One of the forerunners of Doom Metal, PENTAGRAM, for so long an obscure cult act, were brought to attention by the new wave of Doom bands such as CATHEDRAL, many citing PENTAGRAM as a direct influence. The band, dating back to the early 70's, have been through numerous line ups and many break ups. Notwithstanding this they have built up an enviable following.

The group, known as MACABRE at this time and based in Arlington, Virginia, released their first single, 'Be Forewarned' / 'Lazy Lady', in July 1972 as a limited run of 1000 copies. Of interest to collectors is that some copies of the single have the band name mispelt as "Macarbe". The band at this time included mainman Bobby Liebling, guitarist Vince McAllister, bassist Greg Mayne and drummer Geoff O'Keefe. Earlier band participants included guitarist John Jennings and drummer Steve Martin.

Pre-PENTAGRAM both O'Keefe and Mayne had been operational in the band SPACE MEAT. This act enrolled Liebling as lead vocalist and re-billed themselves STONEBUNNY. With Liebling's departure the band reverted back to SPACE MEAT. Subsequently O'Keefe and Liebling would lay the foundation of PENTAGRAM.

This inaugural PENTAGRAM line-up also cut the Skip Groff produced 'Hurricane' / 'Earth Flight' single in 1973 for Boffo Socko Records. The group then added second guitarist Randy Palmer to the ranks in time to cut a promotion single featuring a cover of the ROLLING STONES 'Under My Thumb' and original 'When The Screams Come'. Having made an impression on vinyl, PENTAGRAM debuted live at the Junior College in Montgomery, Maryland on December 15th.

Prior to Palmer officially joining the ranks of PENTAGRAM, circa 1973, he and PENTAGRAM's drummer Geoff O'Keefe and vocalist Bobby Liebling, together with mutual friend Mike Matthews committed some of Randy's compositions to tape. The project was billed as BEDEMON after a mispronounciation of two earlier title suggestions 'Behemoth' and 'Demon'. These initial sessions resulted in a three song demo comprising of 'Child Of Darkness', 'Serpent Venom' and 'Frozen Fear'. The enthusiasm engendered by these tracks fired off further sessions which culminated in a whole album's worth of material. Two of these BEDEMON songs, Starlady' and 'Touch The Sky' would subsequently be utilised by PENTAGRAM.

Fate nearly intervened when, according to Liebling, KISS main men GENE SIMMONS and PAUL STANLEY, attended a rehearsal and offered to buy two PENTAGRAM compositions 'Hurricane' and 'Star Lady' for $10'000 each- provided they could be re-credited to Simmons / Stanley! Liebling apparently turned the offer down.

By 1976 Palmer had been replaced by Marty Iverson. Following Palmer's departure from PENTAGRAM he would re-convene with O'Keefe, Matthews and Liebling to cut further BEDEMON material during 1979. BEDEMON would evolve to find PENTAGRAM and GALACTIC 5 bassist Greg Mayne taking over from Matthews. BEDEMON, now with Palmer, O'Keefe, Mayne and guitarist Norman Lawson of SEX II, would still be recording material as late as 1986.

With the release of the 1978 'Livin' In A Ram's Head' single PENTAGRAM had undergone a drastic change with Liebling now joined by guitarists Richard Kueht and Paul Trowbridge, bassist Marty Swaney and drummer Joe Hasselvander. However, PENTAGRAM split following the release the single, although the band would become active again in 1981 (by pure coincidence Halloween) when Liebling teamed up with Hasselvander again in DEATHROW, a band featuring guitarist VICTOR GRIFFIN and erstwhile PENTAGRAM bassist Marty Swaney. By 1984, under pressure from fans, DEATHROW became PENTAGRAM.

This line-up recorded the band's first full length album but Hasselvander, who recorded a solo album entitled 'Lady Killer' for Dutch East, departed prior to its release and joined SIMMONDS, the band assembled by SAVOY BROWN man Kim Simmonds, in 1985. The drummer sessioned for BURNING STARR then teamed up with British athletic rockers RAVEN. Hasselvander also figuring as a member of ARMAGEDDON, appeared under the pseudonym of 'Matthew Hopkins' on the Thrash by DEVIL CHILDE which included members of VIRGIN STEELE.

