Pentagram: Last Rites – new album

Legendary pioneers of not one but two subgenres of hard rock, doom and stoner metal, and one of the most influential underground bands in heavy metal history, PENTAGRAM, have just released their highly anticipated new album entitled ‘Last Rites’. If you can’t find your copy in your usual record store, get it right here at Metal Blade Records, where you can listen to PENTAGRAM's new song ‘Treat Me Right’ as well. Another new song taken from the CD containing 11 new “behemoth tunes that fans have been clamoring for since the last Liebling/Griffin masterpiece [‘Be Forewarned’] was released in 1994” is available below. The album cover was created by artist Mo Moussa. If you’d like to read more about the album do so at this location (The Obelisk).

When singer Bobby Liebling met guitarist and drummer Geof O’Keefe in 1971, they decided to join forces and start a new group that would play music influenced by the heavier bands they both loved. And so, PENTAGRAM first came into existence. “Classic” PENTAGRAM lineup began rehearsing soon after, with Bobby Liebling singing, Vincent McAllister on guitar, Greg Mayne on bass, and Geof O’Keefe on drums. Group's repertoire reportedly consisted of nearly 80 original songs, written or co-written by Bobby Liebling by the time their first 7”, ‘Be Forewarned’, was released (under the name MACABRE). Some of their earlier material can be found on two compilations released through Relapse Records; ‘First Daze Here’ (2001) and ‘First Daze Here Too’ (2006). After quite a few almost-signed records deals with major labels gone sour, PENTAGRAM decided it was time to take a break (1976). In 1980, bassist Lee Abney and (BLACK SABBATH-obsessed) guitarist Victor Griffin formed a doom metal band named DEATH ROW. Not long after the pair enlisted drummer Joe Hasselvander and vocalist Bobby Liebling, the group officially assumed the PENTAGRAM name (once again). In 1985, with Stuart Rose replacing Hasselvander on drums, they finally recorded a full-length self-titled album. (It was re-issued by Peaceville Records in 1993 as ‘Relentless’.) Second album, ‘Day Of Reckoning’, followed in 1987 (Napalm Records): “The album is arguably the most faithful tribute to the original spirit of BLACK SABBATH ever committed to tape,” commented AllMusic's E. Rivadavia. “ ‘Day Of Reckoning’ remains PENTAGRAM's best all-around effort, and provides an ideal first glimpse at this very influential, but seriously overlooked group,” he concluded. Liebling, Griffin, Hasselvander and bassist Martin Swaney recorded and released third full-length, ‘Be Forewarned’ in 1994 (Peaceville Records). “But the musical climate of the time was very unfriendly to heavy metal of any kind, and the doom scene had never managed to coalesce as expected, leading PENTAGRAM to another, seemingly final breakup,” wrote Eduardo Rivadavia. But Liebling, retaining vocal duties, and Joe Hasselvander, taking care of all instrumentation, continued as a duo and as such released 1999's ‘Review Your Choices’ and 2001's ‘Sub-Basement’ (Black Widow Records). Liebling enlisted the talents of INTERNAL VOID's guitarist Kelly Carmichael, bassist Adam Heinzmann, and drummer Mike Smail, to record 2004's ‘Show ‘Em How’ (Black Widow). In 2005, Liebling overdosed backstage Washington D.C. Black Cat club, had to be revived by the paramedics, got dragged up onto the stage by friends where he collapsed during the first song and died twice on the way to the hospital but ended up pulling through. “Things never came easy for Liebling though,” reads official press release, “they say that it is at these times of deep darkness that the light ends up shining through the clouds brighter than ever. Liebling reached out to Griffin who, missing his old band mate and mentor, and seeing how hard he was trying to fly straight, agreed to a small run of U.S. dates in the spring of 2010.” In the fall of 2010, a three album deal with Metal Blade Records was announced.

PENTAGRAM: Call The Man – courtesy of Metal Blade Records

PENTAGRAM features: Bobby Liebling – vocals, Victor Griffin – guitar, Greg Turley – bass and Tim Tomaselli - drums