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PENTAGRAM
Sub-Basement
(Southern Lord / Black Widow)
44:41min
Be forewarned: you better stop reading this at once and go out to
your favorite Metal shop to buy this new PENTAGRAM album at any
cost. “Sub-Basement” is a masterpiece and it would be irrelevant
to discuss that any further. So what follows I write only for pleasure,
not trying to convince anybody. “Sub-Basement” is not a mere another
album by another good band, but an act of love for the music, the
fans and the rock and roll life. The title track is simply the best
thing I have heard for the
last five years at least, and stands right now as a classic Metal
song; singer Bobby Liebling,
a legend in his own right, expresses here with a mystic touch his
pride to belong to the underground, without any arrogance nor pose.
Liebling has never compromised himself through the 38 (!!!) years
of his career, and he must be praised for that. PENTAGRAM live only
for the fraternity of their fans and their own pleasure of doing
music and will eternally stand as the most cult of the cult bands;
this occurrence is rather unique, especially these days when only
greed and cynicism count as cardinal moral traits. Musically, “Sub-Basement”
is a monument of classic Doom that easily blows away your mind with
its perfect thick and fat sound that will crush you
into pieces. Half of the album was composed a long time ago,
in the seventies to be more precise, but needless to say the old
songs are totally reshaped here to match with the gargantuan heaviness
of the newer ones. Far from being
a sort of American BLACK SABBATH clone, PENTAGRAM could claim
the same longevity really (albeit with lot of line-up changes),
and have expanded their own style throughout the years. Please note
that once again PENTAGRAM appear as a two-piece, namely Bobby Liebling
and his faithful long-term friend and partner in crime Joe Hasselvander,
the latter playing all the instruments with an enraged intensity
and feeling, like it was the case on the precedent album “Review
Your Choices”. The vocal performance of Liebling is beyond any criticism,
as always the man graces us with his formidable talent, singing
sometimes like a more sinister Gene Simmons for switching just after
that to a tone reminiscent of bluesmen of old. “Sub-Basement” is
about passion, integrity,
and the joyous melancholy of being alone against trends and
mediocrity, a feeling that should be familiar to all dedicated Metal
fan. Make no mistake: this album is about all of us, so do yourselves
a favor by getting it without delay. “Sub-Basement” is a gift from
God.
Edouard Vergriete
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PENTAGRAM
First Daze Here - The Vintage Collection
(Relapse Records)
44:47min
Older Voices From
The Darkside readers may remember that the complete story of the
PENTAGRAM formative years was covered already in the printed version
(in issue # 8 I think, but don’t quote me on that) (you can,
it's correct - Frank). At the
time, me among others could only dream about hearing the tracks
composed by Bobby Liebling and Co during the first period of the
band in the 70’s, long before the DEATH ROW line-up came in the
picture. And when I read that singer / composer Bobby Liebling
actually refused to sell one of his songs to the infamous Simmons /
Stanley duet (because of his hope to see PENTAGRAM getting a major
deal), I remember I thought PENTAGRAM should have been something
very special. Well, thanks to Relapse Records,
all of us can now gain access to a fragment of PENTAGRAM back
catalogue of songs in a very official way, with a rather excellent
sound quality considering the antiquity of the recordings. A couple
of years ago, another compilation (“Human Hurricane”), covering
the same period, was issued on an obscure Canadian label, but I am
not too sure about the legal status of that one. “First Daze Here”
is a nice collections of 12 songs with at least 4 of them never
released before on CD, the rest being the original version of tracks
to be found essentially on later PENTAGRAM albums
in heavier and doomier form. In fact, don’t expect a
festival of Doom here, because the 70’s incarnations of PENTAGRAM
(the line-up happening to include two extra guitarists at different
moments, Randy Palmer and Marty Iverson, with the nucleus Bobby
Liebling - Vincent McAllister - Greg Mayne - Geof O’Keefe
remaining stable) dealt more with a sort of a very Heavy Blues sound
with a mystical touch and a gloomy edge,
at some times very frightening
at some others tainted with sadness and nostalgia (the song
‘Last Days Here’ being a good example of that). This CD appears
like an historical document about a time long past,
the primitive era of our beloved Metal music, and all of
these tracks helped to build the mega cult-status PENTAGRAM
now beneficiates of. One could be only in admiration before
the talent of these musicians who play their songs with passion
without bothering about a hypothetical overnight success. The music
flows with grace, and it is obvious
songs like ‘Livin’ In A Ram’s Head’ (my personal fave, a
little more than two minutes of pure delight featuring a killer
guitar solo courtesy of Vincent McAllister), ‘Forever Be My
Queen’ or ’20 Buck Spin’ were instant classics, because Bobby
Liebling was a master composer in the first place. Each of these
songs is a little jewel in itself and consequently has to be
treasured as a precious work of art.
