PANTERA Discussion

brendansmith

Great and no doubt about it.

I cant help but feel they peaked to soon and the albums got progressively worse.

I rate Powermetal as a better album than FBD, TGST and RTS. Infact at the moment in order from best to worst i would say:

Cowboys From Hell
Vulgar Display of Power
Powermetal
The great southern trendkill
Far Beyond driven
Reinventing the steel

I dont have projects in the jungle etc on there as I havent listen to them in a good while.

Anyone any opinions?

waltersobchak

they're a great band, at the end of the day they were one of the few bands playing metal during the grunge days, and i personally think Vinnie Paul is one of the most underrated drummers of his generation..

120_Minutes

i'd be putting far beyond driven up higher there chief, was only listening to it today....great driving music.

Max Power1

I wouldnt include power metal in there, definetly not over the 3 you have below it.
I dont know many metal heads that dont like pantera tbh... thinkof the time when they were around.. there wasnt really much going on in the metal scene (maiinstream-ish metal scene)

Risteard

Related to this thread, is a CD been given with this month's issue of Metal Hammer.

It's a tribute to Dimebag and there are cover versions of Pantera's songs.

This is the video of Evile recording Cemetery Gates. It's quite odd as the band had said before that they don't like playing covers. It was also the last song Mike Alexander recorded before he died. Haven't heard the actual song yet but those who have said it's one of the better songs on the album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lCsSE54DuI

The full list is:

ZAKK WYLDE – SUICIDE NOTE PART 1
MACHINE HEAD – ****ING HOSTILE
MALEFICE – I’M BROKEN
AVENGED SEVENFOLD – WALK
EVILE – CEMETERY GATES
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH – A NEW LEVEL
BIOHAZARD – MOUTH FOR WAR
SYLOSIS – STRENGTH BEYOND STRENGTH
CHIMAIRA – SLAUGHTERED
UNEARTH – SANDBLASTED SKIN
THROWDOWN – BECOMING
KIUAS – THIS LOVE
THIS IS HELL – RISE

ComaWhite

waltersobchak wrote: »

they're a great band, at the end of the day they were one of the few bands playing metal during the grunge days, and i personally think Vinnie Paul is one of the most underrated drummers of his generation..

Thank god some one else out there agrees with me! The man is a machine! Hands down, Vinnie Paul is one of the greatest drummers of the last few decades at least!

Pyr0

Nice video there !

Personally, I think Power Metal is their best album then Cowboys. I was never too mad on Vulgar or Far Beyond Driven to be honest I'd listen to The Great Southern before I'd listen to those two.

Vegeta

ComaWhite wrote: »

Thank god some one else out there agrees with me! The man is a machine! Hands down, Vinnie Paul is one of the greatest drummers of the last few decades at least!

I am not a drummer so cant really comment on his technical ability but I love Pantera's drum "sound".

No one better for the gym, fantastic stuff

waltersobchak

ComaWhite wrote: »

Thank god some one else out there agrees with me! The man is a machine! Hands down, Vinnie Paul is one of the greatest drummers of the last few decades at least!

and im not even a drummer im a guitarist! but seriously he really is phenomenal, the intro to Im Broken is the perfect example of his skill, i think its played in 5/4 time or something ridiculous like that..

Somnus

I see them as one of those essential metal bands you get into when you're starting to listen to metal. But nowadays I don't find them particularly stimulating, although I haven't listened to them much in a while.

I only ever listened to the big 4: Cowboys,Vulgar, FBD and GSTK. There are some absolutely fantastic songs on them, but at the same time there's songs that really don't stick out and, for me, aren't very memorable.

Far Beyond Driven is the angriest album ever though! Gotta love the energy and aggression in it. I'd have to listen to them again before rating them in order

brendansmith

Pyr0 wrote: »

I was never too mad on Vulgar

I cant believe that man!
Sure enough im sick of walk and fukking hostile but the last 5 or so songs on that album are amazing. Live in a holes intro is some real definitive dimebag genius.

