VISION MASTER: Sceptre

Release year: 2023
Label: Gates Of Hell Records

Nietzsche wrote about the concept of eternal return; the idea that things and phenomena will repeat in perpetuity – and of how one should overcome the fear of this. Now, when it comes to music, this concept has been proven true time and time again. Past trends will always come back in style after a while.

Overcoming the fear of them depends entirely on the style, of course. Nu metal? Fucking scary thought. NWOBHM and 80’s heavy metal? Not so scary. Luckily, US duo Vision Master opt for the latter.

There’s an instant and all-permeating sense of familiarity about Sceptre, Vision Master’s debut album. You can’t exactly pinpoint who or what Vision Master sound like, but in broad strokes, these guys have torn a couple pages off from the 80’s manual for heavy metal and followed those instructions.

So yeah: imagine nascent US style power metal, primordial speed metal and NWOBHM all coming together in a somewhat snotty, rough-around-the-edges concoction. Take all your favourite 80’s bands that fit one or more of the above categories and imagine a latter day pastiche of them, and you’re probably on a very right track.

In other words: snotty, none too polished vocals (a bit like Dave Mustaine of Megadeth without the edge); classic heavy metal riffs alternating with shredding proto speed metal riffs; the whole nine yards.

Original, this is not. Sadly, it’s not very good either. Sceptre is very much a case of “close but no cigar.” In essence, it falls short on all sectors: the vocals are so-so at best; the riffs are competent but unimaginative and uninspired; the melodies are shallow; the choruses are neither catchy nor punchy. It sort of feels like Vision Master forgot to finish writing their songs.

There are moments when the duo come close… but, well, no cigars to be found. Sandstone, for example, has the beginnings of some nice, pseudo epic atmosphere – but only the beginnings; Knife In A Velvet Glove, which starts with an almost black metal blasting and shredding, has some half decent riffing – but only half; the classic metal riffing on Gossamer Sky almost excite – but only almost. It’s very frustrating.

And as such, though Vision Master have pretty much nailed the stylistic trappings of classic, timeless, olden heavy metal, Sceptre is not a very convincing debut album. It lacks good songs, but more importantly than that, it lacks spirit. I mean, to get the essentials of this genre pastiche done this well, but nary a single moment on the album that would be cause for actual enthusiasm? I don’t know what to call that except lack of spirit.

Visit Vision Master on Bandcamp