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VISION MASTER
Sceptre

Gates Of Hell (2023)
Rating: 8/10

American duo Vision Master are a very interesting act. Consisting of former Funerot members Dan Munro (vocals and guitar) and Reuben Storey (bass and drums, Christian Mistress), this is a band that serves up slightly odd but engaging metal.

The vocals are somewhat of an acquired taste as Munro’s style is rather nasally, but after a few listens I became mesmerized by this dark full-length debut opus which stirs echoes of Mercyful Fate and Megadeth alongside other remnants of 80s mystical metal. More fiery throwback metal then as the deadly duo leads us through dimly light passages and cloying cobwebs, all blown away by sizzling riffs and sneers.

Opener ‘Wolves In The Shadows’ runs like a mix of Megadeth and late 80s Voivod, more so in the vocals but it is very much borderline thrash with the hefty drums, although it remains an infectious and above all a quality track.

Sceptre is a consistent opus, but some of its quirks and unorthodox mannerisms may confuse, For example, the oddly titled ‘Wet Net’ with its strange arrangements, the rawer yet progressive snap of ‘Arc Terminal X’ and my favourite anomaly, ‘Sandstone’.

These guys wouldn’t seem out of place in 1990/91 when metal bands were attempting to branch out, because some of the content here is of great intrigue while ensuring also traditional metal elements alongside weird thrashes. ‘Beyond’ scowls like a trudging black thrash not a world away from a sneering mid-tempo Aura Noir, while ‘Walls Of Bone’ dares to fuse doom with Megadeth.

This is a weird brew but one which keeps the listener guessing throughout. Interesting.

Neil Arnold

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