Master Splinter recently announced an upcoming LP (out September 20th), now the band is back with a new song
Rising like a Phoenix out of the dumpster fire of Portland, Oregon, Master Splinter has a simple mission: To melt faces as the booties shake. Their style is a unique approach to hard rock, blending monolithic riffs and heavy psychedelic leads with dynamic, prowling bass lines and progressive style drumming hit so hard it would make Danny Carey wail like Chewbacca himself. It all ties together with powerful and melodic vocals injected with a fresh and unique innovation as well as a tongue in cheek irreverence for the endless absurdities of modern life. Lyrically, songwriters Mick Arrell and Jason Schauer prefer to weave together epic stories to create a dramatic scene for their listeners. Metaphorical characters and scenarios are used rather than straight forward narratives. All this combined with a cohesive and tight musical arrangement, they’re somehow able to coalesce their different musical influences into a powerful, resolute and confident aggression that passes on the drama and the politics, but embraces uplifting energy, humor, and above all a message of unity.
The group was initially formed in 2021 by Mick Arrell, who had just returned to his hometown of Portland, Oregon after living abroad. He had been a staple in music communities all over the world, including Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kyoto and Manila. Before his time overseas, Mick had been heavily involved in the Portland, Oregon music scene for well over a decade. He played in local acts Even in Paradise, The Martyrs, and Horus, along the way sharing the stage with acts such as Rob Wynia (Floater), The Shaky Hands, The Shiny Things, Snow Bud and the Flower People, Black Pussy, Danava, Sons of Huns and many more.
Mick met bassist Jason Schauer and drummer Mike Artinian in 2021 and Master Splinter was born. The band took their time for the first couple years. Writing songs, honing their craft and dialing in their unique brand while Mick built and established Splinter Studio, where all of their material is recorded and produced. Since 2023, the band has hit the ground running. With a steady release schedule, live performances, continuous content creation and all manner of DIY music marketing, the band is as focused, driven and productive as any of the big names out there. Aaron Bree, drummer of the aforementioned metal band Horus, has since taken over percussion duties and added his progressive style to the band’s stoner/psychedelic foundation. Now that the trio is solidified, the band is ready to bring rock music back into the forefront of the popular imagination.
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