Cody Tidwell
EN1320-Comp I
Raspante
4/20/13
Pantera: Hardest Rock Band in History Pantera is an American heavy metal band that originated in Arlington Texas. The band was formed by two brothers named Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell Abbott in 1981. Vinnie Paul was the drummer and Dimebag Darrell was the guitarist. Dimebag is still considered to be in the top five best guitarists in the world. The band also includes Terry Glaze as the vocalist and Rex Brown as the bassist. Terry Glaze got replaced in 1987 by Phil Anselmo as the new vocalist. Some of the greatest albums from Pantera are Cowboys from Hell, Vulgar Display of Power, and Far Beyond Driven. These albums have many songs that relate to life experiences that many people face every day. Pantera has been successful by selling over 20 million albums in the early 1980’s. Cowboys from Hell was the album that got Pantera noticed in the music industry. The album was recorded in Pantego, Texas and the album was released on July 24, 1990. Pantera had a hard uphill climb to worldwide fame. The band got turned down by 28 other recording studios that thought Pantera was not good enough to get a label. Pantera caught a break and got singed by Atco Records. The album explored a new type of heavy metal that set the attitude and climax of the band. The Cowboys from Hell album set the standards of several metal bands and Pantera’s following albums. Pantera’s fifth album Vulgar Display of Power is considered to be one of the band’s best albums. Vulgar Display of Power really defined heavy metal in the 90’s. The album was released on February 10, 1992 by Atco Records. Pantera’s musical focus was from bands like Slayer, Metallica, and Black Sabbath. The Vulgar Display of Power album displayed a change in Pantera’s musical direction and set them out from other heavy metal bands. The album made the band unique by making a new style of heavy metal. Far Beyond Driven is Pantera’s seventh album that was released on March 22, 1994 through East West Records. This album was the first extreme metal album to top the chart of the billboard 200, and this album also was the album that got Darrell Abbott known as Dimebag Darrell. Far Beyond Driven took Pantera’s style of music to a heavier style of metal than the previous albums. The album's tone was a heavy sludgy playing style with more personal life lyrics. Pantera has done tours all around the world and performed several songs from the three albums. Pantera is still listened to worldwide and is still played on the radio. The band started from a basement to a band that revolutionized heavy metal and other types of music in the metal genera. The band has performed around the world, hit the top of billboards, and changed heavy metal with their unique sound of music and electric performances mixed with hardcore attitude. Pantera still sells albums all around the world, even after the band broke up in 2003. Pantera wanted to reunite but all hope was lost when Dimebag Darrell was shot during a Damageplan concert in Columbus Ohio on December 8, 2004. Even after Dimebag Darrell's death Pantera's music will forever leave a mark in the music industry.