Pentagram (Chile) has literally been around for just shy of 40 years – can you wrap your head around that for a moment?  How about the fact that Eternal Life of Madness is only their second album, their debut finally dropping in 2013 – The Malefice, a monstrously amazing debut album, capturing all the essence of their early demos and splits.

The band plays an old-school style of early death metal and for fans of Celtic Frost, Kreator, Early Sepultura, Vulcano, Sodom, and Venom you will all literally love this band if you have not heard them before.  Anton Reisenegger – vocals/guitar knows how to write bad ass music, that is for sure and Juan Pablo Uribe returns on guitars as does Juan Francisco Cueto on bass and Juan Pablo Donoso on drums.

The band writes longer than average songs and 11 songs in 55 minutes is a lot of music to digest.  Just as their debut album had that creepy sort of artwork, the new album seems to maybe be using the same artist and it’s disturbing and cold-I love it.

“El Imbunche” starts with an eerie intro, which calls to mind the hordes from hell and then the killer organic drum rolls come in.  BOOM!!! Right into the killer death/thrash pace Pentagram (Chile) is known for and I am having thoughts of Slayer, circa 1984 with these riffs.  The drums pound and I appreciate their natural sound and the main guitar riff is interesting and original.  Anton can still let loose with those screams and boy does he ever.  Right after the scream moment, the doomy part at 2.49 erupts with an excellent gruff vocal delivery and some melodic, yet heavy riffing.  This opener has 1984 written all over it, same with the guitar solos nearing the end of the track.

“Omniscient Tyrant” is devastating with the opening cascading through drum rolls and riffs before it speeds up with the vocals and then slows back down.  With the slow down, the technical aspects of the band show through, the band is not known for their technical prowess, however, I do notice smatterings of these moments on the album.  Back into the death/thrash speed and when the stop and start slow down comes in it’s heavy AF with the killer double bass, however, lower your headset prior.  The squealing guitar solo is great, however it is piped so much higher in the mix, so be careful.  Right after that moment the song title, is part of the chorus, and it’s very catchy how Anton yells out this part.  He sounds excellent and classic on this album.

“The Portal” has a very catchy opening and it is slow, yet brooding.  This may be my favorite song on the album, because of the mid-paced grinding heaviness, however it does pick up the pace.  The death/thrash speed is excellent with the classic guitar solos going in and out and some killer old school nods to Slayer with the riffing and pacing.  This is a very catchy song and the multitude of tempo shifts and various guitar riffs will get caught in your head all damn day.

“Devourer of Life” has an excellent opening swirling riff and with the atmospheric buildup, again I swear I am in 1985 listening to this album.  I love the drive, the old-school flair, and the conviction with which the band continues to play.  Excellent vocals, solos, a variety of speeds and true heaviness on full display here.

Eternal Life of Madness is a damn good album from Pentagram (Chile), however, it’s not quite up there with The Malefice, in terms of the catchiness and memorable nature which was all over the debut.  Do not let that sway you at all, though as the band knows how to write true old-school death/thrash metal and have been purveyors of the South American scene for decades.  The organic nature of the recording, creates a warmth that overly processed albums today, lack.  Pick up this sucker now!!

[Visit the band's website]

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