PanterA --- A BrieF HistorY

It's time to spread the word
Let the voice be heard
All of us, one of us, all of us
Dominate and take the motherfucking world
 

The story started in 1983 when drummer Vincent Paul, Guitarist Diamond Darrel, Bassist Rex Rocker and singer Terry Glaze founded a metal machete and name it PanterA. They released their  first album in the same year named "Metal Magic". Metallica also released their first album ( Kill 'em all) in the same year and in the years to come, both were to lock their horns in the battle for the #1 metal band. However it took little time for Metallica to break through but for Pantera, it was a long road ahead.

Pantera's initial music was influenced by bands like Aerosmith, Def Leppard etc, But as the time went on, their music became progressively heavier. 1984 saw the release of their second independent album "Projects in the jungle". By the time, Terry Glaze started to be known as Terrence Lee. "I am the night was released in 1985.

This Powerrrrrr

Pantera was starting to have problems with Terry Lee. The band wanted their music to be Ass-rippin heavy but Terry Lee insisted on the commercial side and wanted to stick to the old fashioned classical hard rock. This became fatal for him as the band had found the man with a brutal personality and "in your fucking face" attitude, Phil Anselmo. With him screaming the shit out, the band released their most successful independent album "Power Metal" in 1988. That album had the glimpse of the days to come. The band put some more spit into their live performances and gained a large underground following in Texas and nearby areas.

The band's electrifying and ear blowing live performances was gaining attention of the record companies and the East West/Atlantic signed them in 1990. With a new producer "Rope King" Date, the band released "Cowboys from hell".

We're takin over this town

"Cowboys from hell" was a break through for the band in many ways. The band had finally reached the sound they desired. Songs like Cemetery Gates, Cowboys from hell, Clash with reality made a huge impact. Darrel Dimebag's kick ass riffs and pungent solos gave the songs a killing crunch. Cowboys from hell is considered by many as the best Pantera album.

1991 was a hectic year for the band as they released their first video (cowboys from hell) and did a "vulgar display of domination" at the Monsters of rock festival.

NO ONE can piss on this determination

Their second album "Vulgar Display of Power" was released in 1992. The album was some what changed from "Cowboys from hell" as Darrel Dimebag put more energy into his riffs and shortened the solos. Phil Anselmo too adopted the most throat-tearing style of singing ever seen. "Vulgar display of Power" was a "butt hitt" album for the band. The single "Mouth for war" debuted at #1 and beat Metallica's "Enter Sandman" in doing so. "Vulgar Display of Power" was sheer vulgarity. The album gave Pantera world wide exposure. Pantera had achieved metal domination and every thing that came in their way was torn to pieces. Critics defined their music as" a metal massacre" ,"boot kicking", "as heavy as shit". Singles like "Hollow", "This love", established Pantera dominance of the metal scene.

Stronger than all

Pantera toured UK in 1993 and gave the English some taste of southern blast. In 1994, Far beyond driven is released which in my opinion is the greatest Pantera album, hell! the album had enough energy to power a city! It signified the legendary Pantera sound. The lyrics were fucking brutal and with Darrel Dimebag throwing out the solos and pouring lead into the riffs and Phil Anselmo's voice getting louder and louder, Far beyond driven is a metal fan's ultimate dream. It opened at #1 on US and Australian charts and "Strength Beyond Strength", "5 minutes alone", "Slaughtered" and  "Throes of rejection" banged a million heads. Black Sabbath's Planet Caravan was also covered in this album. I think Far Beyond Driven was the heaviest hit album ever released, and then began the tour ...........

Exterminate, it's all fake!

The Great Southern Trendkill was released in 1996. The album fulfilled all the expectations. The title fucks the newly emerging trend of alternative music.  The tradition of heaviness was continued in the album. Opening track "The Great Southern Trendkill" is bomb blast in your face. One of the great thing about the album was the cover, showing a cobra. This was important as the original cover of Far Beyond Driven was banned ( it showed a women's ass).

I couldn't hold my mouth

Bootlegs of Pantera had been circulating around since the days of Power Metal. Live performance was driving force behind Pantera so they decided to release a live album called "Official live 101 proof" in 1997. The album was the live performance of the best Pantera songs, actually the songs could made a good greatest hits compilation. The album had two unreleased tracks "Where you come from" and "I can't hide".

We'll Grind That Axe For A Long Time

4 years were to pass till the release of the 9th studio album "Reinventing the steel". It was probably the most keenly awaited Pantera album and once again, the army of fans was not disappointed. Reinventing the steel was a commercial success. Many Pantera web sites changed their templates and put steely textures. The album's opening song "Hellbound" keeps the tradition of kick ass openings symbolized by "Strength beyond Strength" and "The Great southern trendkill". "Yesterday don't mean shit", "Death Rattle", "I'll cast a shadow", and "Goddamn electric" are crushing and searing. Pantera had proved that they are one of the greatest metal bands in business today and I don't think any of you reading will doubt that.