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Pentagram > First Daze Here (The Vintage Collection) > Reviews
Pentagram - First Daze Here (The Vintage Collection)

Your Love Is More Than A Tease (And I'm Gonna Give It All Of My Heart) - 100%

CHAIRTHROWER, February 5th, 2023
Written based on this version: 2002, CD, Relapse Records

Today I finally harpoon that elusive white whale I've been chasing since writing my first review back in 2015: Pentagram's First Daze Here (The Vintage Collection), which features the greatest material Bobby and his original boys wrote back in the early 1970s, predating even my parents' wedding vows who celebrated their fiftieth anniversary last year, with hopefully many more to come.

Although Relapse Records followed up in 2006 with extensive First Daze Here Too (released as an afterthought), this clean-as-a-whistle, non dirty dozen fully assuages melodic, pentatonic yearnings as much now as did decades ago, when I initially spied it in CD form at Montreal's HMV Superstore on Ste. Catherine Street. Suffice it to say, upon hearing now vaunted Virginians' American retort to British Black Sabbath's "Paranoid", the infinitely rocking "Forever My Queen", I freaked out in place at the listening station and bought a copy faster than you can yawp "Gibson SG".

Right away, I became enamoured with Pentagram, regardless of wry, apprehensive looks received upon declaring such newfound faith and devotion to what was then most criminally underrated band ever. Yet, with each forward sampling, targeted respondents committed themselves to the noble cause of promoting a relatively unknown heavy music deity worth global praise. (Here we are in 2023, as Pentagram morphs into a household name.)

Alongside front man Bobby Liebling's charismatic vocals and bassist-turned-guitar hero (yet sadly deceased) Vincent McAllister's tangibly fluent, impeccably timed leads, the rhythm section of bassist Greg Mayne (also recently passed, so RIP x 2) and drummer Geof O'Keefe leaves no stone unturned when it comes to supplying funky heft needed to propel such hyper-kinetic grooves, beginning with brief but explosive "Forever My Queen" before switching gears on "When The Screams Come" and "Walk In The Blue Light". (To a degree, the twelve songs parallel Zodiac signs, in the sense they possess their own unique character.) An immortal staple in its own right, often reprised during the group's rowdy, Victor Griffin axed 80s/90s incarnation, the former's wonky tone and slack riffage, beneath Bobby's high-strung gesticulations, are second to none. You've to love the killer line: "You've entered hell I guess and weren't so cool...Now Satan makes your rules!".

Comparatively, the jazzily subdued "Walk In The Blue Light", covered at last in 2011 on Last Rites, lulls us into a false sense of docile security, in time for dual feminine wile stomp fests "Starlady" (encored on 2004's rarefied Show 'Em How) and wildly bass driven "Lazy Lady", which has never been given a modern makeover, so out there is its bold, extravagant energy. "Starlady"'s scratchy main riff and snappy waltz see me tap dance in my boots whilst Vincent's sweetly sinuous solos evoke a musical "Dead Eye" (for fellow Red Dead-ites, yonder). Greg and Geoff then steal the show on "Lazy Lady", a ribald tale of Bobby's hellcat ex-girlfriend, who goes so far as to evict him once she buys "the whole block he's living on". Lyrically, it's pure platinum; for aspiring bassists, I can't think of a crazier lesson in slide mechanics!

However, if I were to pick a single, absolute gem, it'd have to be the well polished "Review Your Choices". As much as Joe Hasselvander's 1999 version fondly chafes my ears, the authentic recording is, simply put, too cool. During its opening verses, Bobby sounds like a harbinger of evil doom, a malefic prophet and purveyor of bad news. Vincent's sneaky intro solo and further slinky twiddling make this one a creeper. The carnivalesque "Hurricane" then boggles the mind with its rollicking stride and twangy licks, making the most of two minutes. (Another golden oldie which beckons a second coming around the mountain.)

