TEMPLE OF OMEGA - MASTER Interview

We are the masters of our own destiny indeed man! So let's stay a bit in those early days. Which were the bands you were listening to in the days? I always found Tommy G Warrior as someone who had an impact on you musically especially on the early stuff, is this just a personal impression or? And which bands today, both from the ones you toured with or the ones u listened to do you deem worth of your respect?

Actually I began listening to Tom as you put it so well after the Master demos and Deathstrike stuff was already completed. I was certainly a Hellhammer and Celtic Frost enthusiast after hearing them, but they had no influence over my bands whasoever. The bands I was listening to were Black Sabbath, GBH, The Exploited, Discharge and Venom of course. The drummer was really into Slayer and of course we were both in awe of motorhead for sure. There are many bands to respect out there for sure. I had a great experience touring with Obituary in 2004. Testament was really cool in 2005 as I worked as a merchandiser for the support bands on this tour and I have to say that the Testament band members and roadcrew were really cool with me and very down to earth surprizingly. I also had a bit of fun with Dissection and Watain as well on a tour with them! You have to respect all the old bastards that are still going today as well, Motorhead, Sabbath, Deep Purple etc.

Yes indeed, the bands you mentioned do indeed deserve respect. So years back when you moved to the Czech Republic, was it "just" to break away from the all hearing all seeing big brother or there were other things drawing you particularly to CZ? How is life in general and the metal scene compared to your former home?

I was on tour in 1999 with Malevolent Creation, Master, and Krabathor in a school bus for 44 concerts in 50 days I suppose. In this situation you either become friends or enemies and we all became fast friends on the System Shock tour. I began jamming with Skull from Krabathor, just improvising and one thing led to another. Guitarist Kryštof and I discussed a project in the near future as I always do with musicians I like. But this time around it really happened. I spoke with Andy at the label and he agreed to buy a ticket and front us the money to record a project called, Martyr, Murder X the end of the game on System Shock. During the Martyr recordings Krabathor bassist Bruno left the band and the guys asked if I would consider joining the band Krabathor. At the time and even today I feel that anyone who really believes in their craft will travel anywhere to pursue his or her dreams. I actually left America when Bush came into power so I was lucky really! The first tour with Krabathor was in Japan so I made a great choice and my life changed after a few years. I was actully able to support myself with the music in Europe as the concerts never stopped happening and even today I am busy every year. Moving to The Czech Republic was the best move I ever made. At first it was a bit difficult to adjust, but where there is a will there is a way, and I found it! There are concerts and great festivals here where I live and the scene is supported for sure by all the Metal people. Obscene Extreme and Brutal Assault are just a few of the notorious festivals here. The interesting thing is that there are several festivals going on here at the same time often in the summer and all festivals are packed regardless if they are even on the same day.

Indeed, where there is a will there is a way. You made it and that's fantastic! Master are bigger than ever! Indeed when years ago I heard your albums with Krabathor I wouldn't have imagined you'd move there but I am glad you did and that it turned out great for you. As you mention you left the USA before baby Bush rose to power (under the ever watching eye of the big corporates of course) a presidency that really changed the world from bad to worse. With big power comes big responsibility and he managed to screw everything up even more. I m not saying our European leaders are any better (but at least they do not have the military machine the US does), name them all, they are all a bunch of soulless monsters...and despite all the effort by a fistful of brave people the masses are still under hypnosis or too damn lazy to care. Do you see any solution to this? Or at this step what scenario can you envision?

Certainly it's time for the youth of today to open their eyes and clear their fucking minds. It's time to give power back to people and bring these maniacs down. Today the politicians and the governments are drunk with power for sure. If the youth of today would organize as there are millions of them world-wide, then these power mongers could and would be brought down for sure!

The banks and many other corrupt organizations have way to much power and influence over society in general. So I really hope in my lifetime someone addresses this issue. After all there are so many clever young people today that someone should be able to organize a revolution. We live is society that's told what to think, where to go what to wear, what to eat etc. The time for change is now, so all I can do is appeal to the young people to show their strength and bring a new and free world to future generations! Free thinking needs to return to civilization!

If the sheeple (to quote a term by late Will Cooper) awake this will happen! The same group of people and their heirs have been ruling and mangling the planet, it's creatures adn its resources for far too long now. It's time to rise and change things. So called conspiracy theories are proving everyday to be solid facts and this is awakening some groups of people to take what is rightfully ours, Our lives and our freedom! Thank you for addressing this issue Paul, and now for a lighter question. When Paul Speckmann is not too busy researching, writing lyrics and music, touring and promoting Master what does he do?

I often read fiction and non-fiction about crime and punishment, murder etc, but I also read books on many different subjects as I believe knowledge is power of course. I walk the dogs every morning and try to mail all the many orders I get for merchandise. I cook, and clean the house as my wife works throughout the week. I try as often as possible to get the guys in the band to practice but this is a difficult task to do unless there is a tour or a new album coming up. I am certainly the only real serious player in the actual band Master afterall it is my baby so to speak so life goes on. During the summer I ride my bicycle through the forest to get peace of mind and in the fall I search for edible mushrooms for cooking of course. I have a pretty relaxed life I must say, but I have to play shows to pay the bills so I am searching for more tours and concerts every day nearly!

