styles that have influenced your music and what are you listening to nowadays?
The band's that influenced Master in the beginning were GBH, The Exploited, Motorhead, Discharge and early Metal. I still listen to these bands today. I don't waste my time listening to the newer trendier stuff, why? Today the music scene is saturated with bands that play regurgitated riffs from all the originators of the genre. Nothing new has come out that interests me. I'm old I guess, Old School!

14. What are some of your interests outside of music? I like to cook, fish and read books. You can find a recipe in the book called Hell Bent for cooking on the web along with killer recipes from many of todays heavyweights in Metal.

15. Any final words or thoughts?
Yes, go out and support a true entity and buy the latest masterpiece called The Human Machine or check out Slaves To Society for that matter.