Text by Ana Clara Martins
After more than two years since the first announcement of their Latin American tour, the American band Pentagram finally celebrated their 50th anniversary by performing for the first time in Rio de Janeiro last Tuesday, the 13th. A band considered legendary by fans, not only for their pioneering, heavy, dragging and dark doom metal, nor only for the turbulent history of the band and its frontman, Bobby Liebling ; but also for the fact that, throughout this trajectory, shows like this were not common occurrences.
Formed in the early 1970s, in the vacuum left by bands like UFO and Black Sabbath, Pentagram wouldn't release their first LP until the 1980s. Accustomed to lineup changes, the only constant member throughout the band's history is Bobby Liebling, the eccentric vocalist and songwriter. Surrounded by controversy, including a recent 2017 arrest for assault and an extensive battle with drugs, portrayed in the 2011 documentary Last Days Here , Bobby is responsible for much of what makes the group impressive, albeit arguably tragic.
Simultaneously forgotten and seminal, Pentagram only reached a large part of the public after the documentary, but they were present from the very beginning of the genre. In this way, the band occupies a position that allows for very special and intimate encounters with their audience. Encounters that would be much more complicated for fans of other bands of the same era and influence. In a relatively small event, in the informal style of metal shows, passionate fans gathered, eager to fulfill their desire to see an idol live.
In this atmosphere of expectations, few were directed specifically at the Santiago band, Black Messiah , tasked with opening the show. Without an officially released album and with seemingly few long-time listeners present, the Chileans were initially met by a small audience. Throughout the performance, however, they won over the crowd with their dark sound reminiscent of classic metal.
With a look more akin to 80s thrash metal bands than one might expect from a doom metal band, the members of Black Messiah delivered a confident and enthusiastic performance. Rodrigo Pérez complemented the distorted guitars of Felipe Troncoso and Rodrigo Echeverría, and the synergy between bassist Nancy Gomez and drummer Ricardo Letelier contributed to a tight execution of the songs. With the conclusion of this opening show, the audience was eager for the final performance of Pentagram's highly anticipated Latin American tour.
The members of Pentagram's current lineup took to the stage one by one, all greeted with a warm Carioca (Rio de Janeiro) welcome. First to appear was guitarist Matt Goldsborough . Then came the experienced bassist Greg Turley, followed by the most recent addition to the lineup, drummer Ryan Manning . Finally, greeted with much noise, as is reserved only for true rock stars, was vocalist Bobby Liebling. Wearing a tight-fitting and flamboyant outfit, Bobby proved that time has been kind not only to him, but also to Pentagram. With powerful vocals, full of sensual melancholy, and a playful attitude defined by unusual dances, exaggerated expressions, and humorous comments between songs, Bobby sang with skill and experience.
From the opening track, “The Ghoul,” from their first album, to the encore, “Forever My Queen,” the band's hit, the audience navigated through a range of emotions and moments. From those who sang along to every word to those who broke away from the chorus to join the mosh pit, everyone seemed deeply connected to the band. The musicians, in turn, were very connected to each other. Liebling and the audience danced to the mesmerizing solos of Goldsborough, and the intimate atmosphere allowed for direct interaction between the band and those present. From the stage, the band members greeted fans with fist bumps and gestures, and amidst numerous requests from the audience, they laughed when someone “guessed” which song would come next. “Now I don't need to say what we're going to play anymore!” commented Bobby before exploding into the performance of Petrified, right after a request for the song reverberated through the room.
If the expectation was to see a good doom metal show up close, Pentagram gave us an incredible show, as close as possible, even including an occasional stage invasion; there was no rigid separation between the band and the audience. Greg and Matt extended their respective instruments so that fans could play them and create the final wall of distorted sound of the night. Ryan distributed drumsticks and autographed setlists, and at the end of the show, after many guitar picks were given to those present, the atmosphere was one of accomplishment. The musicians seemed satisfied to be successfully concluding the tour, and the audience felt fulfilled to witness firsthand the greatness of Pentagram. After a first visit like this, we hope that these are not Pentagram's last days here.
