Posts Tagged ‘doom’

The Obelisk: Interview with Pentagram’s Bobby Liebling

Posted on Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

JJ Koczan of The Obelisk recently conducted an in-depth interview with Bobby Liebling of Pentagram:  The Voice of the Head ‘Ram. An excerpt of the chat follows below:

The Obelisk: Why do you think the appreciation for Pentagram has grown the way it has over the last decade?

Bobby Liebling: I can pinpoint it down to the people my age, who have grown up, have had children who are now 16 and over, and can attend Pentagram shows. Their parents turn them on to Pentagram. I’ve met hundreds of couples who brought their kids worldwide. Every country I’ve been to at least has had two or three couples bringing their children with them and have said, “I’ve been listening to Pentagram for 30 years, I want you to meet my son, he’s dying to meet you.” I’m covering a generation from 16 to 60.

Bobby Liebling

It’s definitely because of that influence, coupled with the fact that I am a dinosaur that made it through the ice age and the retro movement, and stoner rock movement, as they call it by coined phrase — I just say we play real, real, REAL heavy hard rock. I don’t call it heavy metal anymore. They still say “The godfathers of doom” when we come on stage, and it is downtrodden — I’ll put it that way — in mood. I write all minor stuff, bum outs (laughs). Pretty depressing, kill-yourself music, which a thousand people around the world has told me has saved their life, which blows my mind. Especially Sub-Basement, which is my absolute, hands-down baby, for production, and for the most sick, demented pile of songs. I can only listen to it once every two or three months. I absolutely can’t listen to it, it’s so entirely bummed out from first note to last (laughs). It’s very sick in the head. I call Show ‘em How the sister album to that album.

Show ‘em How is very clean production, and it redid some of the Pentagram classics like “20 Buck Spin,” as opposed to Sub-Basement, let’s say “Target,” is the typical Pentagram, bluesy-influence with Blue Cheer mixed into it, and on Show ‘em How, “Show ‘em How” is, the changes and a barrage of feedback at the end, uncontrolled like “Doctor Please” by Blue Cheer, but instead of all the dementia that’s on Sub-Basement, the other group of song moods on Show ‘em How, instead of demented, is sad.

It’s pathetic and sad and very close to my heart and toned down, dear to me. Like “If the Winds Would Change,” “Last Days Here,” it’s the only ballad Pentagram’s ever done, really. It’s a “Gimme Danger” I’ve-got-nothing, Iggy-type of thing. Up that alley, completely, compared to Keith Richards and Kurt Cobain in one article, which, my god, I couldn’t believe they’re putting me in that kind of company (laughs). Like, what’s wrong with this picture? I should be licking their balls (laughs).

“Last Days Here” — the first rehearsal version is on First Daze Here — when that came out, they said, “This guy Bobby Liebling sounds like he’s so truthfully depressed, and so honestly, totally suicidal that we wonder if 10 minutes after the recording session did he jump off the studio roof and commit suicide.” It’s the hopeless despair of it. There’s no glimmer of light anywhere in sight. Of course, Jim Osterberg being a close friend of mine for many years — I followed The Stooges in the early days — I met him by cleaning the peanut butter off his body in a bathroom in 1970 (laughs). …But I think it’s the retro movement, to answer your question.

Continue reading:  The Obelisk: Interview with Pentagram’s Bobby Liebling

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in 2010, Interviews, Roadburn Recommended | No Comments »

Album of the day: Iron Man – Black Night

Posted on Sunday, March 14th, 2010

Lovingly pinched from The Obelisk: If the elder’s fables are true, and there really is a cult of true doom, then I can’t help but feel that somewhere in the initiation process is Black Night, the 1992 debut offering from Maryland legends Iron Man. Among the most sought-after of the ...read more

Album of the day: Las Cruces – Dusk

Posted on Friday, March 12th, 2010

Lovingly pinched from The Obelisk: As the follow-up to 1998’s Ringmaster, Dusk (Brainticket / Metal Rising), the 2009 offering from San Antonio, Texas, doom bashers Las Cruces, is something of a surprise. Mostly because, since the band more or less called it quits after self-releasing the The Lowest End EP ...read more

Album of the day: While Heaven Wept – Vast Oceans Lachrymose

Posted on Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Lovingly pinched from Hellride Music: Since the early 90s, Virginia doom collective While Heaven Wept have resided in the shadows; a criminally underrated unit which has consistently released quality, emotional doom of the highest order. Whether it be 1998’s Sorrow of the Angels or 2003’s masterful Of Empires Forlorn, the ...read more

The Wounded Kings Interviewed

Posted on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

JJ Koczan of The Obelisk recently conducted an interview with The Wounded Kings‘ multi-instrumentalis Steve Mills about the band’s sophomore album, entitled The Shadow Over Atlantis. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.
The Obelisk: You’re obviously schooled in doom. Where do you see The Wounded Kings fitting in with ...read more

Album of the day: Saint Vitus – Die Healing (vinyl reissue)

Posted on Saturday, March 6th, 2010

Praise for Saint Vitus‘ Die Healing from San Francisco’s Aquarius Records:  Doom. Vinyl. Die Healing. Need we go on?? Doom metal fans, probably all you need to know is that this album by LA godfathers of doom Saint Vitus, never before on vinyl, and long out of print on cd, ...read more

Album of the day: Dwarr – Animals

Posted on Thursday, March 4th, 2010

Praise for Dwarr’s Animals from San Francisco’s Aquarius Records: Eccentric outsider doom metal from the ’80s, from waaaaaay down underground. Now hold up, if the words “doom” or “metal” make you think, not for me, think again (maybe). This isn’t like any metal you’ve ever heard, really. More like spaced ...read more

Cathedral: U.K., Ireland Dates Announced; New Track Available For Streaming

Posted on Monday, March 1st, 2010

To celebrate the release of their latest album, The Guessing Game, veteran British doom/stoner band Cathedral has announced six live shows in late April / early May 2010. Taking in England, Scotland and both Southernand Northern Ireland, these dates will represent the group’s first headlining gigs since ...read more

Album of the day: Cathedral – The Guessing Game

Posted on Sunday, February 28th, 2010

Lovingly pinched from The Obelisk: A double album is always a curious read, and Cathedral’s ninth full-length, The Guessing Game, with which the legendary UK doom outfit celebrates their 20th anniversary, is no exception. All the more so considering The Guessing Game is so close to the 80-minute limit of ...read more

Cathedral New Album Details Revealed

Posted on Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Veteran British doom / stoner band Cathedral will release its ninth full-length album and second for the Nuclear Blast label, The Guessing Game, on March 26. The CD was recorded at the Chapel studios in Lincolnshire, U.K. and was once again produced by Warren Riker (Down, Crowbar). It also sports ...read more

« Older Entries