This review took an unexpected tragic turn when I learned
that Randy Palmer died at the beginning of this month (August 2002)
in a car crash. Randy contributed a famous PENTAGRAM song, namely
‘Starlady’ (featured here) and you could also hear him laying
down some rhythms on two other songs also included on “First Daze
Here”. Note that Randy had his own project back in the 70’s,
called BEDEMON, with Bobby Liebling also singing. The band reunited
some months ago to cut their first album (thirty years after their
legendary first demo!), unfortunately Randy will never see the final
result which will be reviewed here as soon as it will be out.
Meanwhile I can only strongly advise you to get the PENTAGRAM entire
discography as fast as possible because it is a cure for the
mediocrity of our time. Join the Ram’s Heads at http://www.ramshead.org.
Edouard Vergriete
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PENTAGRAM
Turn To Stone
(Peaceville Records)
79:02min
This
17 tracks anthology documents the PENTAGRAM Peaceville Records era.
Those who are already familiar with the three PENTAGRAM albums the
British label issued in the 90's will find nothing more here, as no
unreleased tracks are featured. But “Turn To Stone” is certainly
an excellent introductory course for beginners who can thus be
exposed to the music primitively released on “Relentless”,
“Day Of Reckoning” and “Be Forewarned”, those albums being
for many (myself included) the first exposure they could have had to
these American cult doomsters. Note that the incarnation of
PENTAGRAM I am discussing here was in fact named DEATH ROW at the
beginning of the 80's, and features the classic line up Bobby
Liebling, Victor Griffin, Joe Hasselvander and Martin Swaney, the
three first of them actively involved in the song writing process.
And the main interest of “Turn To Stone” lies precisely there,
because you can confront three different ways of writing music.
Bobby Liebling is obviously deeply rooted in the 70's, and his
tracks bring back to life a forgotten era when Hard Rock and Heavy
Metal were in their infancy (‘When The Screams Come’, ’20 Buck
Spin’, featured in lighter versions on “First Daze Here”, the
Relapse Records compilation also reviewed here). Victor Griffin
can’t hide his obsession with BLACK SABBATH, like in ‘Evil
Seed’, ‘The Ghoul' or ‘All Your Sins’ while Joe Hasselvander
lets out his love for KISS (also shared by Victor) in tracks like
the fantastic ‘Bride Of Evil’, ‘Petrified’ or especially
‘Vampire Love’. All these talents combined could only give way
to smoking hits and you precisely get 17 of them here! Contrarily to
the 70's era PENTAGRAM, the DEATH ROW line-up was more frankly Doom
oriented, delivering full force sludgy crawling riffs in a godly
manner. PENTAGRAM always revolved around a B-Horror movies universe
lyrically wise, and all the tracks featured here are no exceptions
to the rule, giving the recording an added charm. In that regard,
tracks like 'Bride Of Evil' or 'The Ghoul' (the latter probably
inspired by the film of the same title by Freddie Francis and shot
in 1968, during the golden era of the British Gothic Horror movies)
are peculiarly explicit. Essential tracks like ‘Too Late’ (from
“Be Forewarned”) or ‘Broken Vow’ (my personal favorite, from
the “Day Of Reckoning album) are unfortunately not featured here,
so you are not dispensed of buying the complete albums; meanwhile,
and like I said above, “Turn To Stone” is an essential buy to
absolute PENTAGRAM neophytes, a temporary solution for those who
don’t have all the
three Peaceville albums already, and a fine addition to their
collection for those who own all the PENTAGRAM available catalogue!
My only complaint goes for the cover artwork: Peaceville already
messed up with it with their reissues of the first two PENTAGRAM
albums (they should have go for the original vinyl artwork instead),
and they do it again now, using one more time the good old Goat of
Mendes picture! I would have expected more imagination, but it is a
minor annoyance considering the excellence of the music featured
here! For more information about PENTAGRAM and related subjects, go
to
http://www.ramshead.org,
an unofficial (and really good) page run by Penta-fan Mathieu
Deflem. Dare to enter the PENTAGRAM universe and you will never
regret it!
