Pentagram

These guys were one of the most influential cult extreme metal bands of all time. Chile's Pentagram were relegated to ultra obscurity during the nineties death metal boom because of their geographical isolation and their lack of official recordings. These two demos from 1987 are a tantalising dose of a band that could have been one of the greatest death metal bands ever.

This is intensely rhythmic, driving death metal born from chaotic thrash. Short bursts of lead guitar are slotted neatly within the mass of pulsating riffs, with the vocals barked over the mix in true percussive style. The most obvious influence is Possessed’s 'Seven Churches', though Pentagram’s song writing is leaner, better crafted, and more minimalist in their rhythmic experimentation.

The songs have a throbbing, deliberately monotonous feel to them, particularly on the stronger 'Demo I'. This marks Pentagram as clear precursors to the hypnotic black metal aesthetic taken to such extremes on records like Darkthrone's 'Transilvanian Hunger'. At the same time you can hear how the band influenced 90's death metal. Recordings like "Gardens of Grief" and "Soulside Journey" likely have their roots in these demos, which might be the earliest example of such eerie, off-kilter, twisted death metal.

Nice! The guys at Picoroco Records did a very good job in restoring this old tracks. Both of the demos are featured here, so if you want a description of the songs, go to my reviews on each respective demo. I must say the six tracks sound killer on digital format and there's a feel of a more "full" sound when compared to their old versions on tape.

Oh yeah, two live songs are included as bonus tracks, both of them taped from a gig somewhere in November 1987, at the Manuel Plaza gym where Pentagram did some of their most famous concerts. It seems like the tape was somewhat worn out, there are some lows at the volume here and there, but with the digital restoring it still sounds good, and the band is in top form! Maybe Picoroco must consider releasing the whole thing as a live album.

The booklet is also pretty good as they included lyrics, pics and a collage of various classic pics of the band gigging or just doing silly poses. Grade - A shit!