Relentless (40th Anniversary)＜限定盤/Marble Vinyl＞

1970年代初頭に始動したアメリカの伝説的バンド、Pentagramが1985年に自主リリースした衝撃のデビュー作『Relentless』。
後にPeaceville Recordsから再発されたこの作品は、英国バンドからの影響と独自の重苦しいサウンドを融合させ、ドゥーム・メタルの礎を築き上げた。フロントマン、Bobby Lieblingの唯一無二の歌声と、Victor Griffinのギターワークが織り成す重厚な楽曲群は、今なおジャンルを超えて支持され続けている。結成50年以上を経てもなお衰えぬカルト的人気を誇るPentagram。彼らの原点が、40周年を記念し、限定マーブル・ヴァイナル仕様で蘇る。

Relentless is a well-chosen name for Pentagram's belated first album, as it was only through relentless determination that vocalist Bobby Liebling -- a fixture of D.C.'s club scene since the early '70s -- managed to persist long enough to see its 1985 release. And though it is hampered by the usual sonic limitations you'd expect from an independent recording, from a musical standpoint, the album more than lives up to pent-up expectations. A raw, untainted slab of pure doom metal, Relentless is a time tunnel straight to heavy metal's very inception at the hands of Black Sabbath -- largely thanks to its lo-fi recording, ironically. Guitarist Victor Griffin is an obvious disciple of Tony Iommi's fretwork, and the eerie similarity between Liebling's and Ozzy's vocal styles simply must to be heard to be believed. Together, they lead the band through grim anthems of depression and social ostracism, including the excellent "Dying World," "Sign of the Wolf (Pentagram)," "You're Lost, I'm Free," and "Sinister" (whose leaden backbeat is punctuated by what sounds like iron stakes being driven through a vampire's heart). Hardly a masterpiece, but well worth the wait, Relentless instantly confirmed Pentagram's position alongside Saint Vitus and Trouble in the American doom metal elite. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia