PENTAGRAM - Lightning In A Bottle review

 

PENTAGRAM - Lightning In A Bottle

Heavy Psych Sounds

So it's been a decade since PENTAGRAM has released a full length. Their last one was Curious Volume which came out in 2015 on Peaceville Records. I have that one and in all honesty I cannot tell ya the last time I've listened to it. Hey look when it comes to PENTAGRAM I still blast their 70's and 80's stuff religiously. 

So when this new one came out I was like OK at first. Second time listening to it I wondered what their old time fans are gonna think of it. Now I'm in for a fifth listen and yeah I've got a whole helluva lot to say. For starters Bobby Liebling sounds damm good on here. I mean really fucking good. For all of you people who gave him shit years ago well go fuck yourselves.

Now this line up which backs him up was started in 2024. First off long-time guitarist Victor Griffin is gone. He's replaced by Tony Reed who I'm not familiar with as far as his past bands. On bass there's Scooter Haslip another unknown to me. But on drums there's the one and only Henry Vasquez from SAINT VITUS as well as more recently the super group LEGIONS OF DOOM. 

So musically this album is one part classic PENTAGRAM somewhat  sounding and the other half a bit up tempo. Opener "Live Again" sounds like something a NOLA band would do. The second cut "In The Panic Room" follows the same style. So this is not what a long time fan of the band would expect. Then again their last album tried to go the whole stoner doom route. "Solve the Puzzle" is another harder edge cut so is "Thundercrest". 

Then again there are great classic PENTAGRAM sounding cuts like "I Spoke To Death" or "Lady Heroin" which I think is one of the best cuts on here. "I'll Certainly See You In Hell" sounds like a 1970's relic. All in all it's fuckin 2025 and this new album has some variety on it which I like. Bobby and company are trying to stay relevant in an era which doesn't give a rat's ass.I think this album is damm great, period end of story. 

https://www.heavypsychsounds.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/pentagram-lightning-in-a-bottle

DRUG CULT - Self Titled review

DRUG CULT - Self Titled

Ritual Productions




It is said that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Then again in terms of music trends we call it jumping on the bandwagon. But hey let's face it, when it comes to extreme metal we the fans like stuff that sounds like stuff we already like. Don't give me that phony story about wanting your music to be challenging. That's a crock of shit because if that were reality then there would not be a genre called Doom. SABBATH would be it's mile marker and there would be no need to repeat.


So for all of you grounded in honesty then this might be to your liking. If you just need some more music that sludgey, fuzzy and with female vocals then here you go. No I'm not talking about WINDHAND but an Australian version shall we say. This is the debut full length by DRUG CULT an aptly named four piece act from down under. This release is nine tracks, with a running time of around 42 minutes, of doom in a drug haze. Pick the downer of your choice of course.
  

DRUG CULT give it all as far as being heavy psych and hypnotic dirge with vocalist Aasha Tozer being the witch conducting this ceremony. And they throw a few twists at ya as in short cuts that won't have you nodding off after five minutes of repetition. Basically it's a great release and much better then the contemporaries they emulate, as far as those band's recent outputs go. Ah nuff said. Pass me the bong I think I'm Ozzy.


https://www.ritualproductions.net/

https://drug-cult.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/drugcult

DUEL - Witchbanger review

DUEL - Witchbanger 

Heavy Psych Sounds




Pardon me but whenever I see a band who hails from a certain city and musically is following a trend in metal then the warning light on my bullshit detector flashes. In this band's case it's Austin, Texas but it could just as well been Brooklyn, Atlanta, the Oakland/Frisco area or worse Chapel Hill, NC. What all these cities have in common is that they are well known hipster hovels who have produced bandwagon jumping "acts" (emphasis mine) who see a trend and fly to it like moths to flame. Musically it's all copycat bullshit and don't call me cynical or jaded. I've been watching it for over a dozen years now.


Be that as it is I can say that DUEL are not a bunch of indie rock losers playing to trends. Just a quick glance at the band member's previous endeavors shows their feet are firmly planted in the metal scene. As far as some of the descriptions this Texas four piece has been given, stoner/psych is not one that fits them at all. This band does not sound like Texas psych like the MOVING SIDEWALKS, THE 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS, JOSEFUS or any bands off of some compilations I got like HIGHS IN THE MID 60's - Vol 13 and Acid Visions. Although I do highly recommend checking all of that stuff out if you really wanna know what real psych sounds like.


On this their second full length the band is pure 70's hard rock. You've got hints of Southern Rock boogie, twin guitar swagger ala early AEROSMITH, some guitar lead work (and riffs) not far from what you would've heard on some BACHMAN TURNER OVERDRIVE albums, MONTROSE, as well as anything by Leslie West, toss in some BLUE OYSTER CULT and a minuscule of late 80's doom. There you have it and you know what it sounds pretty damm good. As far as all of these bands of late remaking the 70's blues rock sound for modern listeners I say DUEL is probably the best. I should know since I grew up with that music. 


Witchbanger is eight perfect tracks, ah yeah and that's not me speaking hyperbole. There's no blatant over used SABBATH or SAINT VITUS worship going on here as if we need anymore. No this is plain old hard fuckin rock from devotees of the 70's era. 

http://www.heavypsychsounds.com/

https://duel3.bandcamp.com/album/witchbanger

https://www.facebook.com/DUELTEXAS

DEAD WITCHES - Ouija review

DEAD WITCHES - Ouija 

Heavy Psych Sounds




Usually when I'm checking out some unknown band I just play the music and do something without reading a word of their bio. I like the surprise if it's good that is. After an intro consisting of the sounds of a rainstorm (hello SABBATH) plus some Hammond organ and guitar torturing the actual opening cut "Dead" commences. First thoughts, alright it's like ELECTRIC WIZARD with a female singer also more occult psych, less bong worship. Hell if that wasn't spot on. 

DEAD WITCHES is the latest project from Mark Greening former drummer for RAMESSES and ELECTRIC WIZARD. The female vocalist is Virginia Monti who also fronts the Italian band PSYCHEDELIC WITCHCRAFT (recommended if you're also into 70's style occult themed rock). The band is rounded out by Carl Geary on bass and Greg Elk on guitar. The unfortunately sad thing is that Greg Elk passed away last year. It's one thing to speak ill of the dead which I've never had a problem with. On the other hand and in this case the guy did a great job on here so there's praise he'll never know about.

Ouija is just a damm great album of thick lava lamp goo riffs, hypnotic leads, a rumbling rhythm section and Virginia Monti's gutsy yet bluesy vocals. The first true cut "Dead" is a slow burner but on the follow-up "Drawing Down the Moon" the band picks up some speed to rock out with Monti's vocals coming across more feral. The latter two cuts " “Mind Funeral” and "A World of Darkness" really bring out the heavy with Geary's bass making way like a behemoth. 

Like I said this is a great album but with Elk's passing and Monti's day job in PSYCHEDELIC WITCHCRAFT, who have a new album coming out this year, one wonders if the magic will continue on. I was just outside taking a smoke break on the back deck enjoying the warm evening before the coming storm forecasted later tonight. I was pondering just that when I spotted a bat flying around, feeding actually on the gnats. I wonder was that a sign?

Rating: 5/5

http://www.heavypsychsounds.com/

https://www.facebook.com/DeadWitches/

https://heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/dead-witches-ouija