So, here we have an enjoyable chat with Paul Speckmann about DEATHSTRIKE and some other things.

To me, all of the bands (MASTER, ABOMINATION, SPECKMANN PROJECT) he has been/is involved in are killer.

Furious death/thrash with plenty of aggressiveness and awesomeness. Plain and fucking simple. If you happen to be in Germany this year, go and see DEATHSTRIKE live.

They crush. Ok, read on.

Hi Paul, how are you doing?

- Doing great, just returned from Germany from playing a great festival called Taunus Metal Festival, it reminded me of why I like the underground so much brother!

Nothing like this kind of atmosphere to keep a crazy old man like me in the scene!

Paul, what is the current status of DEATH STRIKE? According to Metal Archives, the band is active. And your label has been Nuclear Blast. Could you please elaborate a little on what is going on these days, what the current line-up is, how often you rehearse and so on?

- It's obvious to anyone out there that this is MASTER, plays DEATHSTRIKE, it's the same lineup at the moment or whatever lineup I choose to play the songs I wrote in 1985 along with Mittelbrun!

And further, what is DEATH STRIKE`s relationship with MASTER? As I can see DEATH STRIKE and MASTER share members with each other (Ruston Grosse and Pat Shea).

- Ruston Grosse and Pat Shea left the band MASTER for personal reasons and reside in the USA these days brother! Pat has become a pilot, and Ruston, teaches drums online and in person in Florida as well as filling in from time to time with famous bands, like in example his next show with INCANTATION! I wish the fellas the best with their lives of course, we had some killer times and made some killer memories together!

Can you please tell us some more about this “Fuckin` Live” album from 2015? What is this Obscene Extreme Asia, by the way?

- Curby and Obscene Extreme here in the Czech Republic had a few international festival shows in Asia and Mexico as well! We were invited to play the Obscene Extreme Festival Asia and one of the three evenings was recorded live!

As I can see you guys are going to be performing at Thrash Nightmare in October 2023 in company with plenty of other awesome bands. I am sure you guys must be pretty excited about it! Wish I could come over and see you play live! How often do you play live yourselves and how often do you go and see other bands play live?

- We are back at it playing 50 or more shows this year, thankfully things have picked up since Covid disappeared here! I look forward to playing shows equally my friend! Once in a while I go to a show to support friends, but as often as we play live, I prefer to visit my own gigs! At 60 years old things change a bit my friend!

I have always wanted to know why DEATH STRIKE`s demo 1985 has been so royally ignored (or maybe let`s say underappreciated) by deathrash fans…a lot of people seem to consider POSSESSED or DEATH as pioneers of death metal but they weirdly tend to forget about MASTER’s demo 1985 (and rehearsal) and DEATH STRIKE`s fucking death from the same year. Or ABOMINATION`s demo 1988!! These demos fucking crush!!!!!! Always have and always will!

- People are sometimes blinded by the truth, the truth often hurts and many time pioneers are forgotten, but we play on and deliver intense concerts frequently so be it!

I live always in the future; the past is somehow meaningless too me now!

Paul, you have been living in the Czech Republic for many years now, right? 23 years now! Can you please tell me whether you feel more American or Czech? Do you speak the Czech language? Have you been Czech`fied and if yes, to what extent (food, mentality and so on)?

- My language skills have much to be desired, but my understanding is better of the Czech language! Obviously for me, this was the best choice I ever made in my life, the beer, the food, and my family here in Czech are the best ever! If, and when I tour America, which is every several years, of course I cannot wait to get back home where I live In Stare Mesto, believe me!

I have no desire to ever return to the USA, unless a decent tour comes up again one day sir!

But how much are you the same guy you were back in Chicago in the mid-80s? Do you still blast metal stuff all day long? Do you still collect music on cd, dub tapes or read zines? Are you still in touch with all the people from your home city who were around when MASTER, DEATH STRIKE or ABOMINATION were (more) active?

- No, the jealous fools who never left Chicago to do another thing can cry all they wish. I made something of myself and don't have time to look back at their failures, good riddance! You would think people would be happy that one of their own made something of themselves, but all they are filled with, is envy! I have certainly changed in some things, I only listen to old Metal stuff, not interested in the newer bands, but this happens when you reach old age! I certainly see a few great younger bands on the road and I wish them the best of course, The Metal must live on!

There have been no new songs since 1991, right? Are you currently working on any new DEATH STRIKE tracks? If yes, are you going to perform these songs at this Thrash Nightmare fest?

- No new songs, this is only a chance for me to share the DEATHSTRIKE-MASTER tracks in their original form and a chance for me to enjoy myself, as the original DEATHSTRIKE lineup lasted a few months and never played a live show together! For that matter also, the original lineup of MASTER played 3 shows together, this is, was the sad reality for the other members! Dreamers they were, and I am still living the dream! Some guys chase women and use too many drugs and fall by the wayside!

Ok, can you please tell us about your plans for 2023. Do you plan to play live at any other fest either in the Czech Republic (apart from the above said fest of course) and abroad? Any chance DEATH STRIKE/MASTER/ABOMINATION fans can see you in Poland?

- DEATHSTRIKE has one more show this year in Germany as well, and anyone who wants to contact the band for a gig in Poland, can write me at Adres poczty elektronicznej jest chroniony przed robotami spamującymi. W przeglądarce musi być włączona obsługa JavaScript, żeby go zobaczyć.

That’s pretty much it, I think. Anything to add. Thanks a lot, and take care.

- I really have also nothing to add here except, as I always say, support the underground and your local scene, this is the way we can continue in Metal! speckmetal.net for more info!

 Paweł Wojtowicz