Review PENTAGRAM (CHILE) ‘Eternal Life of Madness’

This review is about the latest release from Pentagram (Chile), which is not to be confused with the legendary doom metal band. Pentagram (Chile) was formed in 1985 and is led by Anton Reisenegger and Juan Pablo Uribe, the only two remaining founding members. However, the entire line-up has been fairly consistent as bassist Juan Francisco Cueto joined in 2001 and drummer Juan Pablo Donoso has been with Pentagram (Chile) since 2012.

Pentagram (Chile) are currently presenting their new full-length album ‘Eternal Life of Madness’. Although the band was founded in the mid-80s, the latest offering is only their second studio album following their 2013 debut.

Listening to the first two songs of the album gives a very clear idea of what this album stands for. Inspired by bands like Slayer and Possessed, the band recorded a brutal song with “El Imbunche”, which they put at the top of the tracklist. Wild and furious, that’s how the song challenge your speakers, reflecting one aspect of Pentagram’s sound. With the following track the guys take it down a notch. It’s a slower and doomier start, which is the common base for ‘Possessor’. With cleverly integrated breaks, the song is a thrilling metal experience that also refers to the aforementioned influences.

Pentagram (Chile) build their music on heaviness that is raw and ferocious. It’s harsh and spirited thrash metal that comes straight from the heart. Songs like ‘Eternal Life of Madness’ are made for beer soaked slam pits and it’s the brutality of these songs that doesn’t allow for any compromise.

Pentagram (Chile) keep their foot on the pedal and instead of Houdini riffs, it’s the pure metallic energy that bursts out of songs like ‘Devourer Of Life’, which contains quite a few Slayer references.

It took a while for Pentagram (Chile) to release their second album. The result is a blasting metal album that builds on thrash metal as well as having some ties to death metal. The fusion of the two results in music that may not be entirely new, but impresses with its authentic intensity. These songs are from the heart and an outlet for unvarnished emotion.