Worth noting, part-time 'Gram'er Marty Iverson tossed his crumpled hat in the ring on "Starlady", while the late Randy Palmer also contributed token dabbling within aptly titled "Livin' In A Ram's Head" (released as a bucking single with "Lorsque Les Cris Viennent" in 1979, my "first year here") and eccentric parlay, "Earth Flight". The loopy bass line and bashing skins presage a 1960s Batman jingle, heralded by many ascending and descending twists and turns liable to "make you see red". Not only that, its circuitous loopy-ness exudes a janky, low fidelity connotation, making "Earth Flight" (on which we're all booked and flailing) a quintessential sleeper, given new life in 2015 on Bobby's firecracker of a comeback, Curious Volume.

Whereas Vic Griff's soloing power hour transpired in 1985 on "Dying World", as his fanatic guitar moves go on forever without relent or repent, Mister McAllister's six string apotheosis occurs on the no-treat trick "20 Buck Spin", a hokey carousel alerting of potential prostitute peril on which he fully lets loose, rivaling even Jimi in terms of far wrought, home style blues. The battery equally shines, going off in all directions like a pineapple grenade thrown through a barroom window as Bobby laments his forsaken Andrew Jackson (legal tender Seminole Native Americans still refuse to hold on their person, to this regrettably dystopic day). By the way, Pennsylvania's Pale Divine did it wicked justice in 2001.

Wrapping down this knuckle dust assemblage of Nixon era hymns are the balladic pair of elegant swansongs, "Be Forewarned" and "Last Daze Here". Appointing a soft edge to their bluesy effervescence, both prevail as emotional catalysts to otherwise high octane fulfillment, with "Be Forewarned" the more haunting or lugubrious of the two due to its gloomy, Medieval frostiness, as well as Bobby's narrated, post mayhem reflections. I'm especially keen on the lines "Some people think I'm an advocate of Lucifer/And some say I'm a child of god - yes, they do/Some people think I've got the nine lives of a cat/And others say I'm filthy as a dog, a wretched dog". ("Woof!" goes the World's oldest canine, also named Bobi.)

To put it mildly, I get chills spinning its ominous, vinyl bound tune. The longest track at six minutes, "Last Daze Here" embodies The Vintage Collection's bygone, classic spirit which many generations to come are to embrace for its timelessness. (Ha! The verse "Somebody hold me/I'm afraid/Buy me a ticket/For a place to be saved" fools me into discerning the word "chicken" instead of "ticket".) Bobby and friends, when you read this tribute, heed my deep bow.

"Lord, I've lived on the dark side of the moon
And I've been to the heart of the sun
I've gone to bed with many ladies
Killed many a man
Before my 16th year was done
So you be forewarned
I'm coming after you
I'll never let you go - no!"

Filthy heavy blues - 91%

Doominance, November 6th, 2013

If you like Blue Cheer and early Black Sabbath, you'll love this. First Daze Here is a compilation album by doom titans Pentagram. On here, we are introduced to some of the earliest recordings by Pentagram, or Macabre, as they were called at the time (I think). In the 80s, many of the songs on this release had been re-recorded and made "doomier", so don't expect Pentagram's early recordings to sound anything like their "proper records", though, some of the songs are pretty much the same, just with a faster and thinner sound. This is pure bluesy hard rock!

If you're more into the slow, heavy doom metal in the vein of Saint Vitus and Candlemass, then you'd probably enjoy the later recordings of these songs better. I am one of those people, but I'll admit that "Starlady", for instance, is MUCH better on First Daze Here than on Show 'Em How. Another example can be the song "Be Forewarned". Both this and the later version of the song are good. The original recording of that song, that you'll find on here, is much shorter and bluesier with a thinner sound, while the later recording of the song, which appeared on the album named after the song, is much longer, slower and "doomier", but still has a bluesy touch to it.

Even though the production isn't that good, you'll have no problem enjoying the songs on here. Bobby Liebling is as flamboyant as ever, the guitars are quite simple, but play catchy hard rock riffs much inspired by Blue Cheer and with a tinge of early Black Sabbath, the bass has its moments, and the drums are pretty standard.

