Review by Jeger on September 4, 2026.

True American Death/Thrash Metal up your fucking ass and I don't give a shit where Master claims to hail from these days, because the flavor is the same. FFO broken necks, blistered anuses and road rash… All things Metal! Not just Extreme Metal but the overall attitude necessary to commit such sonic crimes exuded so ferociously since day one. Now, Chicago, Illinois, USA's Master is back! And with them they've brought the same old bag of tricks, which is really no bag of trickery at all, but tried & true recording/songwriting techniques that have manifested brilliant Death Metal records since the earliest days of the Genre. An Institution rarely operates in any other fashion. So, prepare for an all new era in the scourge of Master! On October 16, Master will release "Among The Seeds Of Death" via Hammerheart Records.

There are no creepy chainsaw lobotomy vibes, interstellar Cosmos nonsense or pretentious psychological drama, just the fundamental adaptation of traditional influences a la Possessed, "Pleasure to Kill" era Kreator and Demolition Hammer - the fucking headbangingest shit out there… From the mind-blowing opening track, "Twas Always The Plan", as it alternates between such propulsory energy and such filthy riffing, to even the most climactic moments of the closer, "Let's Revoke", "Among The Seeds Of Death" delivers all things classic and all things classy all day. And a little "fuck you" Punk Rock attitude never killed anyone… "A Cell With A Door And No Slave" conveys said attitude paired with appropriate nasty riffs and martial rhythms but without straying from the Thrash-inspired USDM blueprint. Wild solos, melodic solos and face-melting solos all cream jeans while other elements of the record arouse in contagious fashion like engineering for example - a beaut! Loud and powerful but without that dreaded sense of sanitization and mixed so as no particular phase dominates the recording. A remarkable balance between obvious contemporary and classic early-Genre-heralding styles/passages.

I remember when these types of Extreme Metal albums were what I lived for… Black Metal ruined that for me, but every once in a while a record like "Among The Seeds Of Death" comes along to remind me of where I came from and that Death & Thrash Metal will never die. Exactly what the Scene has always and will always need at any given moment in time. Something so simple yet so unattainable for so many! Because it's an organic thing. Cannot be taught! The natural understanding of what genuinely great songwriting is and how it is accomplished. Not with ego or by trying to guess what fans want, but with heart and respect for where the Genre came from. With an actual message and the realization that when it comes to brilliant songwriting, less is always more. Tracks like "Dust's Arrival" don't astonish anyone, but it's just so fucking Death Metal. It's just so Thrash Metal. It's just so easy to wrap that big fat head of yours around that it makes the actual flashy parts feel even more electrifying.

The Gods of Death and Thrash Metal are smiling on us now! In this age of Death Metal that usually has you scratching your head instead of grabbing your balls, Master is right on time with "Among The Seeds Of Death". This is the shit that truly makes the USBM Scene the powerhouse it is, not Cannibal Corpse and Deicide or even Obituary. It's our boys here along with bands like Autopsy and Massacre who are keeping it real as they say. Indulge! Pig out, save none. With "Among The Seeds Of Death" Master reminds us all that if you're heart is not really in it, we will all know, because your band will no longer be able to capture this essence. An exercise in Genre representation at its finest.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10