Pentagram - Ventura, CA - 5/21/23

Doom metal legends Pentagram announced two special shows for their 50th anniversary tour. These two shows are extra special because Pentagram would be welcoming back guitarist Victor Griffin who has been on and off with Pentagram since 1983 and has been featured in many of the band's albums. The first show was in Los Angeles and this show was at the Majestic Ventura Theater in Ventura, California. Fans from different cities came to this show to get a chance to see one of the pioneers of heavy metal and doom metal.

The lights went out and the nicely packed venue cheered with excitement as Pentagram came out. The first song played was Death Row, the first song from their debut album, Relentless. The crowd cheered and banged their heads to the doomy music. Already off to a great start. Pentagram chose to play a few songs from their debut album which included Sign of the Wolf (Pentagram) and The Ghoul. The crowd was wild the whole night. It was obvious that fans from Los Angeles showed up to this show even though Ventura and Los Angeles are just over an hour apart. So, they either missed the show from the day before in Los Angeles or they decided to come to this show too. Pentagram played through many of their classic hits which included Be Forewarned, Relentless and When the Screams Come. The crowd was a standard crowd at a metal show. Fans on the barricade were singing along, banging their heads and raising their horns. fans in the middle of the floor were moshing and shoving each other. Even lots of crowd surfers were present. It was definitely not a quiet show. Pentagram finished their set with Broken Vows, then left the stage. The fans weren't ready to call it a night just yet and kept cheering. After a few minutes, Pentagram came back out to play some more doom metal. The first encore was the fan-favorite Wartime. Vocalist Bobby Liebling was on stage dancin' and groovin' to his own music. Another one of their best hits was played which was Forever My Queen. It was time to call it a night and so Pentagram wrapped up their show with 20 Buck Spin. It was a great night, and it was apparent that Pentagram will be around for many years still.

Photos and review by Misael Ruiz

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