Like many other bands that tend to fall under the radar, going with a rather generic name like "Pentagram" can cause confusion amongst other, more popular bands bearing the same moniker. In the case of these Chilean maniacs, they had to compete with a long running and influential American doom band , as well as a groups composed of Mexicans, Turks, and Swedes. The American Pentagram were one of the first bands to play heavy metal (in the US or anywhere else in the world), and as good as they are, for my money this Chilean group represents the best band to use the Pentagram name, and this demo, their first officially released recording is arguably their best output.Slightly different than some of the other contemporary South American bands, this three song demo is very composed, focused and tight in its execution. Instead of opting for a schizophrenic wall of noise, off time drums and maniac vocals, Pentagram's brand of sonic assault is a more controlled approach, falling somewhere between what Slayer was doing on "Hell Awaits" and a more musically competent "Morbid Visions". This demo captures the darker atmosphere of those two recordings very well, and while it doesn't push any boundaries in the way of speed or extremity, has an excellent sense of songwriting that is effectively able to carry across a very dark and sinister feeling.
Most of the music on here is mid-tempo and almost plodding at points. The faster moments never really take off, and the band is at their strongest when they are working at a slightly slower speed. Guitar tone is somewhat on the treble end of the spectrum, but this can be expected from a low budget demo. It works quite well with the recording, and is mixed at a sufficient volume which allows for the drums and the bass to be fully audible. The vocals on the other hand, completely dominate the recording, and while they do not drown out any of the other instruments, they are certainly the prominent layer in the band's sound. Instead of a rasp or a growl, the vocals are delivered in a very harsh shout; these are some of the most intense and angriest vocals I've ever heard. All the lyrics are intelligible, and while they deal with basic occult/satanic stuff, the extremely confident and strong vocal delivery conveys a much stronger sense of sincerity, especially the lines written in command form (a majority of the first track, "Fatal Predictions").
This demo is an absolute masterpiece. The band would release a second demo shortly after, which is in the same vein and maintains the same level of quality as this one, but perhaps due to familiarity, I slightly prefer this recording. This recording has been reissued numerous times, first on 7" (the cover of which is pictured above, omits the final track), and at least two discography CDs have been released. "Demoniac Possession" has been covered numerous times, one of the best being by Torturer on their 1992 LP "Oppressed by the Force".
The South American scene has produced a great deal of stellar recordings, but in my book this one lies at the top. While the most competent of Pentagram's peers such as Sarcofago and Vulcano approach the dark atmosphere and intensity of this recording, they ultimately do not surpass it. This sort of stuff is truly nasty sounding music, and even though its a bit tighter and composed than what most of South America was doing at the time, its not exactly the kind of stuff which will appeal to the Century Media types. An absolutely standout recording, this one is mandatory listening for anyone into raw death metal.
Most of the music on here is mid-tempo and almost plodding at points. The faster moments never really take off, and the band is at their strongest when they are working at a slightly slower speed. Guitar tone is somewhat on the treble end of the spectrum, but this can be expected from a low budget demo. It works quite well with the recording, and is mixed at a sufficient volume which allows for the drums and the bass to be fully audible. The vocals on the other hand, completely dominate the recording, and while they do not drown out any of the other instruments, they are certainly the prominent layer in the band's sound. Instead of a rasp or a growl, the vocals are delivered in a very harsh shout; these are some of the most intense and angriest vocals I've ever heard. All the lyrics are intelligible, and while they deal with basic occult/satanic stuff, the extremely confident and strong vocal delivery conveys a much stronger sense of sincerity, especially the lines written in command form (a majority of the first track, "Fatal Predictions").
This demo is an absolute masterpiece. The band would release a second demo shortly after, which is in the same vein and maintains the same level of quality as this one, but perhaps due to familiarity, I slightly prefer this recording. This recording has been reissued numerous times, first on 7" (the cover of which is pictured above, omits the final track), and at least two discography CDs have been released. "Demoniac Possession" has been covered numerous times, one of the best being by Torturer on their 1992 LP "Oppressed by the Force".
The South American scene has produced a great deal of stellar recordings, but in my book this one lies at the top. While the most competent of Pentagram's peers such as Sarcofago and Vulcano approach the dark atmosphere and intensity of this recording, they ultimately do not surpass it. This sort of stuff is truly nasty sounding music, and even though its a bit tighter and composed than what most of South America was doing at the time, its not exactly the kind of stuff which will appeal to the Century Media types. An absolutely standout recording, this one is mandatory listening for anyone into raw death metal.
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