Pantera - the glam rock years

[Badbird]

I remember way back when they first became popular, Pantera was a regular fixture on Headbanger's Ball. I don't remember if it was a band interview, or just a reference by Ricki Rachtman, but there was a mention of their music "before Cowboys from Hell" that was casually dismissed.

I thought "Wait, there's more music than this?" However, I never really heard anything else about it, nor did I ever see anything in music stores, so I just kinda forgot about it.

Well, the other night I stumbled across a torrent containing all four of their early, glam-metal albums.

I haven't listened to much yet, but this is a revelation. I mean, I'm not a big fan of Pantera anymore. I only really like Cowboys from Hell and Vulgar Display of Power, everything after that is rather "meh." But to hear this whole other side is pretty cool.

I would describe the sound as a cross between Ratt and Judas Priest. The vocals are definitely the shrieking banshee, glam metal style, not the raging, grunting thrash stuff that came later. (They had a different singer on the first three albums, but Anselmo sings his glam metal best on the forth.)

But what is really impressive is the guitar work, especially the solos. This is the kind of shredding that's right up there with George Lynch and Eddie Van Halen for that era.

Turns out a bunch of this stuff is one YouTube.

Power Metal

All Over Tonight

And so on. It's really well done, considering they were pretty much right out of high school. Pretty fun stuff.

[countchocula]

I like Power Metal, even if CFH blows it out of the fucking water. Dime had yet to find his style. His leads are almost generic, but if you have to cop someone, EVH and Randy Rhoads aren't bad choices. I definitely prefer the "power groove" years. I recently shaved my head in an effort to go for the "Phil Anselmo circa 1992-1994" look. I'm seriously thinking of getting the CFH tattoo on the side of my cranium. I'm kind of pathetic.

[FrancoYesca]

I love Pantera all around and don't dig hair metal at all, but I found the first four albums online and was surprised how badass they were. You can definitely tell Dime was a EVH and Randy fan, and I'm glad that by CFH he finally had his own style.

And by the way- 3 Vulgar Videos From Hell is the best band BTS video EVER. No band has topped it since.