Pentagram is back with Lightning In A Bottle

Album: Lightning In A Bottle

Artist: Pentagram

Genre: #Metal #Rock

Sub-Genres: #DoomMetal

Label: Heavy Psych Sounds Records

Classic Doom Metal band Pentagram is back after a 10-year hiatus with a new lineup and a new album. This new lineup is pretty good. The only returning member is lead vocalist Bobby Liebling, who has been in Pentagram on and off since 1971. On guitars and bass, respectively, we have Tony Reed and Scooter Haslip from Mos Generator. Finally, on drums is the talented Henry Vasquez, who has previously worked with The Skull, Saint Vitus, Spirit Caravan, and Sourvein.

I really like the sound of this album. This is Doom Metal going back to its roots, you get those slower, heavy riffs that still manage to be groovy and the jazzy vocals that I love. One thing about this album took me by surprise: it sounds a lot like Airbourne to me. Not too much, but enough to notice. I think it's because Joel O'Keeffe has a similar way of singing to Bobby Liebling. It's also possible that I'm delusional, but I do like Airbourne, so I'm not complaining.

It's good to see a Doom album like this released, especially because Pentagram is one of the Big Four Doom bands. We've seen action from a few of the others. Candlemass put an album out in 2022, and Trouble followed up with one the very next year. I'm really liking a lot of the Doom and Stoner Metal that's been coming out, and this album is no exception. It just reinforces this positive trend within the genre.

Strangely enough, I haven't heard much about this album. There was hardly any promotion and only a handful of articles upon its release. It really feels like it isn't getting enough attention, the most listened-to song on the album, I Spoke to Death, only has around sixty thousand listens. It looks like most of the promotion has been on social media. I found out about the release through Instagram; it was in the description of a video of Liebling looking like a wizard during a live show. It's really interesting to see a classic Doom Metal band utilizing social media like this. I wonder if social media has helped spread Pentagram to a new audience and if they've gained any real traction through it.

My favorite track on the album is probably In the Panic Room. I think it has a bit more oomf than the other tracks, I really enjoy its bluesy and jazzy elements, and appreciate how it transforms throughout. As a whole, I'd say this album is alright and worth checking out if you're into early Doom Metal or if you have 52 minutes of free time and nothing to do.

Sounds Like: 

1.  Black Sabbath

2. Airbourne

Recommended Tracks: 

1. ​In The Panic Room

2. Lady Heroin

   
   

   here's a link to the album on Spotify

   
   

Reviewer’s Name: Xander Newman