Edouard Vergriete
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PENTAGRAM
A Keg Full Of Dynamite
(Black Widow Records)
39:41min
The
fact this album exists is in itself a small miracle, the kind of
which life in this miserable world becomes more supportable. Mind
you: thanks to an Italian based label run by a bunch of true music
lovers, live recordings of ultra cult Doom band PENTAGRAM captured
in 1978 resurfaces in 2003 in their restored glory. I have got this
one only a few days ago, yet it can't being replaced by another
record in my CD player. And believe me, it is simple to explain why.
Combine killer songs (already known by any self-respecting PENTAGRAM
fan), with a very special line-up (called the "high voltage"
one, because of the presence of two lead guitars) with among the
others a still very young Joe Hasselvander, already the accomplice
of the legendary PENTAGRAM’s vocalist Bobby Liebling, and you got
a fantastic sonic document. The material was recorded in The Keg, a
club where they were accustomed to play at the time. Don’t expect
generous applauses at the end of each track, this record is for real
and the audience was without doubt scarce, but instead screams of
appreciation and loud comments that set up the mood of a smoky hall
haunted by underdogs. In this context, the music sounds corrosive
and raw, with in particular a striking performance from both
guitarists Richard Kuent and Paul Trowbridge who graces us with
hallucinated solos, just listen to the end of ‘20 Buck Spin’,
you will be engulfed in an aural storm difficult to resist to. The
vocal performance of Liebling is one of the best ever recorded on
disc, the little reverb on it even adds a touch of drama in each
song. The overall sound of the band belongs more to the Hard Rock
type (with a dark edge though) than to the Doom side of things like
it is the case with further incarnations of the line-up. Let’s say
that the 1978 version of PENTAGRAM shares a lot of common traits
with what began to go on in England at the time with the surging of
the NWOBHM. The live recording comes with two tracks of the sole
7" issued by the "High Voltage" line-up, namely ‘When
the Screams Come’ and (again, but this track is so good ) ‘Livin’
In A Ram’s Head’, the PENTAGRAM’s hymn if you want. But enough
of my rambling, be sure you get this gem at any cost. A superb
release, by a fantastic band! Thanx to Massimo, Pino and Alberto of
Black Widow for giving us the opportunity to discover this. Visit
http://www.blackwidow.it
and
http://www.ramshead.org.
Edouard Vergriete
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PENTAGRAM
Show ’Em How
(Black Widow Records)
45:05min
The end of PENTAGRAM… I would have never thought it was possible
to write this, but unfortunately, at the light of their latest
offering, now it is a reality. I
am sure you will not read any bad review about “Show’ Em How”
anywhere else, simply because all records bearing the Bobby Liebling
mark are
considered as godly as the invention of hot water on tap
nowadays. This is funny, because when Peaceville Records reissued
the two first PENTAGRAM albums ten years ago (thanks to them
eternally for this), I don’t remember this caused such a stir,
except maybe at Lee Dorrian’s home and of course in the very pages
of… yes, VOICES FROM THE DARKSIDE (in the legendary printed
version). But today of course, with the coming of the “True Doom”
circles, PENTAGRAM (that is now: Bobby Liebling, I will explain
about that), could come out with even a pile of shit (as they just
did) and still receive acclaims. Besides, a lot of people forget
that PENTAGRAM is not just Bobby Liebling (whatever the great
composer and singer he is), but the sum of his talent combined with
the one of his cohorts throughout the years (let’s only cite
Victor Griffin, Joe Hasselvander, Martin Swaney, Vince McAllister,
the late Randy Palmer, Geoff O’Keefe and the list goes on…). All
this to say that I deny the line-up of the “Show ’Em How”
album the right to be called PENTAGRAM anymore. This is the BOBBY
LIEBLING’S BAND if you want, but not PENTAGRAM. No fucking way!
