On the surface a lot of black metal sounds like a box of bumblebees carried through the Sahara Desert by camel in the midst of a sandstorm, and subsequently don't require scratching deeper to sniff below their murky sounds. However, below the surface of ONE MASTER's hellish buzzing is a gothic underbelly complete with a beating black metallic heart. Tinges of SISTERS OF MERCY and JOY DIVISION riffs barely raise their bowed, cloaked heads but are definitely hidden among the tempo changes from sluggish doom to blastbeat rapidfire in "The Infinite Void". The sloth-like doom chugging of "The Destroyer Part 1" is reminiscent of PARADISE LOST's metal output, however the song grinds to a halt with blastbeats leading into the song's sequel. The time signature variations throughout the album ensure the long songs aren't just a lengthy waste of listening time and CD space.

As with a lot of black metal bands, the music overshadows the vocals so much that the lyrics border upon impossible to make out. The back of the CD cover separates this album into Side 1 and Side 2, so it's clear that some thought has gone into song order as ONE MASTER obviously made this album with a vinyl pressing in mind. Similar processes went into their music which makes it more than a possibility to consider them "thinking man's black metal".

- Carr

OFFICIAL SITE: myspace.com/onemastermetal

RELATED ITEMS: ONE MASTER - "Foresaking a Dead World", 2006