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11-14 R.I.P. Greg Mayne
08-19 Stream Pentagram's Curious Vol
07-10 Pentagram release new song
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Pentagram are an American heavy metal band formed in northern Virginia in 1971, recognised as pioneers of traditional doom metal. Closely associated with vocalist Bobby Liebling, their history encompasses several distinct lineups, lengthy interruptions and recordings that gradually reached audiences far beyond the band’s original underground following. Their music connects the blues-based heaviness of early hard rock with the darker, more deliberate sound that became characteristic of doom metal.
The original group centred on Liebling and drummer Geof O’Keefe, alongside guitarist Vincen ...read more
Pentagram are an American heavy metal band formed in northern Virginia in 1971, recognised as pioneers of traditional doom metal. Closely associated with vocalist Bobby Liebling, their history encompasses several distinct lineups, lengthy interruptions and recordings that gradually reached audiences far beyond the band’s original underground following. Their music connects the blues-based heaviness of early hard rock with the darker, more deliberate sound that became characteristic of doom metal.
The original group centred on Liebling and drummer Geof O’Keefe, alongside guitarist Vincent McAllister and bassist Greg Mayne. During the 1970s, Pentagram recorded numerous songs, demos and rehearsal tapes, while releasing a handful of singles, including material issued under the name Macabre. Despite this activity, the early incarnation never released a full-length album. These recordings nevertheless preserved a substantial body of work that would become an important part of the band’s later reputation.
A new phase began when Liebling joined Death Row, the group formed by guitarist Victor Griffin and subsequently featuring bassist Martin Swaney and drummer Joe Hasselvander. Death Row eventually adopted the Pentagram name, releasing a self-titled debut in 1985. Peaceville reissued the album as Relentless in 1993, the title by which it became widely known. Together with Day of Reckoning (1987) and Be Forewarned (1994), it established the heavier incarnation of Pentagram as a formative presence in doom metal.
Further personnel changes accompanied Review Your Choices (1999), Sub-Basement (2001) and Show ’Em How (2004). Liebling and Hasselvander recorded the first two as a studio partnership, with Hasselvander handling the instruments, while Show ’Em How introduced another ensemble drawn from the American doom scene. Later releases included Last Rites (2011), featuring the returning Griffin, and Curious Volume (2015).
The archival collections First Daze Here and First Daze Here Too brought renewed attention to Pentagram’s 1970s recordings, allowing listeners to explore the earlier band alongside its established doom metal catalogue. The documentary Last Days Here (2011), which followed Liebling’s struggles with addiction and his return to performing, also contributed to a wider interest in the group.
For Lightning in a Bottle (2025), Liebling worked with guitarist and producer Tony Reed, bassist Scooter Haslip and drummer Henry Vasquez. Released through Heavy Psych Sounds, the album ended a decade-long gap between new studio releases and introduced another lineup with substantial experience in heavy rock and doom.
Pentagram’s sound centres on distorted riffs, weighty rhythms and melodic vocals. Their catalogue extends from slow, ominous doom to brisker, blues-inflected hard rock, retaining a strong emphasis on memorable guitar figures and groove. « hide |
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