| Sub-Basement | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Studio album by Pentagram | ||
| Released | September 17 2001 | |
| Recorded | February - June 2001 at Polar Bear Lair Studios in Maryland | |
| Genre | Doom Metal, Heavy Metal | |
| Length | 44:41 | |
| Label | Black Widow Records | |
| Producer | Bobby Liebling, Joe Hasselvander, Chris Kozlowski | |
| Pentagram chronology | ||
| Review Your Choices (1999) |
Sub-Basement (2001) |
First Daze Here: The Vintage Collection (2002) |
| Alternative Cover | ||
| ||
Sub-Basement is the fifth studio album by Pentagram. The second album to feature the Liebling/Hasselvander lineup, Sub-Basement would be recorded by Chris Kozlowski at Polar Bear Lair Studios and released in September 2001 via the Italian label Black Widow Records.
Background[]
Following the positive reception at the time of the release of Review Your Choices, work on a follow-up had begun. Originally the album was planned for release on September the 11th, 2001, but Black Widow Records pushed the release back in light of the attacks on the World Trade Center on that day. Joe Hasselvander had assembled a touring line-up to support this album, however just one month later Bobby Liebling licensed older Pentagram material to Relapse Records to be released as First Daze Here, which overshadowed this release. Coupled with Bobby's personal problems, this led to a breakdown of this version of Pentagram. Bobby resurfaced a while later with a new line-up featuring members of Internal Void.
Sub-Basement would feature five songs from the 1970s era of Pentagram among four original songs written for the album. Notably "Drive Me to The Grave" was originally performed by Death Row and Bedemon and "Go in Circles (Reachin' For An End)" was written by Liebling for Bedemon.
Sub-Basement was initially released on CD and Vinyl 1999 via Black Widow Records. Southern Lord Records would distribute the album in North America.[1] On 27 January 2009, Season of Mist would re-issue the album along with Review Your Choices on CD with new artwork, new liner notes and two additional demo tracks.[2] Emetic Records would re-issue Sub-Basement in 2010 on vinyl with new artwork.[3] Svart Records would reissue Review Your Choices in 2011 with new artwork.[4]
Bobby Liebling would state it's among his favorite Pentagram releases though would admit the album is so dark he couldn't listen to it too often.[5] While reviews of Sub-Basement are scarce, they are largely positive.[6][7][8][9] Julian Cope would name "Sub-Basement" his album of the month in August 2006.[10]
Tracklist[]
- 1. Bloodlust (2:30) (Liebling)
- 2. Buzzsaw (2:29) (Liebling)
- 3. Drive Me to The Grave (Liebling, Hasselvander) (4:30)
- 4. Sub-Intro (4:00) (Hasselvander)
- 5. Sub-Basement (6:00) (Liebling, Hasselvander)
- 6. Go in Circles (Reachin' For An End) (5:16) (Liebling, Hasselvander, Randy Palmer)
- 7. Mad Dog (2:17) (Liebling)
- 8. After The Last (3:43) (Liebling, Hasselvander)
- 9. Tidal Wave (4:40) (Liebling, Hasselvander)
- 10. Out of Luck (3:54) (Liebling)
- 11. Target (5:10) (Liebling)
Personnel[]
Pentagram[]
- Bobby Liebling - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Producer
- Joe Hasselvander - All Instruments, Producer
Other Personnel[]
- Chris Kozlowski - Engineer, Mixing, Mastering, Producer
- Robin Fisher - Photography
- Alessandra Toni - Artwork, Graphic Design
- Giovanni Indorato - Artwork, Graphic Design, Editing
- Goatess Doomwytch - Artwork (Emetic Records)