Undeterred the band pulled in drummer Stuart Rose for recording of second album 'Day Of Reckoning'. After a series of live dates PENTAGRAM folded yet again in the summer of 1988. The band did resurface in 1989 but predictably folded shortly after. However, interest was renewed when English label Peaceville Records re-released both albums. Hasselvander was persuaded to opt out of RAVEN and Griffin and Swaney also returned.

Griffin had relocated to California founding PISTONHEAD with the the illustrious Wino of THE OBSESSED. Hasselvander was persuaded to opt out of RAVEN and Griffin and Swaney also returned.

Griffin and Hasselvander were lured to an arrangement with CATHEDRAL for European live work, lending a great degree of both interest and credibility to the British band at that juncture, but returned to resurrect PENTAGRAM to record the 'Be Forewarned' album which incidently saw a reworking of PISTONHEAD's 'Too Late'. Dates in America saw headliners and supports to ACE FREHLEY.

During 1988 the independent Peace label issued a compilation of rare and unreleased PENTAGRAM material from the 70s, including tracks recorded with Marty Iverson on guitar. Griffin would break ranks again indulging in a self confessed drink and drugs binge brought on by the deaths of family members. When he emerged from the other side of this purgatory Griffin had become a Christian, later creating the spiritually based Doom act PLACE OF SKULLS with ex-DEATHROW bassist Lee Abney.

1999 saw a return of the band for the 'Review Your Choices' album on the Italian Black Widow label. In a renewed period of activity, PENTAGRAM, now featuring Dale Russell as live drummer, laid down tracks for BLUE CHEER and CAPTAIN BEYOND tribute albums. PENTAGRAM undertook reunion dates with Liebling, Griffin, Hasselvander and Lee Abney from PLACE OF SKULLS on bass.

Upon hearing of Doomsters PALE DIVINE's plans to cut a cover of '20 Buck Spin' for their debut 'Thunder Perfect Mind' album Bobby Liebling was impressed enough to guest on the track. Liebling got so involved he even scores lyric credits and vocals to the previously instrumental close out track 'Dark Knight'.

Continuing interest in PENTAGRAM during 2002 resulted in the release of Peaceville's 'Turn To Stone' compilation and the 1978 live performance 'A Keg Full Of Dynamite' through Black Widow. Griffin's PLACE OF SKULLS reinforced its PENTAGRAM ties by adding bassist Greg Turley in November of 2002. An all new PENTAGRAM line up surfaced during September of 2003 comprising Bobby Liebling alongside the INTERNAL VOID duo of guitarist Kelly Carmichael and bassist Adam S. Heinzmann with Mike Smail of PENANCE on drums, this unit debuting live on 15th January 2005 at the Washington DC, The Black Cat alongside THE HIDDEN HAND.

February of 2004 found Bobby Liebling stepping in to add guest vocals to the tune 'On The Slab' on the debut FALCON album. That same year Californian gore Metal band EXHUMED revealed they had included a rendition of the PENTAGRAM song 'The Ghoul' on their covers album entitled 'Regurgitated Requiems: Garbage Daze Re-Regurgitated'. That same year VICTOR GRIFFIN released a solo album 'Late For An Early Grave' through Outlaw Recordings. Issued as a vinyl pressing, only 525 copies would be manufactured. Unfortunately a planned comeback gig to be held in Washington DC in January 2005, alongside ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY and THE HIDDEN HAND, was marred when Bobby Liebling was taken ill just before the show and hospitalised. Band members from INTERNAL VOID substituted with a mainly instrumental set of PENTAGRAM covers although ex-drummer Joe Hasselvander sang '20 Buck Spin'.

On May 26th 2006 Vincent McAllister, guitarist and a founding member, lost his battle with cancer at the age of 51.

Bobby Liebling joined Swedish Doomsters WITCHCRAFT onstage at their Washington, D.C. Rock & Roll Hotel gig on November 11th to perform PENTAGRAM's 'When the Screams Come' and 'Yes, I Do'.

Chicago's TROUBLE and PENTAGRAM teamed up for the 'Doom Over Europe' tour starting in late September 2009 hitting Germany, Denmark, France, Switzerland, Hungary and the Czech Republic. TROUBLE alsp the headlined the 'Hammer Of Doom' festival, taking place on 17th October 2009 at Posthalle in Würzburg, Germany.

Garry Sharpe-Young