| Death Row | ||
|---|---|---|
 Death Row in the 1980s. | ||
| Background information | ||
| Also known as | Pentagram Death Row Assembly | |
| Origin | Virginia, USA | |
| Genres | Doom metal | |
| Years active | 1980 - 1983, 1999 - 2001, 2009 - 2011 2020 - Present (As Death Row Assembly) | |
| Labels | Black Widow Records | |
| Associated acts | Pentagram, Place of Skulls, Blue Cheer, Trouble, Raven | |
| Past members | Victor Griffin Martin Swaney Joe Hasselvander Bobby Liebling Lee Abney Stuart Rose Eric Wagner David Lafever Chris Durman | |
| Band Logo | ||
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Death Row is a band conceived by guitarist Victor Griffin and bassist Lee Abney in 1980. Though at the time was the main project of Victor Griffin the band's timeline holds close ties and meshed with Pentagram, notably having Joe Hasselvander on drums and Bobby Liebling on vocals. Eventually in 1983, Death Row would simply be renamed as Pentagram though two reunions would happen in the future.
History[]
Death Row Years (1980 - 1983)[]
In 1980, bassist Lee Abney and guitarist Victor Griffin formed a Knoxville, Tennessee (later based in Northern Virginia) doom metal band named Death Row. Shortly thereafter, drummer Hasselvander joined and the group recruited Liebling on vocals. Former member Swaney soon replaced Abney on bass and the classic Death Row lineup was forged. Following two demos in 1982 and 1983, Hasselvander left the band in 1984. Stuart Rose was picked as his replacement, and the band soon assumed the Pentagram mantle. The 1982 demo, All Your Sins, was then remixed and partially rerecorded in 1984 for release in 1985 as Pentagram's eponymous debut album.
9 19 - Death Row (Pentagram) - Drive Me To The Grave - Live in Virginia 1983
Death Row (Pentagram) - Committed To Vengeance
Death Row - Live 1983 Outside Inn, Rockville, MD - 2 17 - All your sins
Reunions (1999 - 2001, 2009 - 2011)[]
Death Row would perform a handful of reunion shows from 1999 - 2001 with the lineup of Griffin, Hasselvander, Liebling and Lee Abney. A portion of one of these shows was documented as Death Row Reunion 2000. Also in 2000 a vinyl featuring a host of rough live and demo recordings entitled Death Is Alive: 1981 - 1985 saw release.
In 2009 and 2010 Death Row would reunite, touring briefly in the United States and Europe with Victor Griffin providing the lead vocals while Liebling was on tour with a newly touring Pentagram. Notably in Europe, the band performed two nights at Roadburn Festival and a special night at Hammer of Doom Festival with Eric Wagner on lead vocals (Largely due to Victor Griffin being ill and unable to sing.)
The 1983 demo, along with several live recordings from 1982 and 1983 and the band's first jam from 1981, were collected and released via Black Widow in 2009 as a double CD, Alive in Death. A live show from the Death Row era would appear on Pentagram's double DVD set All Your Sins.
Death Row were intended to reform again as Death Row Assembly for the 2020 edition of The Maryland Doom Fest, however this would be canceled due to The CO-VID19 Pandemic.[1]
Pentagram - The Ghoul (Live @ Washigton, 2000)
Deathrow (ex-Pentagram) feat. Eric Wagner at Hammer of Doom 2009 - streetclip.tv
Death Row - Relentless-Broken Vows (Live at Roadburn 2010).MOV
Discography[]
- All Your Sins (Demo/Studio Album) (1982, Self-Released)
- Through The Shadow (Live Video) (1983, Self-Released)
- Whore (Demo) (1983, Self-Released)
- Death Is Alive: 1981 - 1985 (Live/Compilation Album) (2000, Game Two Records)
- Death Row Reunion 2000 (Live Split Album) (2001, Doom Capital Productions)
- Alive In Death (Live Album / Demo Compilation) (2009, Black Widow Records)
- All Your Sins (Live DVD; Split with Pentagram) (2015, Peaceville)
Members[]
- Victor Griffin - Guitar, Vocals (1980 - 1983, 1999 - 2001, 2009 - 2011)
- Martin Swaney - Bass (1981 - 1983, 2009 - 2011)
- Joe Hasselvander - Drums (1980 - 1983, 1999 - 2001, 2009 - 2011)
- Lee Abney - Bass (1980 - 1981, 1999 - 2001)
- Bobby Liebling - Vocals (1980 - 1983, 1999 - 2001)
- David Lafever - Drums (1980 - 1981)
- Chris Durman - Vocals (1980 - 1981)
- Stuart Rose - Drums (1983) (Died 2016)
- Eric Wagner - Vocals (2009, one show) (Died 2021)