Last Days Here

Can Bobby Liebling conquer drug addiction and get his band back together? This is very similar to the documentary “Anvil: The Story of Anvil,” which came out three years earlier and would be followed by “I Am Thor” four years later in 2015. The latter concerns Jon Mikl Thor and is easily the most entertaining of the three. While I prefer the “Anvil” documentary to this one, “Last Days Here” is pretty much on par, it’s just sort of depressing due to Bobby’s self-made plight. The movie covers the years from 2007-2010 and, when it begins, he’s 54 years-old living in his parents’ sub-basement, seriously addicted to drugs with ghastly arm wounds and paranoid about parasites ravaging his body. Good for him, a fan of his band, Sean ‘Pellet’ Pelletier arrives on the scene to encourage him to sober up, get the band back together, and release a new album. The group happens to be Pentagram, who hail from Alexandria, Virginia, which is just south of Washington DC. Their style is bluesy doom metal rooted in 70s’ Black Sabbath, but with their own sound and nuances. I was never a fan of the band, but their style is similar to Trouble from Chicago. My problem with Pentagram is that they always sounded so dated despite their first album debuting in 1985, which was fourteen years after the group initially formed. Nevertheless, I can listen to one of their albums and enjoy it for its uniqueness. I like ’em best when they try something different, like the song “Be Forewarned,” which is the last song on their 1994 album of the same name. Getting back to the documentary, it’s amazing that Bobby survived his gross drug addictions and wounds. It’s even more amazing that an attractive blonde in her early 20s would find him a fit companion as a life-long mate. I’m talking about Hallie Miller, who has been Hallie Liebling since November 25, 2009. All of this is conveyed in the movie. It’s also conveyed that, underneath Bobby’s problem child issues, there’s a nice person there who’s kinda lovable. Yet it’s not all about Bobby as entertaining interviews with other band members are included, such as key members Geof O'Keefe, Joe Hasselvander and Victor Griffin. (The latter is the main man of doom outfit Place of Skulls; check 'em out). Phil Anselmo even shows up. Released in March 2011, it runs 1h 31m. The band has released no less than three full-length albums since then, including one in 2025 in which Bobby’s vocals incredibly hold up. GRADE: B