Liebling chose to go with basically the INTERNAL VOID line-up with
the semi legendary Mike Smail
(DREAM DEATH / CATHEDRAL) on drums. INTERNAL VOID were
nothing but a mediocre Heavy Rock band trying to resurrect the 70s
vibes, but failed miserably. So when I learned that the guitarist
and bassist of this band would enter the PENTAGRAM line-up, I had
considerable doubts about the result. And you know, I was right. The
music on “Show ’Em How” is so lame that I felt my heart
breaking the first time I listened to it. Yet some old tracks,
dating back from the 70s, are featured here, but in a massacred
format. The worse example of this is the atrocious version of one of
the most beautiful tracks in the entire catalogue of PENTAGRAM music:
‘Last Days Here’. The rendition of this superb song initially
full of melancholia is a total mess devoid of any feeling, it became
almost a joke track, so much that I felt a jolt of anger piercing my
guts. You can’t say this album is produced as the sound is shitty,
thin like cardboard. For instance the song ‘Starlady’ is not
even mixed like the others, maybe to give the illusion of a vintage
song (the initial version was recorded in the mid-70s), but the
result sounds awful. I can’t even talk about the newly composed
songs of this record because despite at least five listening
sessions, I was left in a sort of deep coma due to a massive attack
of boredom mixed with bitterness. This is a fraud, an insult to all
the PENTAGRAM fans, the very first PENTAGRAM album which tarnish an
until now immaculate legend. This was obviously made to gain bucks
fast and easy, and rushed beyond belief (yet we had to wait an
interminable period of time to finally get this joke, as if it was
the ultimate masterpiece!). Some people pointed at me a good singing
performance on this, it is true, and at least Bobby seems to have
some fun, judging from his little screams and squawks. But believe
me, the joke is on us. Fortunately I didn’t buy this wreck;
somebody lent me a copy before I made this tragic error. Ironically,
“Show ’Em How” should have been the title of the “Be
Forewarned” classic PENTAGRAM album (a real masterpiece this one).
Well, enough said because I am utterly disgusted. This is the very
last PENTAGRAM album I review for this zine, whatever comes after
that.
And what Doom Metal has become today is so ridicule that I
prefer to stick to my old TROUBLE, WITCHFINDER GENERAL, ANGEL WITCH
or, yes, PENTAGRAM records to enjoy this once great musical genre.
ADIEU PENTAGRAM!
Edouard Vergriete
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PERSECUTION
Mental Chaos
(self-financed)
54:50min
Incredible!
This young bunch seems to consist of five highly talented guys! Not
only does PERSECUTION's self financed debut full length album
convince when it comes to the songwriting and technical skills, they
even managed to produce the whole record in their own home studio
(with impressive results!) and furthermore came up with a highly
professional design / packing on their own! There's tons of
so-called established bands / labels out there doing a lot worse
than this! The fact that this present line-up is only together for
about two years will leave you even more speechless, cause all of
the nine songs on this album sound nothing but perfect to me!
Musically PERSECUTION quite obviously try to mix various diverse
influences into a unique style on their own. This means, the basic
core of their material is definitely rooted in raw Death / Thrash
Metal, but due to the catchy melodylines, strong arrangements and
constant use of keyboards, you will easily find references to the
Gothic, mainstream Black or Melodic Death genres as well. Kinda like
older AMORPHIS (especially when it comes to the deep growling vocals
and partly folky sounding elements) meets IN FLAMES (melodic guitar
work), with hints of DREAM THEATER (partly progressive complexity)
and DIMMU BORGIR (overall dark atmosphere and aggression) or
something like this.
I have no idea whether or not they will also be able to fullfill
these big expections in a live environment as well, but judging them
just by this approximately one hour of music, they are destined to
be signed by an established big label, with the possibility for an
easy national (and maybe even international) breakthrough! So,
all in all not necessarily a band for the average VOICES reader into
raw oldschool stuff, but if you're open-minded enough and don't have
any problems with good productions and melodies, you should really
check these guys out! Contact: www.persecution.de,
email: steffen.th@gmx.de Frank
Stöver
BACK
PERSECUTOR
Wings Of Death (Demo 2008)
(Rawblackult Productions)
25:50min
Already released in mid 2008 this release is too good to be
forgotten. Polish Death Black Thrashers (whatever…) PERSECUTOR
deny the brutal and high technical Metal most Polish (Death) Metal
acts used to play these days and offer some furious bastard between
Death and Thrash Metal. Ultra tight, fast and brutal, larded with
tons of breaks this 9 song demotape was a huge surprise for me when
I first listened to it. I have to admit I already have this tape at
home since a longer time and, strange as it is, only started to
listen to it a few days ago, but since then I’m totally into this
great thrashing madness. Besides 8 own songs this tape includes a
cover of NUNSLAUGHTER’s ‘Jesus Is Doomed’ which fits to the
other songs quite well. I have to admit I was never such a huge
NUNSLAUGHTER fan or expert therefore I can’t say if this is a good
coverversion, on this tape it turns out very good. The main focus,
nevertheless, should be on their own creations and these don’t
have to hide. According to their myspace page they are taking
influences from acts as WITCHMASTER, THRONEUM, ABOMINATOR, ORDER
FROM CHAOS, AURA NOIR, GOSPEL OF THE HORNS, NECROVORE or old SODOM.