Malice

I got into Pantera around the time Far Beyond Driven was released (early '94 I think). As a result, that is easily my favourite Pantera album. I was never the biggest fan of Anselmo's vocals but the wall of sound provided by the guitar, bass and drums fit together really well on there. Obviously I like the other albums but the anger and aggression of Far Beyond Driven

waltersobchak wrote:

the intro to Im Broken is the perfect example of his skill, i think its played in 5/4 time or something ridiculous like that..

Are you sure you don't mean a different song? This doesn't seem like it's in an exotic time signature...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1fUgpYSdpo

InigoMontoya

brendansmith wrote: »

Great and no doubt about it.

I cant help but feel they peaked to soon and the albums got progressively worse.

I don't know the pre-Cowboys... stuff, but for me VDoP was their peak... the later albums... some impressively heavy stuff and all that, but for me they got less and less interesting.

waltersobchak

Malice_ wrote: »

I got into Pantera around the time Far Beyond Driven was released (early '94 I think). As a result, that is easily my favourite Pantera album. I was never the biggest fan of Anselmo's vocals but the wall of sound provided by the guitar, bass and drums fit together really well on there. Obviously I like the other albums but the anger and aggression of Far Beyond Driven


Are you sure you don't mean a different song? This doesn't seem like it's in an exotic time signature...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1fUgpYSdpo

i could be wrong, but to my ears it definately starts of in 5/4 then goes to 4/4 after bout 20 seconds, again i could be wrong!!

Somnus

Malice_ wrote: »

I was never the biggest fan of Anselmo's vocals but the wall of sound provided by the guitar, bass and drums fit together really well on there. Obviously I like the other albums but the anger and aggression of Far Beyond Driven

I'm not mad on Anselmo's vocals either, but the emotion and anger he puts into them on that album makes it fantastic.

Malice

waltersobchak wrote: »

i could be wrong, but to my ears it definately starts of in 5/4 then goes to 4/4 after bout 20 seconds, again i could be wrong!!

I had another listen to the song there. It's a cover version by Malefice on this month's Metal Hammer magazine cover but it's the same as the Pantera original. I broke out my guitar and jammed along and the intro riff on the guitar is definitely in 4/4 time (actually I find it easier to count it up to 8).

Here are a few 5/4 time songs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC_5Q2--ZfE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbz8Dupz0Z4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuuWK9pWwJM

Apologies for going wildly off-topic

ride-the-spiral

waltersobchak wrote: »

i could be wrong, but to my ears it definately starts of in 5/4 then goes to 4/4 after bout 20 seconds, again i could be wrong!!

It does have some time signature changes, the first 25 seconds or so are in 4/4 and the verse is in 7/8. The pre-chorus seems to be in 6/8 with a few changes I think...

brendansmith

InigoMontoya wrote: »

I don't know the pre-Cowboys... stuff, but for me VDoP was their peak... the later albums... some impressively heavy stuff and all that, but for me they got less and less interesting.

To be honest im not over familiar with the stuff before 'powermetal' but that has some real belters on there

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldcsPgI11oE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqFq81HCNpM

'Proud to be loud' is playing in the house party scene in Donnie Darko.

Dr.Poca wrote: »

I'm not mad on Anselmo's vocals either, but the emotion and anger he puts into them on that album makes it fantastic.

Phils vocals are amazing in my humbler. Some of this stuff he does is just raw aggression vocalised.
The scream he lets out of him at 4:43 in the below video is jsut unreal. No body can say he wasnt into it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsHnigAMBNc

um7y1h83ge06nx

Bought Metal Hammer at lunch, that tribute CD is pretty decent, just listening to it now.

The Frayed Ends

Eason Sharp Amphetamine wrote: »

Bought Metal Hammer at lunch, that tribute CD is pretty decent, just listening to it now.

Got it yesterday too. Eviles cover is ****ing great as is machine heads.

Someother impressive stuff on it but for me those tracks are the standouts

Malice

ride-the-spiral wrote: »

It does have some time signature changes, the first 25 seconds or so are in 4/4 and the verse is in 7/8. The pre-chorus seems to be in 6/8 with a few changes I think...