First Daze Here is a great release by Pentagram. It will introduce you to a very underground and original sound from a young, enthusiastic band. The songs are short and easy to listen to, so you if you're a fan of filthy heavy blues, you could get through this album without a problem.

Humble beginnings. - 70%

Warthur, September 17th, 2011

Unlike many of the bands that spearheaded the development of doom metal in the 1980s, Pentagram had a key advantage in recapturing the spirit of the 1970s - they'd actually been there. The proof is on this nicely selected compilation from the very first phase of their career. Aside from Starlady, which dates from 1976, all the material here comes from demo and rehearsal tapes recorded between 1972 and 1974, but despite these humble origins the sound quality is quite acceptable.

Musically speaking, Pentagram hadn't yet hit on the Sabbath-worshipping doom metal sound of the 1980s. In all honesty, the material here isn't necessarily all that original, with a lot of it being blues-influenced proto-metal - resembling Led Zeppelin playing Sabbath riffs. The sludgy, fuzzy guitar sound spices things up, and Bobby Liebling does a reasonable Robert Plant impersonation on vocals.

Many songs first developed here would later get a doom metal workout on Pentagram's proper studio albums, and I can't put my hand on my heart and say I don't prefer them in that context, but for those who are already Pentagram fans this collection is a great way to explore the origins of the band.

.....in the beginning - 100%

ozzypossum, July 7th, 2010

Sound: It is the year 1972 and Rock and Roll is the biggest form of music in the world. Bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper and Deep Purple are taking the world by storm. All of these bands have become legendary, but one band was overlooked. The band was called Pentagram, a band whose oldest songs were not released until 2002. Long before Pentagram would be reinvented and release the album "Relentless" in 1985, they were forging together some of the greatest Heavy Metal sounds in the world, which would later be the blueprint for so many bands to come. The sounds of such songs "Forever My Queen," "Review Your Choices," and "Walk In The Blue Light" were the very foundation that Doom Metal was built on. Other songs like "Starlady," "Hurricane," and "20 Buck Spin" had the high voltage rock and roll sound of many bands that would later sprout in the late 70's and early 80's. Such dark and doomy ballads like "Be Forewarned" and "Last Days Here" would be ripped off by many Melancholic Doom Metal bands later on. If any band was too be signed it would have been Pentagram, with Bobby Liebling's powerful, haunting vocals, Vincent McAllister's heavy, droned guitar riffs, Greg Mayne's catchy basslines (especially on "Earth Flight" I might add), and Geof O'Keefe's drum beats that you can feel beating you in the chest through your speakers, were all the elements you needed in 1972-73. The sound of Pentagram is everything a Metalhead could want from it's heavier than hell riffs, to it's blitzing guitar solos. // 100

Lyrics and Singing: With a name like Pentagram you would think they sing solely about satanism right? Actually none of the songs really deal with Old Scratch at all. A lot of the lyrics actually deal with love, while others deal with straight forward lyrics that point a middle finger in the direction of the mainstream. And ever songs like "Review Your Choices" deal with almost a Christian viewpoint to the afterlife. Bobby delivers his lyrics well, especially with a chilling voice like his. The lyrics can also be very metaphorical, which shows the creativity of the lyricist. // 100

Impression: Overall this album gets a 100. I have no idea why this band was not signed in the 70's, they could have had a bigger impact on music. They could have even roamed with the giants known as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple. If you like those three bands I mentioned, along with bands like The Sword, Blue Cheer, Saint Vitus, and Trouble, you will love this album. While it is true this entire album is a collection of demos, the sound quality sounds like if it was recorded in a high quality studio (which 11 of the songs were recorded professionally). If you are fan of straight up Metal, check out the songs "Forever My Queen," "Earth Flight," "Walk in the Blue Light," and "Review Your Choices." I honestly think this is an essential Metal album, and hell even if you like classic rock, you'll love this. This album deserves the reputation of albums like Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" and "Volume 4." Pentagram has actually begun to tour again with Bobby still fronting the band. If you live in Europe, go see them. // 100

originally posted at [ http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/pentagram/first_daze_here/index.html ]