I don’t really want to compare them to any of these bands as the
range of influences seems to be huge and this mix really makes them
as good as they are. The small Bolivian tape label released this
tape already more than a year ago and I hope that they still have it
available for sale. Take a look at www.rawblackult.com
and get in touch with Carlos (rawblackult@hotmail.com)
immediately. The CD version of it was released through www.time-before-time.com.
Band contact through www.myspace.com/persecutorofficial
Thomas Ehrmann
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PERSEFONE
Truth Inside The Shades
(Adipocere Records)
43:38min
The cover of this album features what it seems butterflies in flames,
the introduction of the record is a delicate piano piece, the
keyboards are over dominant throughout the album, the songs bear
very poetic titles, and some clear voices are mixed with extreme
shrieks. Do you get the message? Yes, another clueless bunch of
musicians offering us a boring proof of their talent. I thought this
form of Gothic faggotry wrapped around an “extreme” frame was a
thing from the past (very much popular around 1995 for the
connoisseurs). Well obviously I was wrong. It seems the torture will
never end. These guys have mixed originality and avant-garde with
putting together disparate musical elements in a disgusting
patchwork of sounds, disjointed guitar riffs, nonsensical attack of
syrup-sounding keys and a total lack of direction vocal wise. I am
sure these young poets are eager to share their delicate inner
feelings and to show off their intelligence. Considering that I am a
goon when it comes to judge music, I am afraid I am not receptive to
this great art due to a dysfunction of some areas of my brain. Keep
in mind PERSEFONE play a progressive form of Death / Black Metal,
like a third rate OPETH
(and still I am generous here) and
you will be in the right direction I guess. Enough with this
one. These guys are from Andorra by the way. If you have nothing
else to do: www.persefone.com.
Edouard Vergriete
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PERVERSITY
In The Garment Of Lust
(Perennial
Quest Records)
35:40min
1995
marked the year of birth for PERVERSITY from Slovakia. The five band
members devote themselves to brutal and technical Death Metal and
after two demo releases finally managed to complete their debut CD
“In The Garment Of Lust”. And well it is a good, complex and
blasting effort, but unfortunately nothing extraordinary in my eyes,
although PERVERSITY are definitively skilful musicians, the songs
lack of the right impact – good Death Metal makes you nod your
head, great Death Metal fucking blows you away, it makes you want to
bang and thrash up your living room! PERVERSITY are just a
“head-nodder” band and sadly there are hundreds of them in the
European Metal scene. Another point of criticism is the very
dominant snare-drum sound, which starts to suck after 5 or 6 songs.
What I really like about “In The Garment Of Lust” is the
bass-play, which reminds me a bit of Steve DiGiorgio and adds an
individual note to the PERVERSITY sound, but that does not make you
buy the CD. The Slovakian Deathers hold a consistent level of
quality, that unfortunately is not more than mediocre, sorry guys!
For more information check out: www.perversity.sk
Stefan Franke
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PERVERSOR
Demon Metal (MCD)
(Hells Headbangers Records)
17:38min
From Chile, this is the new strike of this beast known as PERVERSOR.
I already liked their debut album released on NWN Productions. So
this is basically in the same style of dirty Deathrash / Black that
makes reference to bands like SARCOFAGO, MUTILATOR and old SEPULTURA.
The production is quite raw and maybe primitive, but it also makes
this to sound more oldschool and I am more than confident that it
was done on purpose. As the aforementioned bands, PERVERSOR keeps it
simple with the riffs and rhythm changes, and more than once the
VENOM and MOTÖRHEAD influences shines, thus making the songs to be
memorable head banging tracks. There is a very special effect on the
vox, which makes it sound to be recorded in a cave by an angry demon,
screaming for reinforcements while attacking the unsuspected victims
around. Probably they tend to lose some power in the very fast parts,
as especially the drums gets lost in the vortex of sonic violence.
