Pantera

History made it a major group of the 1990s. The fatality of the legendary artists is forever inscribed in the pantheon that only the mediocrity insults. Yet the Pantera of the 1980s, often little known to the public (and because of it, the albums are almost unobtainable), practices a glam-rock totally outdated nowadays, but not without any interest for the most curious: the talent overflowing with the inequality Dimebag Darrell is already manifested through exceptional solos. The original formation is composed of the Darrell Abbott brothers - Diamond Darrell (guitar) and Vinnie Paul Abbott (battery) - to which are added the faithful bassist Rex Brown and singer Terrence Lee (alias Terry Glaze). Under this formation the band recorded Metal Magic (1983), Projects In The Jungle (1984) and I Am The Night (1985). It was only in 1986 that Philip Anselmo joined Pantera to replace Terrence Lee. In 1988 Power Metal was released, the first album of the "official" line-up and last album by Glam-Rock. Because in 1990, with the release of Cowboys From Hell, the Pantera machine is definitely launched. Influenced by the Thrash movement of the time, whose leading figure is Anthrax, the album struggles to stand out, although some tracks are now part of the must-see ( Cowboys From Hell, Domination, The Art Of Shredding). In 1991, the band participated in the legendary Monsters Of Rock in Moscow and played in front of several hundred thousand people. 1992 is the year of consecration with Vulgar Display Of Power , considered the band's best album. The success is global, and the single Mouth For War even dethrones Metallica's Enter Sandman at the head of American charts. More aggressive, faster, Pantera forges his identity on the margins of the current scene and fashion, an exemplary course of action that he will not demorate. March 1994, Pantera delivers Far Beyond Driven , a new sound attack that rises to the top of the charts in the United States and Australia. Pantera's sound becomes heavier, more intense. An ideal course for a group that is writing some of the most beautiful pages of metal history. The result is a world tour that only sets its brilliant hegemony on the metal scene. The group's popularity is at its peak. Dark period that corresponds to the release of The Great Southern Trendkill . Phil Anselmo's drug problems are becoming increasingly worrying. Heroin hooked up, he died of an overdose... within four minutes. Despite this, no concert will be cancelled and the band will make all of its tours, especially at the Ozzfest. The album, for its part, receives a mixed reception. A black album, very heavy, from which all the malaise of Phil Anselmo emerges through his texts (suicide, self-destruction...). Yet some titles will soon be unanimous ( Suicide Note Pt2 , Sandblasted Skin , The Underground In America ). Confronted with the breaking Neo-Metal, the giant Pantera, even weakened, does not yield and sees his hatred for the tenfold fashion. However, the flame that animated Pantera began to wave. Despite a convincing live album (1997), the ultimate album Reinventing The Steel (2000) disappointed and sounded a little before the hour. Phil Anselmo gave increasing priority to his many parallel projects (Superjoint Ritual and Down in the lead) and finally the band split up in 2003. Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul melt on their side Damageplan . Remains the memory of an extraordinary band that has always been able to stay straight, that has marked its seal in the 1990s, and that has remained faithful and loyal to its fans. The relationship between Phil Anselmo and Dimebag Darrell is deteriorating and leads to ridiculous jousts in the newspapers. The hope of a reformation is always present in the minds of the fans. But the tragedy of Columbus, Ohio, on December 9, 2004 forever seals the fate of Pantera. Dimebag Darrell was shot on stage by several bullets during a Damageplan concert. The author of this act allegedly warned, before he shot him, that Dimebag Darrell was at the origin of Pantera's separation. His brother Vinnie Paul is also targeted but escapes. The whole Metal community is in shock. A tribute album is planned to honour the memory of this immense talent guitarist.