Review: “The Beauty of Pain” by Master of None

Hailing from Perth in Western Australia, Matthew Garrity is the mastermind, multi instrumentalist and vocalist behind Symphonic Death Metal project Master of None. Musing on themes of death, religion and apocalypse, an albums worth of storytelling has been condensed into 23 minutes for debut EP “The Beauty Of Pain“. An affair completed in true DIY or DIE fashion it finds Garrity handling vocals, guitar, bass, drum programming and symphonic instruments as well as mixing the beast. Simon Mitchell (Apocalyptic Remnants, Vestigial, Malus Invictus) mastered the record with his co-conspirator in David Anderton, both from Perth Progressive Metal act Chaos Divine, providing guest vocals.

Instrumental opening cut “The Beauty of Pain” sets a melancholic tone with aching piano and burning orchestrations, subtle nuances appearing in the mix over multiple listens. That makes way for the blistering “Burning of the Thetans“, a chaos of frenzied drum patterns and scorching rhythm guitars before the fierce vocal onslaught begins. A portrait in Blackened Death Metal paints the walls in blood, the lyrical narrative one that grows in stature over time because of the power of the sonic abrasions. Fleeting moments of groove from the guitars between thunderous blast beats work incredibly well, as does a moment of eerie calm from a sample before the final burst of violence. The heavy hitting “Clandestine Psychedelic Therapy” feels like it was birthed by Psycroptic during its heaver parts, such is the quality of musicianship on display here and when the Death Metal blood and thunder makes way for some aching piano it creates an utterly spellbinding moment. That breaks for the sounds of blades being sharpened before bludgeoning finale of the highest order as Garrity does the kind of damage that would require a six piece band if performed live.

A shorter, sharper, harder and faster adventure in Death Metal madness comes in “Race to the Flatline” which hits hard with staccato riff breaks and couple of fleeting moments of Melodic Death Metal lead that make all the difference. An old school style classic that screams of Garrity having all the right influences, this one is so lethally effective it will have you complaining of a sore neck within the first spin. A tune that sounds like it belongs to the latest incarnation of Mad Max, “Drums of War” is more experimental, pushing into Extreme Metal territory with a stompy post apocalyptic edge and clever use of vocal layering. Pitching shriller tones against death growls gives the impression of a twin vocal attack where there is only one and the mid-section is an unstoppable force of nature. Grand finale “Hindsight” features a guest vocal performance from David Anderton of Chaos Divine, his cleans adding an almost mournful dimension to the burnt offering. A towering inferno of a tune that bulldozes its way through everything in its path with consummate ease, this final piece of the puzzle is very much its crowning glory. Razor sharp riffs and powerful percussive battery tear down the blue skies, the warm and yet aching piano in the final moments the calm after the storm. The only issue with this is it leaves you wanting more, feeling like it finishes on a cliffhanger… [8/10]

Track Listing

1. The Beauty of Pain
2. Burning of the Thetans
3. Clandestine Psychedelic Therapy
4. Race to the Flatline
5. Drums of War
6. Hindsight (ft. David Anderton of Chaos Divine)

“The Beauty of Pain” by Master of None is out 28th March 2025