5 songs are offered in sacrifice here, with a very complete
packaging, including lyrics and images, complementing each track. If
the title does not already told you of what the lyrics are about,
songs like 'Enthrone The God Of Blasphemy' must give you the final
indication. Less melodic than let’s say NIFELHEIM, this brutal
assault of destruction will please the hunger of blood for those
still longing for that primitive South American evil Metal sound. I
would also advise to try getting their debut “Cult Of
Perversion” while you are at it, for more sounds of decay and
blasphemy. There is a die hard edition in colored vinyl for this
MLP, with also big booklet for those collectors out there. www.hellsheadbangers.com
Julián Núñez
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PERVERSOR
Demon Metal (MCD)
(Hells Headbangers)
17:38min
An assault on the senses awaits anyone who spins this on their
turntable. South American bands tend to play so fast as to be almost
incomprehensible, but the Chilean PERVERSOR make their songs both
fast and clear - and that has absolutely zero effect on the ferocity
of the EP. The songs PERVERSOR write are stylistically descended
from the usual set of bands. There's BATHORY, NIFELHEIM, SODOM, and
other such bands whose influence bleed through. One would be hard
pressed indeed to call PERVERSOR original, but originality
oftentimes is not the point. There are certain traditions in Metal
that need to be repeated ad nauseum because they're fantastic. Devil
worship and bleached bones will always rule. PERVERSOR released
their debut album, "Cult Of Destruction", on Nuclear War
Now! in 2008. They were the talk of the town until, the internet
being what it is, shunted attention to something else. And for a
year or so they weren't heard from until Hell's Headbangers
announced this devastatingly good EP. www.hellsheadbangers.com
Nat Shapiro
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PESSIMIST
Slaughtering The Faithful
(Lost Disciple Records)
35:36min
I was made
aware of PESSIMIST's very existence only one year ago, thanks to a link I found
on the MORBID ANGEL website. I discovered then that the band had already two
albums under their belts, namely "Cult Of The Initiated" (1997) and
"Blood For The Gods" (1999), both on Lost Disciple Records. I bought
these two without delay, to then find myself deeply impressed by their fine
brand of brutal Death Metal with a devilish twist. But as good as these two
releases can be (check them out by the way), they are nothing compared to the
brilliance of "Slaughtering The Faithful". This new album introduces
a totally revamped line-up, with main man, founding member and guitarist Kelly
McLauchlin appearing here as the only survivor of the PESSIMIST of old. Such
a drastic change could have killed the band for good, but it has a totally opposite
effect really, PESSIMIST coming through this trial only to become even stronger.
Combining the insane aggression of such acts as KRISIUN, REBAELLIUN, HATE ETERNAL
and DIABOLIC, while keeping their own identity, PESSIMIST belong to the very
elite of Death Metal now. The band sounds tight with ultra-precise surgical
riffing, the guitars buzz like amplified demented insects, and I am not even
talking about the drumming parts delivered with stunning frenzy and total mastering,
almost inhuman! In fact, listening to "Slaughtering The Faithful"
may induce a sort of hypnotic trance, and I found myself totally disconnecting
from the surrounding reality all the while I have been exposed to the attack
of this venomous monster. The highly-dynamic production (courtesy of PESSIMIST
supporter Erik Rutan), while being powerful, gives little room to each of the
instruments, but far from being a flaw here this only adds to the lethal hammer-like
effect the album could produces on the brain. Gone are the DEICIDE-like screams
that you could hear at times on both the previous releases, expect a guttural-only
(and nevertheless understandable) rendition by new vocalist / bassist Ralph
Runyan. "Slaughtering The Faithful" is no less than a metallic holocaust,
I even prefer this to the yet excellent "Vengeance Ascending" album
by DIABOLIC, and it is vastly superior to the somewhat disappointing latest
releases by both KRISIUN and REBAELLIUN. A classic album if you ask me, and
I see PESSIMIST becoming HUGE in a very near future. I suppose that you know
now what you have to do, choose to ignore this at your own risk! AWESOME (AND
I MEAN THIS)!!!
