The tumultuous personal saga of Pentagram mainman Bobby Liebling is one that's made headlines in the metal press for many years now. Seemingly never able to get his personal life on track, Bobby and company do, however, carry on with the music, albeit with a revolving door of musicians. Now 70 years old, Liebling presents us a new record with an all new band for 2025.
Liebling isn't a fan of the term "doom metal" to describe Pentagram, however, it's hard pressed to not have the term pop into your head as you listen to Lightning In A Bottle. This newest LP is, perhaps an epic dose of psychedelic, punk-inspired, dirty, nasty heavy metal. In short, exactly what you might expect from an act that's been churning out fuzz-laden soundscapes since 1973.
Now featuring producer Tony Reed of Mos Generator who also plays guitar, along with bassist Scooter Haslip, also of Mos Generator and drummer Henry Vasquez from Saint Vitus and Legions Of Doom, Pentagram puts up a formidable 11 song record that is nothing short of a modern day take of the band's signature sound.
The standout track for me is the personable and autobiographical "Lady Heroin." Slow, sludgy and painstakingly honest, this particular track is an affect driven blues rocker that draws you deep into Bobby's own unique trials and tribulations with hard drugs with lyrics like "I fell into your game. I got myself to blame. Look what you put me through."
"Live Again" is a more upbeat rocker that kicks off the record. Making a statement that Bobby still has it, it's classic Pentagram with a heavy acid sound embedded in metal sensibilities. Similar vibes can be found on "In the Panic Room." The ever-present groove is found in full effect on cuts like "Thundercrest" and the highly accessible "Solve the Puzzle." "I'll Certainly See You in Hell" is a galloping bastion of blues and straight ahead rock n' roll majesty. The record concludes with the slow and dirgy "Walk the Sociopath" evoking 70's Black Sabbath and 90's Cathedral.
While there are many facets of Liebling that are more than open to well-deserved criticism and maybe even disdain, Lightning In A Bottle, in terms of the music contained within is the exemplar of what great doom metal should be.