Thank you so much for giving us so much of your precious time dear Paul. it was a pleasure and an honour to interview you for our pages. If there is anything of immediate interest to MASTER / SPECKMANN fans feel free to say it now. Last words are yours Master!

Of course I want to thank all the Speckmann supporters out there that have seen me through my ups and downs, triumphs and defeats, without the fans and the magazines there would be no words from me, and I certainly enjoy sharing my thoughts with one and all. Everyone remember please, that opinions are like assholes, everyone has one, so if you don't agree with my words it's allright, it's called freedom of speech and it is certainly one of the most important freedoms will still have. Thanks of course to Godwin Borg for such a thought provoking interview!

Welcome to our pages Paul, The name Paul Speckmann is for those into heavy Thrash and death metal synonymous with an undying legacy of metal that not only unlike many other contemporary bands you have been in and bands that came later did not compromise but like very few stayed true to it self and possibly got heavier. Please expand on this.

I have always felt that staying true to oneself is the most important thing a musician can do! Unfortunately today many bands, famous included, jump on trends in order to make more money. I realize that money is important to everyone don't get me wrong, but staying true in Metal is important in my eyes. I never began playing Metal with an idea of getting rich in the monetary sense of the word, but by all means, I am rich in experience and have traveled the world playing my music. Alex Bouks from Goreaphobia and Incantation said the other day, that Master gets angrier and more aggressive with each outing. I hope to think that this is true!

I couldn't but agree with Alex Bouks on this one. You latest album The Human Machine is the perfect example of how a band can evolve without compromise, the album is both technical and aggressive and as many people noticed a super tight work for the Master trio. Give us your insight on this new Master-piece Paul.

We went straight forward in a quest to bring a heavy Master album to the world. On the Human Machine we used the same game plan so to speak. With albums it's hit or miss and I think people can feel the intensity and the music on The Human Machine as it speaks for itself. We live in a violent aggressive world today and I like to bring this into the music. The world around us always influences the stuff I write. Also the key ingredient here is the stability of the lineup. After 8 years things are just getting better with each album. The latest recordings are killer as well. The new album called The New Elite will be out in a few months. This new masterpiece has 11 tracks of intense brutality for the listeners. You can find a new song called Smile as you're told on Youtube, Facebook etc.

Speaking of your lyrics they always reflected contemporary issues of the time of writing of the songs. Human nature, politics, injustice etc. Very obviously you are very aware and very well read on a variety of topics, I believe that the more you know your opponent the higher the chances of beating him, as in knowledge is power. Which themes can we expect to hear about in the forthcoming album The New Elite (the name itself is also very explanatory)? and have you ever been attacked for the brutal reality of your themes?

Lyrics are the most important thing to me. It's like sharing my own personal views on the world around us. Unfortunately freedom is nearly lost. The governments of the world today have too much control over the individual people! It was once called power to the people, today it's power over the people. The US government for example has too much influence over the world. The bully needs to be put too rest. People need to fight for change and stand up and be counted or freedom will be forever lost! I've never been attacked for speaking out but for certain someone is listening. Twice during Skype interviews the minute I began talking about the US government the Skype went dead. It happened live during a Canadian interview and twice during other interviews in the USA. Big Brother is listening to everyone! The next thing to go will be freedom of speech and when this is gone my music ends unless it can be transmitted underground. I suppose I will always be in the underground because I refuse to sell out!

Much respect for this attitude, for keeping an open mind and eyes and more importantly for teaching the ones who are blindfolded through your lyrics, that I also highly value. What you say is so true Paul and it has always been the case, let's just go back to Pledge Of Allegiance, when you did this song. The lyrics are word by word the American pledge of allegiance, back then what made u record it as a song?

Actually the song was written by original drummer and Master co-founder Bill Schmidt. He was always against society and its limits, but the biggest problem with Bill is that he was always afraid of his own shadow. The concerts and fans terrified him, he was more into sitting in his mom's basement smoking weed that was supplied by yours truly as he never had any money or a pot to piss in. I supported his ever growing drug habit in the early days until I had finally had enough and left this idiot in Chicago and moved on to greener pastures. He can be found walking in the forests of Chicago today talking to himself or anyone else that will listen about how he founded Master and created everything which is the furthest thing from the truth. He copied the Batman logo and even went as far as driving a 1963 Cadillac that reminded me of the Bat mobile, which regularly ran out of gas when we were driving. But as always I would fill the tank for the Master. Who is the Master now?

Awesome story man, i didn't know any of this! And now that you mention it, how did the name Master come up? I have always considered Master as one of the pioneers of extreme metal. Now it's time to ask where the name comes from and why? (apart the obvious reasons)

Actually the name came from the song Lord of this world from the Black Sabbath album called Master of Reality and the guy that actually named the band was Rïck Hernandez from a Chicago legend called Witchslayer, a band from around the time of bands Warcry, Thrust and Zoetrope. He and Bill hung out from time to time even jamming sometimes without me and cheating like lying bitches, sort of like cheating on your spouse! I peronally believe you are the Master of your own destiny so this is what the name means to me.