Edouard
Vergriete
BACK
PESSIMIST
Evolution Unto Evil
(Deathgasm Records)
52:51min
Formed back in 1993, PESSIMIST is no newcomer to the scene. I have
already heard some albums like “Cult Of The Initiated” and
“Slaughtering The Faithful”, and although this is a compilation
that ranges from many eras, shows were this band comes from. First
of all we have nothing less than 4 covers from KREATOR, MEGADETH,
DEATH and POSSESSED. I don’t think I can find any MEGADETH sound
in their music, but the others are a good reference, I will also add
that their sound more than once reminded me to VADER, many DEICIDE
parts and some SLAYER is to be found. PESSIMIST belong to the kind
of American Death Metal that has not that much in common with the
style of the Tri-state, but it does neither sound Floridian. There
is more than a European flavor on all of it. On one hand it tries
hard to sound different, but on the other it just lacks something. I
am only speaking of their original compositions, although they give
a very personal touch to the covers (specially the DEATH and
MEGADETH covers), thus at times they do not sound like a cover after
all, as they are adapted to their own style. The recording is very
competent, although I have the feeling that there was more than one
session involved in all the material herein contained, so some songs
sound a bit different in equalization than others. Some songs even
do sound more like a recorded rehearsal than a proper studio
session. The band members are quite capable in their instruments,
and my main complain will be with their vocalist that usually sticks
with the low guttural vocals (not as frog-noise, certainly, but very
generic, yes). Still, after 3 full length albums, their own
compositions lack a certain approach to become interesting to the
more veteran ear. Yes, it is pure Death Metal, but it also sounds
quite often too generic. After a couple more listens, I also find
that the overall guitar tone lack a high pitched attack and keeps it
almost in a mid-treble sound like in “Cult Of The Initiated”,
taking away a lot of power. Songs like 'Tunnel Rats' do have a
better guitar sound, yet in those it is where I can appreciate more
the way they compose and it only reaffirms the fact that although
talented, sometimes they go nowhere and songs sound without
cohesion, just like a running wild technical Death Metal band. This
version also contains an interactive part, so in all it can be seen
as a fans-only release. Otherwise, I would suggest to first check it
out, and besides being a good way to know about the band, there are
still countless other releases far better than this one. They do
have the potential to create something better, but as it is, it is
just an average release. www.pessimist.com,
www.deathgasm.com
Julian
Nuñez
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PEST
Desecration
(No Colours Records)
34:21min
Honestly I don’t know why I got hands on this CD if I have a look
on how much Frank, our chief-editor, praised CRAFT and ARMAGEDDA.
Because compared to at least ARMAGEDDA’s debut-album, this is even
the better choice – a good album of total DARKTHRONE-worship, in
this case concentrating on the albums “Under A Funeral Moon” and
“Panzerfaust” (especially the vocals) and having said that,
there is not much left to say as we all know what this means: bloodfreezing
riffs, hatefilled vocals and a shaver-like production. Honestly I
only have my doubts whether the drum is one with flesh and bones or
a well-programmed humanoid, as the drums partly sound too synthetic,
but I wouldn’t bet on it, could also be due to the production. You
obviously will not find any originality on this album, I am pretty
sure that the last part of ‘Decending’ is also more or less a
copy of a SATYRICON-riff from “Dark Medival Times”, but if this
doesn’t matter and you simply want a good oldschool Norwegian-like
(as these guys are Swedes) Black Metal-album, this could definitely
be your thing. Comes also as gatefold vinyl. http://www.no-colours-records.de
Nhashi
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PEST
In Total Contempt
(No Colours Records)
39:37min
To make it clear from the very beginning: compared with its
predecessor “Desecration”, the new PEST - album is a heavy let
down. While “Desecration”, despite being an obvious DARKTHRONE -
clone, was a very good album, I unfortunately can still not say this
about their new album although I really tried to like it. The
ingredients are still the same “Under A Funeral Moon”,
“Panzerfaust”, but also some newer DARKTHRONE - influences with
songs that could have easily been on their latter more
Black’n’Roll - oriented albums. The problem is however that in
my opinion, the complete range does not work half as good as it did
on “Desecration”. It is too much of DARKTHRONE mixed in one
album, so to say. Still, this is better than many of nowadays bands
that try to sound as the originators of the Norwegian Necro-sound,
but bearing in mind that PEST have shown that they obviously can do
better, this record is a disappointment in my book. http://www.no-colours-records.de
Nhashi
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PEST
Rest In Morbid Darkness
(Season of Mist)
50:19min
So, how many bands named PEST do you know? There are quite a few. In
fact I had only heard about the Finnish PEST. But this one, the
Swedish one, is in fact a bit better in my opinion. Both are Black Metal,
but this demented Swedish duo (which seems to be like that since the
beginning) are more of a direct in your-face Black Metal attack.
