| Review Your Choices | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Studio album by Pentagram | ||
| Released | July 19 1999 | |
| Recorded | August - December 1998 at Soundtrax Studios in Dale City, Virginia | |
| Genre | Doom Metal, Heavy Metal | |
| Length | 49:02 | |
| Label | Black Widow Records | |
| Producer | Bobby Liebling, Joe Hasselvander, Mike Hounshell | |
| Pentagram chronology | ||
| Human Hurricane (1999) |
Review Your Choices (1999) |
Sub-Basement (2001) |
| Alternative Cover | ||
| ||
Review Your Choices is the fourth studio album by the American doom metal band Pentagram. The first of two albums to feature just Bobby Liebling and Joe Hasselvander, it would be the first Pentagram album released on Italian label Black Widow Records.
Background[]
In the 1990s there had been several attempts at a comeback for Pentagram with constant lineup changes, along with a proposal to make a new studio album. Black Widow had originally approached Bobby Liebling with a view to making a new Pentagram album with the Liebling, Griffin, Hasselvander and Swaney line-up. Since that wasn't possible at the time, Hasselvander offered to perform all the instruments himself. Although the album credits state that the album is "Produced by Pentagram with Mike Hounshell", Joe Hasselvander maintains that he handled all production duties, stating he did most of the work while Bobby slept.[1]
Along with five original songs co-written by Hasselvander and Liebling, "Review Your Choices" features seven re-recordings of 70s-era Pentagram songs. "I am Vengeance" was intended to be the main theme of the original motion picture I Am Vengeance directed by Richard Anasky. The last track, "Gilla?", is a recording of Bobby Liebling talking about his imaginary pet gorilla friend, nicknamed Gilla. Two Blue Cheer covers were also recorded in the same sessions as this album, released on Blue Explosion: A Tribute To Blue Cheer in 1999.[2]
The album cover is a photograph of one part of a 6-set of velvet paintings that Joe Hasselvander found in a friend's apartment, retouched by Black Widow Records.[3]
Review Your Choices was initially released in 1999 via Black Widow Records. On 27 January 2009, Season of Mist would re-issue the album along with Sub-Basement on CD with new artwork, new liner notes and two additional demo tracks.[4] Svart Records would reissue Review Your Choices in 2011 with new artwork.[5]
While reviews of Review Your Choices are scarce, they are largely positive.[6][7][8]
Tracklist[]
- 1. Burning Rays (2:36) (Bobby Liebling)
- 2. Change of Heart (5:28) (Liebling, Joe Hasselvander)
- 3. Livin' in the Ram's Head (2:35) (Liebling)
- 4. Gorgon's Slave (6:34) (Liebling, Hasselvander)
- 5. Review Your Choices (3:22) (Liebling)
- 6. The Diver (2:52) (Liebling)
- 7. The Bees (2:29) (Liebling)
- 8. I Am Vengeance (5:25) (Liebling, Hasselvander)
- 9. Forever My Queen (2:38) (Liebling)
- 10. Mow You Down (3:22) (Liebling, Hasselvander)
- 11. Downhill Slope (3:58) (Liebling)
- 12. Megalania (7:02) (Liebling, Hasselvander)
- 13. Gilla? (0:53) (Mike Hounshell)
Personnel[]
Pentagram[]
- Bobby Liebling - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Producer
- Joe Hasselvander - All Instruments, Producer
Other Personnel[]
- Mike Hounshell -Engineer, Producer
- Greg Reiter - Assistant Engineer
- Randall Jalis - Cover Art (Provided)
- Jeff Lee - Photography
- Pamela Bortolotti - Photography
- Jérôme Cros - Artwork, Design