Self Released - 1987
8/10
Lately I've been on a kick of Latin American extreme metal from a time far darker for (much of) the region. Ages of cartel rule and U.S.-backed dictators saw some tough times, but some who trekked through managed to kick out some of the meanest and dirtiest music channeled through anger and strife known to man.
So we'll start in Chile! Pentagram, now known as Pentagram Chile caught the tail end of Pinochet's relentless fury, raging through with a few demos in the later '80s. Their reuniting as a band in the recent decade or so saw a far more refined approach, but today, I want to talk about the less-discussed Demo #2. The death/thrashers' first demo earlier in 1987 made a strong impact on their local scene, and the follow-up added insult to proverbial injury. While not really an expansion on their initial raw and tough death/thrash metal formula, this did see some slight nuances in execution.
"The Malefice" starts us off with what is likely the most abrasive riff Pentagram have conjured up, presenting an even harsher vocal approach that wouldn't feel out of place in a hardcore band. Its slow descent outward brings us directly to "Profaner," which puts emphasis into the drum kicks, breaking the rough surface nicely to add artillery to the Possessed-like riff style. Hell, amidst all of this, you can even somewhat taste the bass rumbling in the background, a nice touch indeed. Closing things out is "Temple Of Perdition," the longest track serving up a doomier take on the style, dragging its outro slowly and menacingly through the grainy ground as we head out with an instrument focused bang.
I'm not going to pretend that the outfit's Demo #2 is anything groundbreaking or worth praising to the heavens (or Hell) simply due to the novelty of what it is, but boy is it ever a nice fifteen minute excursion. I completely see why it made such an impact in its respective time and place.
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