You're correct, I checked out a couple of tabs and there are definitely some time signature changes around the various choruses.

That_Guy

I'm not a huge Pantera fan but from what I've heard I can say it's repetitive but great.

They were one of the best metal bands of their time but they are quite repetitive. Having said that, what music isn't really? You know exactly what you're getting with them.

Overall I personally think they aren't the best musicians but they were good at what they did.

Vinnie Paul - I don't think he's the best drummer ever. I play drums and I've often played along to some Pantera tunes and it's just boring to play. It suits the style of music though.

Dimebag - I don't think he's the best guitarist ever but some of his solos were fantastic. I especially like the Domination solo and the intro to Cemetery Gates.

Phil - Great vocals. He imo, was the best musician Pantera had.

brendansmith

That_Guy wrote: »

Phil - Great vocals. He imo, was the best musician Pantera had.

What in gods name are you talking about!

Malice

brendansmith wrote: »

What in gods name are you talking about!

He thinks Vinnie Paul's drums riffs are boring, likes some of Dimbag's solos, has no opinion on Rex and thinks that Phil was the best musician in the band.

I suppose this is going to open the "are vocalists musicians" debate again .

demanufactured

brendansmith wrote: »

What in gods name are you talking about!

Damn straight yo.....I mean yeh wtf?

As much as i like phils vocals and having seen him with down he is good....but the best musician in pantera??????.........pffffftttt

penso

No way is phil the best in the band, i mean just look at damageplan and rebel meets rebel, savage bands, dimebag and vinnie is what held it all together, the 2 greatest brother duo's in a band since malcolm and angus

damnnargles

Hi there, This is my first post and I hope I'm doing it right Anywho imo Pantera are the best metal band of the 90's. I even prefer them to Metallica, although I have huge respect for Metallica I cannot see how you could rate the members of Metallica as better musicians. Vinnie Paul is as you's rightly said the most underrated drummer in metal, Dimebag is a genius, Phil is a great frontman and Rex is the glue that binds the amazing rhythm section. Although Hetfield is too a genius I think that Dimebag was and still is the greatest metal guitarist of all time. Guitarists like Kerry King should not be getting the accolades when their stuff is at best generic and messy. Although I am not a guitarist (a drummer) Dimebag and Hetfield are the only two guitarists to envoke a sense of happiness in me whilst I listen to them. R.I.P Dimebag

Yellowledbetter

As both a drummer and a guitarist I reckon Metallica are technically the beeter musicians,And i say technically ok.
Far Beyond Driven is a great album and 1 i stick on occasionally when Im pissed off(dont get me wrong,i loved it back in the day).
The 2 drummers would have to fight it off IMO to see who is the best but as for the guitarists i reckon Hetfield and Hammet win it,I could listen to those blokes noodle all day long.
Personally my favourite slingers are Slash,McCready,Hammet,Gossard,Edge and an endless list really!!

spongeman

Was just listening to Vulgar this week......a great album.

Walk is a classic song.

Star Bingo

brendansmith wrote: »

To be honest im not over familiar with the stuff before 'powermetal' but that has some real belters on there

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldcsPgI11oE

lol man.. if i found Phantera funny post-Vulgar this just cracks me up. got real self defensive having portrayed emselves as uber fags.. cheers 'Born To Be Loud.. n i'll never turn down again'

seriously imagine Manowar trying on a Testament To Face Smashing after 'all men play on ten'

120_Minutes

Yellowledbetter wrote: »

As both a drummer and a guitarist I reckon Metallica are technically the beeter musicians,And i say technically ok.
Far Beyond Driven is a great album and 1 i stick on occasionally when Im pissed off(dont get me wrong,i loved it back in the day).
The 2 drummers would have to fight it off IMO to see who is the best but as for the guitarists i reckon Hetfield and Hammet win it,I could listen to those blokes noodle all day long.
Personally my favourite slingers are Slash,McCready,Hammet,Gossard,Edge and an endless list really!!

opinion noted, and respected but its a testament to how subjective music is for me to disagree. As much as i love 80's metallica, from a technical standpoint, vinnie is the better drummer, dimebag is like hetfield and hammet combined, with lead skills far surpassing hammet, and rhythm skills on par with hetfield.

