Search - Pentagram :: First Daze Here: Vintage Collection

Pentagram: the best of the early daze!

L Salisbury | Maryland United States | 02/26/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Not too many people about Pentagram's 70s roots but they were the best Maryland/DC band of the period. This lineup almost hit the big time twice (possible deals with Columbia and Casablanca were struck but never went anywhere)) but never recorded a full album. Until now the only way to hear these incredible songs was to know people who know the band. Most of these songs were released on the two 72-79" comps on Peace records but "last daze" (which recalls a Stones/Stooges ballad) is totally new. Other great moments: "walk in the blue light", "star lady" (which KISS wanted to record!), "earth flight", "hurricane" and others that sound like Sabbath meets Blue Cheer meets BOC. The only drawback is the annoying remixing of "be forwarned" and "lazy lady" but if you haven't heard the original versions then you won't mind these. Other great moments from these sessions not included here: "wheel of fortune", "smokescreen", "much too young to know", "teaser", the original version of "run my course" and their cover of "under my thumb"."

Every Track Is Classic!

J.J. Kilroy | Dallas, TX USA | 02/21/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an exceptional vintage style album. Concurrent with Sabbath (1970-1975), this band was way ahead of the curve. They even beat Van Halen to the punch on some of these songs. Every song is classic. Well-written well-composed, soulful, sorrowful, sardonic, sad, powerful, pissed, proud. Vocals like the Stooges, songs like Rainbow and Sabbath and Deep Purple. All the highs and Low low low's of a seasoned doom band. Lyrics about love, vixens, depression, dying, psychadelia, the horned bad-guy below, and the man upstairs, too. Purportedly, this band's deal with the devil got hung up in the contracts department. It's so puzzling that they never made it big. My favorite album release of 2002, and that's across a host of genres. Best songs are "Starlady" and "Last Dayz," but you will love every song."

Classic hard rock at its best... Pentagram--the American Bl

D. Cole | Los Angeles, CA USA | 03/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Pentagram is one of those obscure bands that you will probably never hear about on a mainstream level. This band's cds, particularly the two compilations: "First Daze Here," and "First Daze Here Two," probably can't and won't be found at your local Best Buy or Tower Records. You'll probably have to go to your local independent record store like I did (Bionic Records in Fullerton) and purchase the album from a guy who is addicted to ganja and the 4 foot long bong hidden somewhere in his closet. But once you do purchase these two early years comps., you'll be glad you did. You will feel like you stumbled onto an obscure band that you can introduce all of your geezar friends, uncles, older cousins, and even your father (and other balding, or grey-haired middle-aged men who grew up listening to early "heavy" bands like Steppenwolf, The Hendrix Experience, Mountain, Blue Cheer, the mighty Black Sabbath, UFO, Budgie, early Scorpions [Michael Schenker and Uli Jon Roth-era], and The Stooges)to, as well as some of your cohorts who are disciples of the aforementioned early heavy/stoner rock bands. And all of these people shall be quite impressed.



The best way to sum up the sound of Pentagram is--think along the lines of the music of Ozzy-era Sabbath meets the vocal sound of Ian Gillian. Please don't incorporate the Ian Gillian-era Sabbath reference here as that was a completely different sounding era. The guitarist, Vincent McAllister sounds like a direct apprentice of Tony Iommi, riffs, vibrato, solos and all--and what are the odds, he played a Gibson SG during this period? I wouldn't be surprised if he was using a Laney amp with a Big Muff distortion either! Plus, the lyrics are humorous and very much directed towards men. Any band that pens the lines "Now listen here baby--I got a message for you, I need a woman who can cook, clean and screw," is top notch on my list. These cats were straight-up American classic hard rock and it's about frickin' time their early music has been put on recorded media to be heard by the masses. The cd art is pretty dark and cool as well. You know a band doesn't mess around when they use the Sigil of Baphomet as their band's official symbol (mind you, this pre-dates any other metal band such as Venom using this symbol). Get ready to rock out and impress some friends when you listen to this one!"