I bet there are quite some Voices-visitors out there who have waited anxiously for PENTACLE's newest attack and the various delays because of technical problems, if I remember correctly, made things only worse. Now I finally hold this newest strike of "ancient Death" in my hands and though it appears to be a more of a "grower" it is 100% PENTACLE and should not disappoint any fan of this band. Wannes vocals are still the same, this very Van Drunen / Tardy-like old school scream- / growling, the riffing quotes all kinds of old school Thrash & Death Metal from FROST / HELLHAMMER to NECROVORE and with the occasional relatively twisted song structures mounts in a fascinating piece of Death Metal, that does not wear off as soon as many other releases do nowadays. The lyrical side of "Under The Black Cross" is also quite interesting and rather untypical for PENTACLE, because for the first time they created a concept album dealing with a story from World War II (a topic untouched by this band so far, I think). The eight songs offered here (among which is one instrumental) are not as accessible as the ones on the "Ancient Death" release, but if you give the album a few spins the magnificent riffs (e.g. in 'March Of The Campbletown' from 2:45min on comes a hellish OBITUARY - like brainmelter-riff, killer!!!) and the "hits" (e.g. the duet with Chuck Keller / ex-ORDER FROM CHAOS, VULPECULA, ARES KINGDOM '(Storming Through A Hail Of Steel') will surface and reward you double-time in the end. "Under The Black Cross" is not just a dull old school blast, but a highly varied, intense and addictive album exposing more and more qualities with every listen. And, regarding the production-side of this release, the word "perfect" says everything! Buy or "await the blast of death"!!! www.iron-pegasus.com, www.pentacle.nl

Stefan Franke

< back   |   print   |   report errors   |   order from Amazon.de   |   order from Amazon.com