D**E
A 2nd Wave Black Metal Classic -- reprinted
If you like black metal, you will like Gorgoroth. Pentagram, still, nearly 30 years later, holds up as one of the greatest albums in the genre of all time. The vinyl plays well -- as expected of a brand new copy -- and sounds great. A great way to worship Satan in the afternoon. Blasting it is highly recommended. Especially if you live near a church.
E**M
Pentagram - A true Black Metal classic
Hat's vocals are incredible throughout this entire album! Probably some of my favorite black metal vocals ever! Very influential, his work on this album laid a “blueprint” for black metal vocalists moving forward. Before you go thinking what a silly stage name Hat is (pronounced “haut”), it does translate to “Hate” in Norwegian. Love it. Infernus' guitar playing is crisp, cold, riff-heavy bliss. Samoth, of Emperor fame, wickedly executes bass here, helping this album from falling victim to sounding too treble-heavy. Goat (Perverter) does an amazing job of beating those drums to death!Crisp and clean, this album is an excellent example of True Norwegian Black Metal that proves it doesn't all have to sound like it was intentionally recorded as poorly as possible.A blistering, melodic whirlwind, this album has NO filler. Clocking in at 29:18, it has no room for it. Since it arrived, this album gets heavy rotation in the car as well as in the house. The entire album slays from start to finish. As stated already no filler here, but as with all my reviews, here come some standout tracks."Begravelsesnatt" (Burial Night) opens the album with a hammering fury that sets the tone for what's to come. When Hat enters and starts screaming like a banshee, you know you’re in for one ear ringing ride. "Crushing the Scepter" follows and has some AMAZING guitar playing from Infernus. Again, Hat and Goat. “Drömmer om Död" (Dreaming of Death) is the fourth track and opens like a skull crusher. Very catchy with some excellent riffs. The end of the track has a nice little fade-out. “Katharinas bortgang” (Katharina’s Passing) begins with what sounds like Goat trying to completely wreck his drum set. Along with some very interesting structural changes by Infernus throughout, and with Hat screaming like a demon from hell, the crescendo at the 1:55 mark will leave you begging for more. "Huldrelokk" is the only instrumental as well as being the shortest track on the album. It is a beautiful frenzy for 1:52. Infernus and Goat do some great work together here.The album closes with "Maaneskyggens Slave" (Moon-shadow's Slave). One of my personal favs and the longest song on the album at 5:55. One could be forgiven for thinking that this is almost entirely an instrumental track. With 3 very well-placed screams and only 1:25 of lyrics sung by Hat you can see why. The song is full of scorching riffs and excellent drumming from Infernus and Goat. Great song to end with.The absolute bare bones, minimalist packaging is totally indicative of True Norwegian Black Metal, consisting only of heavy cardstock printed on both sides. No booklet. No song lyrics. Just two very bad, black and white, blurry photos of each of the two founding band members on the back of the CD: Hat and Infernus.As it states on the inside cardstock, “True Norwegian Black Metal to be played at high volume levels.”Buy this album and do just that.
J**N
A True Black metal classic
In a year where many well known Black Metal bands were releasing albums 94 Mayhem released there Black Metal masterpiece De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas. Emperor released there debut album. Burzum released a album so alot of bands were releasing albums in that year but the bands i mentioned were the well known ones so it was a tough task to come out in the Black Metal scene and stand out with there own sound well Gorgoroth did with there debut album Pentagram Gorgoroth were still very young at the time but i consider pentagram to be one of the best Black Metal albums i have ever heard. The album kinda mixs fast brutal riffs with very melodic riffs with very deep dark moods some songs are very fast aggressive songs then there are some that are more melodic some start out very fast but then slow down and become melodic for example crushing the scepter starts out fast but slows down alittle but its the end part that really has a dark feeling infernus's guitar playing really is what drives the riffs and feelings but i can't forget Hat he is a very unique vocalist he sounds so inhuman with his screams i should say that if you aren't into Black Metal singers who really scream in a high pitched way then you might want to pass on this album because Hat screams his lungs out on this album but the amazing thing i noticed is if you listen to many of the songs Hats vocals really follow the guitar riffs and he changes his tone as the guitar changes singing along with the guitars almost changing the mood with the riffs thats what makes him very unique and i must not forget Goat he also helps with the mood of this album his drums do add a very aggressive feeling to the songs some might say that he doesn't play as well as frost who would later play drums on the next Gorgoroth album but i think goat adds to the songs and his drums aren't boring you do notice them. I should also mention that this album would be the last album to feature the original Gorgoroth line up Hat Infernus and Goat so that also makes this album special. But also samoth of Emperor also plays session bass on this album i mentioned Emperor before. But i think due to the fact that you can't hear what Hat is saying you only focus on the music and i think the album does tell kinda a story in a way each song goes together well and it ends with the perfect closer song one of my favorite gorgoroth songs Maaneskyggens slave a more slower song it starts off kinda heavy but its the change in tone of the guitars in the middle that really creates the beautiful melodic feeling Infernus' guitar playing really shines on this song and the mood and feeling stays the same for the rest of the song then after the song ends you get this feeling of almost being on a emotional dark journey. this is a perfect debut album for Gorgoroth i think and if you enjoy Burzum and like Varg's old vocal style then you should like this album. If you are new to Gorgoroth and don't know what album to get first i would recommend this album or if you are just a Black Metal fan looking for a old album from the early scene this is a great album to pick up.
S**R
Another must have for any Black Metal fan !
Another great example of perfection from the early era of 2nd wave Black Metal masters ! Also another must have for any Gorgoroth and Black Metal fan. Enjoy getting a physical copy while they're still available in these disgusting digital era days.
E**N
Pentagram
In my opinion, the best album Gorgoroth has ever released. Hat's vocals are absolutely brutal. Truly an exemplary release in black metal.
M**T
One of best blackmetal CDs to have!
This is great blackmetal music at it’s best!
M**K
Could be a bit stronger
Don't get me wrong, I really do like black metal, and I think these guys are great in general. The main thing of which I have to complain here is that I could barely hear the vocalist over the guitars and drums. It was just a bit weak, as I see it. If you compare it to anything by Dark Funeral, you would know what I mean. I just wouldn't really recommend this to anyone who is new to black metal. But other than that, this album is a pretty solid effort by a rock-solid band.
J**R
Classic Black Metal
One of the best
S**N
PIETRA MILIARE
Finalmente la ristampa di un pezzo di storia. Disco imprescindibile per il genere.. il cantato stridulo di Hat è glaciale e feroce, il sound esplosivo e aggressivo. Un filo rosso lo lega ai primi Bathory (quellidi Under the sign of black mark per capirci), ma la spontaneità e la furia sono pure e cristalline. Semplicemente un capolavoro.
B**O
Gift
Brother-law very pleased with it
A**N
l'inferno comincia da qui
Primo album della famosissima black metal band norvegese. Dirò solo una cosa.....della montagna di dischi prodotti dai Gorgoroth questo Capolavoro chiamato Pentagram è il loro miglior albun .C'è poco da dire ....true norwegian black metal.....quello puro e incontaminato . da avere per forza
B**S
Five Stars
Great old school Gorgoroth.
M**A
very good seller, very good item
very good seller, very good item
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