Release
date: August 28th
2015. Label: Peaceville Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Curious
Volume – Tracklisting
01.
Lay Down And Die
02.
The Tempter Push
03.
Dead Bury Dead
04.
Earth Flight
05.
Walk Alone
06.
Curious Volume
07.
Misunderstood
08.
Close The Casket
09.
Sufferin`
10.
Devil`s Playground
11
.Because I Made It
Band
Members:
Bobby
Liebling (vox), Victor Griffin (gtr), Greg Turley (bass), Pete
Campbell (Drums)
Review:
Legendary
doom merchants Pentagram are back with their new album Curious Volume
and back to what they do best, which as we all know is doom metal in
its purest form.
With
his well publicised personal demons hopefully behind him, it is great
to hear Bobby Liebling still singing his heart out (his performance
on Misunderstood sound like he is having the time of his life) and
the fact that he still sounds as good as he does is testament to his
vocal ability and resilience no matter the odds, his tortured vocals
on the song Dead Bury Dead sound as though they could be from
Pentagrams classic first album, and it's not just Liebling who is on
top form, the rest of the band play an absolute blinder. Victor
Griffin proves once again that he is one of the best and most
underrated guitarists on the planet, cranking out doomier than thou
riffs and solos with consummate ease, his playing on Close The Casket
in particular is sublime as is the closing solo on Because I Made It.
Greg Turley and Pete Campbell also prove themselves to be a vital
rhythm section on the album too, creating a faultless groove that you
can't help but get involved in.
As
mentioned before, this is classic Pentagram and the material on
Curious Volume could have easily slotted in with their earlier
material (indeed songs here date back to when the band were first
starting out) such as the opening bombast of Lay Down And Die, the
groovy doom of Earth Flight (complete with a mind blowing mid 70s
doom finale) and the albums title track (which comes complete with
some exceptionally fine brooding riffs from Griffin) while tracks
such as the anthemic Walk Alone, the frenetic Misunderstood, the
funereal stomp of Close The Casket and epic album closer Because I
Made It (a track that is both uplifting and life affirming and seems
to sum up the spirit that drives the band) that classic blueprint and
come up with a vibe that is both fresh and timeless.
Pentagram
although legendary within doom and metal circles still never got
their dues in their heyday but such is the strength of the songs on
Curious Volume they will hopefully receive them now, they undoubtedly
deserve it and fact that Pentagram are still an active band is an
amazing feat let alone releasing an album as vital as Curious Volume.
Lay Down And Die may be a title on the album but it is definitely
something that Pentagram aren't going to do any time soon and that is
something to be thankful for. A magnificent return from legendary
band.
Words
by Gavin Brown
Curious
Volume is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl now through Peaceville Records