Worship Blue Cheer... or they'll come after you!!! - 88%

Catachthonian, November 27th, 2008

"My peace of mind depends on you"

In case with "First Daze Here", it depends on Blue Cheer. This is no secret that Blue Cheer's music was the main influence on Pentagram in early 70-ies, as is evident on here. This compilation features a dozen of songs from the early days of Pentagram, which are quite different from what the band is mostly known for, as they're much more garage rock/blues-oriented than the band's later opuses. And even though the blues influence sometimes shines through, it differs much from that of Black Sabbath.

First three tracks are from the "Bias Recordings Studio" (henceforth referred to as BRS) demo, which I've already reviewed, so I'll just skip them. The only thing that needs to be said is that the sound is almost identical to the original - no complaints here. In case you're dying to learn more about these songs, just read the aforementioned review.

The fourth track is one of my favourite Pentagram songs - "Starlady". It starts with a fast to midpaced hardrockish riff - the main riff of the song, which is as effective as simplistic. It goes on for about two minutes, transforms into a bit slower riff (in essence, a well-crafted sequence of guitar chords with the bass work behind them) and then finally makes way for a slow, calm section with a spacey feel and a soothing, lulling (in a good sense!) atmosphere. The bass, accompanied by the drums, plays the leading part while occasional guitar chord is struck once in a while, and all this makes a great buildup to the guitar solo. The solo. Words fail to describe what it conveys, but I'll try anyway. It isn't mind-numbingly complex, nor is it relentlessly beautiful, nay; but it is extremely evocative, though-out, atmospheric and soulful. It feels like gazing into a deep dark-blue sky gilded with the last shades of the fading twilight, when the sun has just sunk behind the horizon and the first stars awake, glimmering shyly, as the breath of night, first manifested as a tender evening breeze, mends its pace and is about to seize the land with shapeless hands of dense milk-white fog lying in low places and covering the fields in torn lumps, where the crops, not fully ripened yet - in early August, were swaying the breeze and basking in the last rays of the sun just an hour before. The rest of the song is the main riff playing for a minute and a half, and then the first part of the solo until the end. The lyrics are on par with the music. Of course, it isn't the greatest poem ever, but nevertheless it's quite beautiful, and that's a merit of phrasing and wording, not verse and rhyme.

Next we have a song about another lady - "Lazy Lady", which is interesting only as the song where the Blue Cheer influence is most evident. It's a bluesy psych rock tune with a laid-back atmosphere, so the guitar tone isn't very heavy, rather the opposite. Well, what else... it has a nice solo, well-crafted lyrics... the bassline really is the backbone of the song... and, when all is said and done, "she's such a lovely lady!". The next track is yet another one from the BSR demo, and there's nothing to say about it that hasn't been said before.

Three subsequent tracks demonstrate a nice variety in sound and songwriting approach, where all the different influences manifest themselves. "Hurricane" has the softest and warmest guitar tone on the entire release, and for a good reason - it's just plain rockin' fun, giving the listener a break after the first six songs. "Earth Flight" looks like "Hurricane"'s close relative in terms of mood and sound, but differs in the songwriting department. It begins with a cool bass intro and continues with sort of a power chord riff: it isn't a power chord riff, but it sounds like one (if you get what I'm saying). The second half of "Earth Flight" kind of makes me remember old westerns, particularly scenes of shooting in the bars and riding on the horses in the desert under the merciless white-hot sun, which is strange because it's typically W.A.S.P.'s debut album that reminds me of such things, and even stranger considering the fact that Pentagram is an East coast band. But whatever. "Livin' In A Ram's Head" is a classic, and rightfully so - midpaced, groovy, rolling over your sorry ass like a 100 ton bulldozer and (gasp!) doomy. Not doomy like on later albums, but like an insane maniac ready to cut the throat of yet another victim - menacing, thrilling and laughing. "I have no fear, the devil sets my course, livin' in a ram, said I'm livin' in a ram, yeah, alright!".

