Review Master Boot Record – Computer Metal

„Computer Metal“ – you could hardly have chosen a more fitting name for a new MASTER BOOT RECORD album. At the same time, this particular designation is something that fits our times in an extremely uncomfortable way. It used to be said: „Der Ton macht die Musik.“ Today, more and more often, a prompt takes over that role. Of course, the essence of MASTER BOOT RECORD was never humanoid. Quite the opposite. D’Amore has indeed at times realised his music primarily through machines, but at the latest since „Hardwarez“ the direction has shifted a little. Or rather, the existing system has been expanded.

In very pragmatic terms, for MASTER BOOT RECORD this is about an increased use of guitars. What was already more than noticeable in 2024 has now been audibly expanded once again. This is made clear straight away with „Dot Matrix“, the opener of „Computer Metal“. Here the shimmering Commodore sounds, which have always been considered pillars of D’Amore’s creativity, meet a driving drum machine and authentic, rhythm-oriented riffs. As a result, „Computer Metal“ reaches a new level of heaviness right from the start. And it is then no longer all that easy to tell who is playing a fast solo at any given moment – the human or the machine.

But after track one the path is already crystal clear for MASTER BOOT RECORD. Whereas the basic tenor of „Hardwarez“ back then was geared towards Bay Area thrash and heavy metal, in 2026 D’Amore ranges completely across the genre landscape. A song like „Plug And Play“ still relies most strongly on transferring classic metal into D’Amore’s machine-based sound cosmos, but that by no means leads to even a hint of the intensity of the almost illuminating melodies being lost. Quite different, almost the opposite, is „Voodoo2“, whose pounding rhythms and dark synthesizers are strongly modelled on death metal-like song structures.

Anyone who is at least somewhat familiar with D’Amore’s second project KEYGEN CHURCH is likely to feel thoroughly entertained by „Boot Sector“, as this track, with its mix of synthetic epicness and majestic guitar arrangements, brings an almost orchestral magnitude into play. In doing so, this piece also provides a fitting contrast to the otherwise very driving nature of MASTER BOOT RECORD. How incredibly intense Vittorio D’Amore’s music can be is also demonstrated by the album closer „Ctrl+Alt+Del“, where gorgeous theatricality, a touch of Stranger-Things feeling and a straightforward, punchy drum-beat come together to form a great final moment that cannot be topped in terms of opulence and grand harmonies. Whether this means shutting down the running system or rebooting it? We shall see.

MASTER BOOT RECORD is and remains one of the most interesting acts within metal culture. This has to be highlighted here also insofar as, with „Computer Metal“, Vittorio D’Amore, very much in keeping with the name of his new album, now finally makes the leap into full-on electric guitar music. Of course, D’Amore also retains his Commodore framing on album number 12. However, the time of purely machine-made music seems to be over for the Italian for the time being. What has emerged from this development consistently continues the path of the predecessor „Hardwarez“ and, despite (or perhaps precisely because of?) the increasing turn towards heavy riffs, can be seen as another successful testament to the great creativity of MASTER BOOT RECORD.

Publiziert am 29. Oktober 2026 von Philipp Sorger