Rooted in the early wave of Norwegian Black Metal, which is again
rooted on early BATHORY and HELLHAMMER, they have created in this
album 9 songs of cruelty and blasphemy. With titles like 'Bestial
Crucifixion' and 'Vomit Up The Blood Of Jesus' you can make yourself
an idea. More than 10 years since being created, they have developed
their sound from a more primitive approach to this. At times, it
does remind me a bit of NIFELHEIM, and that probably recalls that
those other Swedes at times sounded like an uncontrolled beast, like
the early south American Death / Black Metal, so it might be the
relation directed that way, although PEST are way more morbid and
less melodic. The production values although kept quite basic, are
more than enough to make things sound quite good and still raw. The
more I listen to it, the more I find interesting things. Pure
blackened demo Metal, as they call it. The only weak point, the damn
awful cover art, but I guess it was intended to be like that. So if
you like primitive, raw Metal, but played with conviction and fury
in a dirty thrashy way, look no further. Oh, yeah PEST hates
myspace!!! Now, I like them more…
www.pest.se
Julian
Nuñez
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PEST
(Finland)
Hail The Black Metal Wolves Of
Belial
(Blood, Fire, Death / Red Stream Records)
46:36min
Finland has always provided excellent and captivating Black Metal
and PEST are no exception. This full length is actually the
compilation of all the tracks PEST recorded from their inception in
1999 until their demise (?) last year (2003, question mark again),
in demo and 7” formats. In a time when it becomes extremely difficult to find
authentic and really interesting Black Metal (except for bands like
URGEHAL, HORNA and FUNERAL MIST) this album should be received as a
gift from the Powers from Below. The main force of PEST lies in the
fact that their Black Metal is no estranged from traditional Heavy
Metal. This is obvious when listening to tracks like ‘Satanic
Winter’ or ‘Towards The Bestial Armageddon’, where the main
riffs are firmly rooted in the JUDAS PRIEST / ACCEPT tradition,
revisited under the guidance of the Black Metal laws of sounding of
course. The album kicks off with a concert of goats bleating (cool
idea…), until the furious nightmarish PEST music takes possession
of the speakers for an unrelenting assault. PEST compose an
extremely graphic music, if that could make sense to you. In fact,
close your eyes while listening to this and you could see ruined
churches under the moonlight and sacrificed virgins upon unholy
altars, in the way the old Hammer films depicted that. So,
maybe I am wrong, but I doubt the PEST musicians take their satanic
stances too seriously, I think they are only here to have fun,
playing good music in the way the old Black Metal Gods (and
especially BATHORY, HAIL THE MASTER!) did before them. Of course the
sound quality is far from crystal clear, but the song writing makes
up for that. Don’t expect an overall speedy record, quite the contrary
actually, as PEST seems more at ease with mid-paced (but very
intense) stuff. Highlights of this record are the only (until now)
unreleased track (‘The Black Conqueror’, very ambitious and well
structured), the atmospheric ‘The Opening Of The Eyes Of Satan’
(build only on slow guitar wails and demented screams) and
‘Possessed Wolves Howling’ with its cool VENOM / IRON ANGEL / MERCYFUL
FATE vibes. Add to all this a lot of leather and spikes, and a tag
“Holocausto is God!” on the back cover (the reason I bought this
CD in the first place!), and you should feel right now the urgent
need to listen to this. This is Black Metal with sense and a real concern for Metal as a whole genre.
Simply superb! Check the regular distros to get this.
Edouard Vergriete
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PEST
Cado Mori
(Ketzer Records)
46:28min
First of all, the band PEST we deal with here is the one from
Germany, just because many bands are active under the monicker PEST
by now as we all might know. "Cado Mori" is the band's 3rd
full-length album after one demo-tape and 2 albums. PEST have
attracted me already with their demo "Schwarze Visionen"
and the first album "Ära" by a certain kind of morbidity
and melancholy their music spreads. PEST celebrate simple and raw
Black Metal with high-pitched vocals and a suitable raw production.
Weaving disharmonic guitar-tunes in the remaining wickerwork, in the
talented way they do, spreads really oppressive atmospheres. This is
the main point what differs PEST from the most other raw Black Metal
bands, they have got this inborn sense of morbid tunes. "Cado
Mori" is not THE "killer release", although it is
really above the average, it comes silently just like the black
death itself. Give it a try! www.ketzer-records.de,
www.pest-musik.de
Andi Bauer
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