Being active since the beginning of the 80's in the extreme Metal scene, Paul Speckmann is the true MASTER of the Thrash/Death metal sound. "Saints Dispelled" is his 15th full-length album in which Mr.Speckmann (bass/vocals) delivers his craft with the help of Alex Nejezchieba (guitars) and Peter Bajci (drums). The album is released by the legendary Dutch label Hammerheart Records and inside you will find eight tracks (plus two bonus songs depending on which edition of the record you have) of pure aggressive MASTER sound.

Everything starts with "Destruction in June" and from the first tunes you will feel the urge to start banging your head due to the stomping tempo, shredding guitar riffs and the barking vocals of Paul Speckmann. MASTER know very well how to combine in the best possible way Thrash/Death Metal with Punkish sound and their new album is not an exception to that. "Walk in the Footsteps of Doom" comes second, it begins with a drum pattern and then evolves into a mid-tempo audio stomper with an impressive double-bass work from drummer Peter Bajci combined with the clinging bass of Speckmann. The title track "Saints Dispelled" continues the headbanging rhythm in the typical MASTER vein - music that is able to create big moshpits when performed live. "Minds Under Pressure" is one of my personal favourites from this record with its memorable chorus part and a guitar riff that reminds me of MORBID ANGEL. "Find Your Life" surprises with a loony punkish melody on the guitar and the following "Marred and Diseased" is the most MOTORHEAD-like track on the album with a remarkable Rock'N'Roll feeling in the guitar work just the way Lemmy and his comrades used to do it (but heavier of course). The last two tracks "The Wiseman" and "The Wizard of Evil" are just your typical MASTER galloping tunes with nothing special about them. As for the two bonus tracks in the CD version, "Nomads" is a simple Thrash/Death audio attack with some AUTOPSY influences in it and "Alienation of Insanity" is an over eight minutes long epic (I am not sure if this is the longest track in MASTER's career but it could be) with predominantely slow tempo, twisted guitar leads and the agonizing vocals of Speckmann above all.

"Saints Dispelled" offers nothing new to the public, it is not revolutionary or innovative in any way. But it doesn't have to be. Paul Speckmann is in this game for several decades already and he has managed to create his own distinctive sound that no one can immitate. If you like MASTER, you will like "Saints Dispelled" too.