PENTAGRAM - Sub-Basement CD (2001 Black Widow Records BWRCD 055-2)

Track Listing:
Bloodlust
Buzzsaw
Drive Me To The Grave
Sub-Intro
Sub-Basement
Go In Circles (Reachin' For An End)
Mad Dog
After The Last
Tidal Wave
Out Of Luck
Target

Item Condition:
Used. Disc has no marks. Jewel case has the remnants of an Italian customs sticker on the front.

Description:
Sub-Basement is probably Pentagram’s most over looked and under appreciated album. But if you can see past the dodgy cover and a band that’s well past it’s hey-day (the classic line up of Liebling/Griffin/Swaney/Hasselvander), you’ll get a fantastic album full of crushing riffs, demented vocals and atmosphere so thick, you could cut it with a knife. Featuring a mix of newer and older songs, as is always the case with a Pentagram album, Sub-Basement starts with a bang and from there, rarely lets up from Joe Hasselvander’s heavy and groovy riffs. Bloodlust, Buzzsaw and Drive Me To The Grave kick off the album with three straight to the point heavy metal ragers. All feature ripping solos, memorable riffs and of course, Bobby Liebling’s trademark banshee screams. Drive Me To The Grave even takes lyrics from one of their 70s tracks, Virgin Death. It must be mentioned that Liebling really is on top form here, unlike their subsequent album Show ‘Em How, where the strain and abuse really is evident in his voice. Following the first three tracks is Sub-Intro, a noisy piece comprised of only guitars and effects. This is quite uncharacteristic for a Pentagram album, but it’s over soon and segues into one of the album’s highlights, the title track. Easily the doomiest piece on the album, it features lyrics that perfectly sum up Liebling and Pentagram’s long history. The second half of the album contains a mix of up tempo and slower tracks, all delivered with that familiar, slightly off-kilter, maniacal edge. Two of these final songs, Mad Dog and Target, are re-recordings of songs written in the 1970s. Target was only previously available on the Human Hurricane compilation (and then again on First Daze Here Too) and to my knowledge, Mad Dog would only be officially available later as part of the Keg Full Of Dynamite live album, released in 2003. Neither of these re-recordings are a patch on the originals, but in the context of the album both are performed admirably and fit well with the other tracks. The production is very heavy and fairly raw, but at the same time quite warm and listenable, exactly what you would expect from a Pentagram record. The guitars have a saw like quality to them and the riffs feel like they could tear strips off you! The bass is always there and adds a fullness to the sound, the drums are great and always deliver the right beat, whether driving the faster songs like Buzzsaw or providing the doom march to tracks like Sub-Basement or After The Last. Special mention must be given to Hasselvander’s performance on the album. Handling all the instrumentation, his work is flawless from to start to finish. Sub-Basement definitely isn’t the band’s best, but it is a rock solid album. Whilst probably not the best place for a newcomer to start with, it is undoubtedly essential listening for all true fans of heavy and doom Metal. Highly recommended. - Metal Archives