I could cite many examples to back me up, but hammet for most of the 80's was a "start a solo real fast, drop in a half time wah part for the middle bit, then got mental till the end" dimebag had many tricks in his bag and was more eclectic in his soloing style. 5 minutes alone has one note bent for its solo for chrissakes! for his experimental style alone he comes out on top.

and need i mention the award winning planet caravan solo? hammet could probably play it, but its not something he'd think of coming up with.

Catari Jaguar

Phil Anselmo is a god.

Vugar Display of Power is one of the most emotive, powerful, agressive and raw albums you will ever hear. Amazing work. From the lyrics, riffs, drums, solos to the vocals. Perfect.

Watch the Vulgar Videos from Hell compilation of home videos and you'll see that they are the funniest, nicest guys around. Phil was such a smart and eloquent guy before the overdose...

junkyman

I just dont understand why people feel the need to rate albums best to worst. Pantera are an amazing band, technically amazing, melodically inspiring and more importantly, truthful. Their albums capture the era in which they were made so instead of saying which is best and which is worse, just be thankful that they got the chance to make so many amazing songs. Just my 2 cents!
All hail the lip!!

universe777

Pantera are amazing!
Dimebag was the one who influenced me most when I was starting to play guitar, he was on the cover of Guitarist magazine in 1995 or 1996..

You guys should download* the Cowboys From Hell Demo's, some songs have different lyrics, the music is more raw, but awesome, you really get the true feel of it, the actual finished album sounds more polished/sterile.

* as far as I know not available to buy anywhere/never released officially, so download it..

junkyman

Has anyone ever seen pics from their glam days before Pantera?? I remember Dimebag being on that mag, the man is still a legend and the world is a little duller for having lost him. Problem is, who's going to take his place? Theirs nothing but utter tripe coming out these days!

brendansmith

junkyman wrote: »

Has anyone ever seen pics from their glam days before Pantera?? I remember Dimebag being on that mag, the man is still a legend and the world is a little duller for having lost him. Problem is, who's going to take his place? Theirs nothing but utter tripe coming out these days!

http://www.guitarworld.com/50_greatest_solos?page=0%2C0 - Dimebag has 2 solos in the top 50. Legend!

That_Guy

brendansmith wrote: »

What in gods name are you talking about!

Just expressing my opinion. I don't think they were the most amazing musicians individually but they made great music together even though I felt that some of it was very samey.

Having said that I don't mind repetitve music. I listen to metalcore mostly. Nice to have familiarity.

junkyman

That_Guy wrote: »

Just expressing my opinion. I don't think they were the most amazing musicians individually but they made great music together even though I felt that some of it was very samey.

Having said that I don't mind repetitve music. I listen to metalcore mostly. Nice to have familiarity.

I'm a huge Pantera fan and I can see what your getting at man, musically they worked so well together, the whole was greater than the individual i mean that rhythm section with that guitarist! :eek: I think what drew me further into them was Phils lyrics, it was the first time id heard such honesty, conviction and integrity!

brendansmith

That_Guy wrote: »

Just expressing my opinion. I don't think they were the most amazing musicians individually but they made great music together even though I felt that some of it was very samey.

Having said that I don't mind repetitve music. I listen to metalcore mostly. Nice to have familiarity.

Apologies, I thought you were trolling.

Guitar world this month has a massive chunk of it devoted to Dimebag. Well worth a look

ride-the-spiral

junkyman wrote: »

Has anyone ever seen pics from their glam days before Pantera?? I remember Dimebag being on that mag, the man is still a legend and the world is a little duller for having lost him. Problem is, who's going to take his place? Theirs nothing but utter tripe coming out these days!

You clearly aren't looking hard enough!