| Last Rites | ||
|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Pentagram | ||
| Released | April 12 2011 | |
| Recorded | 2010 at Lakeside Studios in Knoxville, TN | |
| Genre | Doom Metal, Heavy Metal | |
| Length | 45:05 | |
| Label | Metal Blade Records | |
| Producer | Bobby Liebling, Travis Wyrick, Victor Griffin | |
| Pentagram chronology | ||
| If The Winds Would Change (2011) |
Last Rites (2011) |
When The Screams Come (2011) |
Last Rites is the seventh studio album by American doom metal band Pentagram. It was the first album since the 1994 album Be Forewarned to feature guitarist Victor Griffin. Notably it would also be the first Pentagram album to feature recurring bassist Greg Turley. Recorded in 2010 by Travis Wyrick after years of development, it would be released in March 2011 via Metal Blade Records.[1]
Background[]
Last Rites had been in the works for many years under the tentative title Last Rites of the Setting Sun. Plans for a new album began when Pentagram had aimed for another comeback in 2008, as indicated by the documentary Last Days Here. The original plan was to use surviving original members Greg Mayne and Geof O'Keefe along with new musicians to round out the lineup for a release on Housecore Records, but things ultimately fell through.
Frontman Bobby Liebling announced different songs on his Myspace circa 2008 as the album progressed to fruition. Of the original list "Everything's Turning to Night", "Horseman" and "Walk in the Blue Light" did make it. "Into the Ground" and "Nothing Left" originated from rehearsal tracks from the first Pentagram lineup, played in a faster and groovier tempo. "Old Man", from those same sessions, was originally intended for the album but ultimately not chosen.
By early Pentagram had managed to form a touring lineup featuring Liebling, Russ Strahan, Mark Ammen and Gary Isom.[2] This lineup would tour North America and Europe. Further touring would take place in 2010 but by the Spring of 2010 the lineup had completely changed. Russ Strahan would leave the band the day before a March tour while Ammen would leave at the end of that tour.[3] Isom would stay on but would leave the band on acrimonious terms following the band's performance at Maryland Deathfest. "South of the Swamp" and "I'm Takin' No More" were written and intended for the album, but ultimately were not included. Hank Williams III was also rumored to appear on the album at one point.
In turn Victor Griffin would rejoin the band on guitar while Greg Turley would also rejoin on bass. For the recording sessions the band would recruit Place of Skulls drummer Tim Tomaselli once Isom left. Recurring Place of Skulls producer Travis Wyrick would engineer and produce the album.
Last Rites would be officially announced in the Fall of 2010 and a song would be premiered in "Treat Me Right" on 25 February 2011.[4] Last Rites would be released on 12 April 2011 on CD and LP. Last Rites would garner mostly positive reception from the likes of Angry Metal Guy (4.5/5),[5] The Washington City Paper,[6] The Austin Chronicle,[7] Metal Temple[8] and Your Last Rites.[9]
Tracklist[]
- 1. Treat Me Right (2:32) (Bobby Liebling)
- 2. Call The Man (3:49) (Liebling)
- 3. Into The Ground (4:21) (Liebling, Victor Griffin)
- 4. 8 (5:01) (Liebling, Greg Turley)
- 5. Everything's Turning to Night (3:17) (Liebling, Geof O'Keefe)
- 6. Windmills and Chimes (4:32) (Liebling)
- 7. American Dream (4:32) (Turley, Griffin)
- 8. Walk in the Blue Light (4:59) (Liebling)
- 9. Horseman (3:38) (Liebling)
- 10. Death in 1st Person (4:01) (Turley, Griffin)
- 11. Nothing Left (3:36) (Liebling, Griffin)
- 12. All Your Sins (Reprise) (0:57) (Liebling, Griffin)
Personnel[]
Pentagram[]
- Bobby Liebling - Vocals, Producer; Backing Vocals (7)
- Victor Griffin - Guitar, Producer, Photography; Lead Vocals (7)
- Greg Turley - Bass
- Tim Tomaselli - Drums
Other Personnel[]
- Maddox Turley - Drums (12)
- Travis Wyrick - Engineer, Producer
- Troy Glessner - Mastering
- Sean Pelletier - Photography, Management
- Mo Moussa - Artwork
- Brian J. Ames - Layout