Pentagram Announce New Lineup Featuring Members of Mos Generator and Saint Vitus
I didn’t see Tony Reed (Mos Generator, Big Scenic Nowhere, much else) or Henry Vasquez (Legions of Doom, Saint Vitus, Blood of the Sun, much else) joining Pentagram coming. The guitarist and drummer, respectively, as well as bassist Scooter Haslip (also Mos Generator and sundry other adjacent projects) have signed on as the latest incarnation of the long-running and crucial Bobby Liebling-fronted doomers, replacing guitarist Matt Goldsborough, drummer “Minnesota Pete” Campbell and bassist Greg Turley, all of whom recently departed the band. I am genuinely surprised.
Interesting that what I’m not seeing below is any talk of retirement, which as I previously understood it was the endgame following the touring Pentagram have already undertaken and will continue to undertake this year, mostly in Europe. That would make this potentially the last lineup of the band, and if you know any of these guys’ work — anyone remember Reed‘s “Forever My Queen” cover? — you know it would be a hell of a way to go out. But that doesn’t seem to be what’s happening anymore.
Instead, there’s a headlining slot at Levitation Fest this Fall in Austin, forthcoming reissues (which to be fair would’ve likely happened anyway) and talk, albeit loose, of a new studio album, though I think it’s understood that the one end to the other on that, in any context, is subject to change. Whether a new LP happens, when and how, will shift the story of the band, with its many ups and downs across more than five decades. The moral of the story seems to be that at least in some manner — and that could still include continuing to record without major touring from this point forward — Pentagram are going to continue despite the fact that their retirement tour had already begun. Very Pentagram of them.
From the PR wire:
US doom metal legends PENTAGRAM reveal new lineup; first studio album in a decade and exclusive reissues announced on Heavy Psych Sounds!
The doom metal pioneers reveal a brand new lineup for their upcoming new album and tours. PENTAGRAM have recently signed to Heavy Psych Sounds for the reissue of their “Review Your Choices” and “Sub-Basement” albums as well as the long-awaited follow-up to their 2015 full-length “Curious Volume”.
A new chapter dawns on the mighty PENTAGRAM, and the modern lore unfolds with the arrival of an electrifying new lineup. Around legendary frontman and band founder Bobby Liebling comes the melodic power of guitarist Tony Reed — known for fronting Seattle rock stalwarts Mos Generator as well as producing and engineering some of the modern heavy scene’s cornerstone releases from Electric Wizard to Blues Pills — and the sheer grooves of bassist Scooter Haslip, also of Mos Generator and former Saltine. The new lineup is rounded out by scene heavyweight and internationally renowned drummer Henry Vasquez of Saint Vitus, Spirit Caravan, The Skull/Legion Of Doom and Sourvein.
Recently signed to European powerhouse Heavy Psych Sounds Records, PENTAGRAM is currently entering the studio, poised to usher in a bold era with a new album and tours that will see the band traveling to distant ends of the globe.
The band’s return to the States will be elevated by a headline performance at Levitation 2024 on November 3rd in Austin, TX. The night’s stage will be honored by a live resurrection of hometown legends The Sword.
PENTAGRAM is set to reissue the “Review Your Choices” and “Sub-Basement” albums (originally released in 1999 and 2001 via Black Widow Records) in a fully remastered version engineered by Tony Reed, with preorders starting on July 2nd via www.heavypsychsounds.com.
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