Finally, the fifth song from the BSR demo. And with this, the only thing about "First Daze Here" that really gets on my nerves is the way the demo was divided. There's really no sense in putting three songs one after another at the beginning, one in the middle and one at the end, because the atmosphere is completely lost. Either leave the demo intact or separate all the songs from each other.

The last two tracks, "Be Forewarned" and "Last Days Here" are also amid my favourite songs by the band. "Be Forewarned", presented in its original (three and a half minutes long) version, is the bluesiest song on here. When it gets close to the middle, it really starts to remind me "House of the Rising Sun" as performed by the Animals, although they're completely different in mood, instrumentation and performance. "Be Forewarned" sounds sort of cold and aloof, and the 'rippling water' guitar tone helps this greatly. Well, the whole song is kind of like rippling water in its flow. The lyrics are a bit obscure, but they might be somehow related to Charles Manson, I think. Anyway, Bobby does a hell of a job in this song, and his performance on "Be Forewarned" is the absolute highlight of the album. Now, on to "Last Days Here". It can be called the "title track", as "First Daze Here" is apparently a wordplay on "Last Days Here". The song starts rather calmly and then slowly but surely, gradually increasing tension, builds up to a climax... which never comes! Instead, the song seems to go on and on and on forever, but this neither bores nor disappoints the listener, because the flow is perfect and the ending, though abrupt, is logical. Overall, a great song with a "freezing in the winter wind" vibe to it.

When all is said and done, there are two things (?) that shine gloriously: the bass work and Bobby's vocals. The bass brings the songs together and often play the leading part in conveying the mood, while Bobby gives out a stellar performance and adds much power and energy to the music. Production-wise, "First Daze Here" is (of course) uneven, but the sound is clear, all instruments are easily distinguishable and nothing stains the listener's experience. The selection of songs is very good; however, they could include a few more ("Much Too Young To Know", for example). From historical perspective, this is an essential compilation crucial for a better understanding of doom metal as a whole and providing much insight into what was going on in the undeground heavy rock scene in early 70-ies. Recommended for any metalhead; a musthave for the fans of Pentagram. If you see it somewhere, don't hesitate to buy it (for a reasonable price, of course).

Highlights: "Starlady", "Be Forewarned", "Last Days Here"

An Enlightening Look At The Heavy Seventies - 90%

brocashelm, June 14th, 2006

A funny thing happened to Pentagram on their way to becoming a legendary doom metal icon. They managed to exist in various forms for nearly 15 years before managing to record a debut album. From roughly 1970 until 1985, the band record seven-inch singles, demos, recorded live shows and seemed to forever have a tape machine running. Still, no record deal. The good news is that during that period of time the band wrote and recorded material every bit as good as their later “official” output. The bad news for the band is that said recordings were bootlegged mercilessly, and often sold at ludicrous prices.


Fortunately Relapse records has stepped in and dedicated themselves to providing quality issues of the band’s early work. This is the first volume we’re gabbing about here, and damn strong it is. First a quick warning: for those of you into traditional doom metal, be aware. Pentagram’s sound a this point had as much to do with seventies metal norms as it did with the doom style they were helping to invent. Having said that, “Forever My Queen,” “Livin’ In A Ram’s Head,” “When The Screams Come,” and “Review Your Choices” are all heavy as a sack of hammers, on par with any retro doom being produced by scene leaders like Witchcraft or Spiritual Beggars. Equally impressive are the loping riffs of “Lazy Lady,” the slow burn of “Be Forewarned” and the nearly R&B tinged “Last Days Here,” presented in a raw but sweet live recording.


