I was actually pretty excited to see that Pentagram got a new album out. Old mate Bobby Leibling as become the subject of a bit of exposure following the wave of internet memes floating around featuring him pulling some demonic faces which I really hope has translated into genuine exposure for both himself and the band.
Pentagram as basically the second Heavy Metal band in existence established a year or so behind Black Sabbath and even though they never made the impact on the scene they should have, they are considered leaders in the doom scene. The last album I heard of theirs was fairly recent in the scheme of things and I quite liked it. It felt like Pentagram and had some great songs on it. This album starts off with a fairly generic stoner rock type song which had me worried that the band had basically just gone and imitated a bunch of bands that had come along after it.
Thankfully the album seemed to revert to the Pentagram style we all know and love after that first song, what follows is a wild ride into the dawn of heavy metal with some fantastic riffs and well crafted songs. The band is in fine form and Bobby’s voice sounds great, I can hear a bit of Black Sabbath influence but generally speaking this is the style of metal Pentragram created. Phew! Some excellent guitar solos too! All the songs really are great but one that stands out is the haunting “Lady Heroin” about Bobby’s own battle with addiction. The song ends a little abrubtly but then seems to reprise itself at the end of the album(?). Lyrically a lot of this seems to follow on the themes of Lieblings’ addictions and the time he’s wasted being a slave to them. This is another album I’d like to study the lyrics of a little more closely. It’s sad stuff actually but I guess might serve as a warning to others.
Overall, I really enjoyed this album, it’s one of those albums that can’t be made without experienced musicians and the lived experience of the horror of Leiblings’ life behind it. You can in many ways feel the man’s horror and despair. I’d recommend anyone into the old school of Metal, or those looking to discover the old school gear to check this out.
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