Master Boot Record – Hardwarez Review • metal.de

MASTER BOOT RECORD are now following up on their extremely successful records “Floppy Disk Overdrive” and “Personal Computer”, previously released by Metal Blade, “Hardwarez” – and thus seamlessly follow on from this predecessor, at least as far as the quality of the material is concerned ( although the official releases are of course all worth listening to). There is still first-class synthesized metal to be experienced, which combines driving riffs with bombastic, neoclassical elements that could be taken directly from a video game soundtrack.

MASTER BOOT RECORD: The duality of man and machine

MASTER BOOT RECORD has developed a very independent, almost unique style that is refined a little with each release. The project by mastermind Vittorio D’Amore (aka Victor Love) has a new element at the start this time too: For the first time, Love doesn’t exclusively use programmed guitar sounds, but now in places real guitars, played by his humane string support, affectionately called Shreddy. This is a development that can certainly be attributed to the intensive touring: the live set is also reinforced with a human guitarist. This new element gives the songs on “Hardware” a little more warmth and approachability, apart from famous guitar solos.

Each of the nine tracks on “Hardwarez” could also be arranged as a pure metal track with the usual heavy metal band instrumentation, which is recognizable on “Hardwarez” as never before in the sound of MASTER BOOT RECORD. Regardless of whether it goes more towards heavy metal with “RAM”, more modern power metal shines through on “HDD”, it sounds a little more like symphonic death metal like “PSU” or a really heavy banger with the final track “CASE” is delivered. Each of the tracks has a special energy: the sound presses on the audience powerfully and full, with almost no pause for breath. There’s hardly any time to breathe; the almost forty minutes of playing time feel like they’re racing by.

The fact that MASTER BOOT RECORD manages to reduce all of the aforementioned metallic styles and other influences to a minimalist midi level and thus transfer them into his self-created sound universe is quite remarkable. The fact that Mister Love created his first compositions for “Hardwarez” live as a YouTube stream is more than an interesting anecdote, it is an expression of his joy in trying things out and the approachability of his work.

“Hardwarez” adds human components to the machine

With such a creative spirit like Love, who also lives out his love of classical music with Keygen CHURCH, it wouldn’t be surprising if MASTER BOOT RECORD didn’t conjure up a small update for the upcoming follow-up work. Love is too keen to experiment to run the risk of MASTER BOOT RECORD’s sound ending in a creative dead end at some point. The fact that he never loses sight of his solid musical basis makes releases like “Hardware” somewhat predictable, but also pleasantly reliable and pleasantly credible.

MASTER BOOT RECORD remains true to itself and its fan base and with “Hardwarez” delivers another high-class album that does not have to hide from any of the previous releases and once again develops the distinctive sound in a understandable way.

Not metal but still interesting for many metalheads: synthwave. The electronic genre around apocalyptic end times, palm trees in Miami and neon signs is regularly honored on metal.de with a selected release. Also: Synth Or Die!