Important for the historical preservation of the band’s music and a friggin’ great record in and of itself, First Daze Here is the kind of archival work we need much more of in metal. Think about it: If we don’t preserve and take care our own music, then who will?

Excellent American Doom metal - 90%

deadmaker7, December 12th, 2005

Pentagram, the perpetually forgotten 70's American Metal band. Hailing from Alexandria VA, they toiled in obscurity for the better part of two decades before releasing an LP. Along the way, they released a handful of singles and recorded some demos as well. These tracks are culled from those various locations and given a good treatment to form what should be a mandatory disc for every Black Sabbath Fan. While comparisons to Black Sabbath are quite appropriate, I can almost imagine a straight line being drawn to this from the works of Blue Cheer (who these guys idolized) and other early stoner/psychedelic bands. Perhaps it's just my American patriotism or something. While this certainly is very heavy music, it’s not in the same league as Sabbath, and as much as I like the guitar tone on here, it’s really quite different from that of Tony Iommi. You might even call it a bit of an acquired taste.

First, I’ll tackle the straight up metal stuff: Forever My Queen is supposedly the most well-known song from the band. Anyway it explodes right out of the gate with a simple yet crushing riff and an awesome solo to boot. When the Screams Come is my personal favorite song on here. The main riff just drips with evil and there's a bit of thrash in the middle. Certainly we have here one of the greatest ever forgotten metal anthems, and it's a tragedy that this is only know by a small circle of devoted fans. Earth Flight, B-Side of the band’s second single starts with a bass intro and builds to a heavy rocker with Sab riffs. In fact, the one in the middle reminds me a bit of Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. Review Your Choices is similar to the aforementioned When The Screams come, but here the guitar is toned down a bit. That doesn’t mean it’s any less evil, however.

Now, as I mentioned the band literally worshipped Blue Cheer, and it shows on some of these tunes. Walk in the Blue Light hearkens back to the band's earlier material, which leans more toward Blue Cheer than Black Sabbath. Not bad, but there were much better things to come from the band. The song Starlady has become notorious, since Gene Simmons had offered the band $10,000 for this song but they famously refused. Incidentally, this may have resulted in Simmons ditching the band and signing Angel instead. In my opinion, this sounds much better than what KISS would have done with it. It’s a pretty straightforward 70’s rocker, and yes that’s rock not metal. Be Forewarned was the band’s first ever single in 1972, and it’s trippy with its waves of tremolo guitar. Lazy Lady, the B-Side to Be Forewarned, is another Blue Cheer-ish song here with a sliding bass intro and just some hints of doom throughout. An auspicious start for an auspicious band.

The remaining songs are a mixed lot. These strike me as works in progress, or something that could have used more development. For example, Hurricane, the band’s second single, begins with a rightly marching riff and then half-way through, goes speed metal for about 30 seconds. It sounds very awesome and quite innovative, but at the same time under focused. And Livin' in a Ram's Head, a VERY roughly recorded tune cut in a club in DC, has some sort of “stoner-punk” sound but feels a little incomplete as a song. I can only imagine that, given proper studio time and treatment, this could have been blaring out of every FM radio.

20 Buck Spin reminds me of some of those old heavy jam bands like Truth and Janey or JPT Scare Band. It’s a tale of a hooker and life on the street, and at the end it just takes off into an extended jam. Vince McAllister gets a little self-indulgent, but that’s okay, he’s actually a good player. Then finally, Last Days Here, the “quiet” song, but not emotionally light, as it deals with death and the afterlife in a heavy-handed fashion. I like Bobby Liebling’s vocals on this one.

The band personally oversaw the remastery of the CD and the creation of the included booklet, with full lyrics and a few photos. Very good job on that as well.

So to summarize, if you are any kind of a fan of stoner or doom metal check this out. You won't be disappointed. Also be sure to check out First Daze II, coming March 2006, and the related band Bedemon, whose Child of Darkness CD will be out very shortly.