Oldschool Thrash Metal Bands: PANTERA (pt. 5)

Pantera’s next album, The Great Southern Trendkill (released May 22, 1996). It is often considered Pantera’s “overlooked” album.[5] Phil Anselmo recorded the vocals for this release in Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor’s studio in New Orleans while the rest of the band members recorded in Dallas, evidence of the continued distancing between Anselmo and the rest of the band. In comparison to the band’s previous efforts, there was a heavier emphasis on vocal overdubbing in a somewhat “demonic” fashion. Drug abuse is a recurring theme in Trendkill, as exemplified by tracks such as “Suicide Note Pt. I”, “Suicide Note Pt. II” and “Living Through Me (Hell’s Wrath)”. “Drag the Waters” became the album’s only music video, and likewise, the only track from the album to appear on the band’s compilation album. Another Trendkill single, “Floods”, achieved acclaim largely because of Darrell’s complex guitar solo in the song, which ranked #15 on Guitar World magazine’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitar Solos” of all-time.[13]

In an episode of the short-lived Australian sex advice show “Sex Life”, in a segment discussing what to make of a man’s CD collection when first going back to his place, the host drew out a copy of The Great Southern Trendkill and referred to Pantera as “the loudest band in the world.”

Overdose, Official Live: 101 Proof, and side projects (1996–2000)

On July 13, 1996, Anselmo overdosed on heroin an hour after a Texas homecoming gig.[14][15] After his heart stopped beating for almost five minutes, paramedics gave Anselmo a shot of adrenaline and sent him to the hospital. After waking up in the hospital, the nurse working in his room said “Welcome back to life, oh and you have overdosed on heroin.” Anselmo apologized to his bandmates the next night, and said he would quit using drugs.[16] The revelation of heroin use came as a shock to Vinnie and Darrell who were embarrassed by Anselmo’s actions, according to Rita Haney, the guitarist’s girlfriend. Anselmo said he had already overdosed twice before and guilt overcame him.[3]

Some of the band’s live performances were eventually compiled in its July 29, 1997 release, Official Live: 101 Proof, which included fourteen live tracks and two new studio recordings: “Where You Come From” and “I Can’t Hide”. Two weeks before the live album’s release, Pantera received its first platinum album, for Cowboys from Hell. Just four months later, both Vulgar Display of Power and Far Beyond Driven went platinum as well.[17] The band also received their second and third “Best Metal Performance” Grammy Nominations for Trendkill’s “Suicide Note (Pt. I)” and Cowboys’s “Cemetery Gates” in 1997 and 1998, respectively.

Also in 1997, Pantera played on the mainstage of Ozzfest alongside Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Marilyn Manson, Type O Negative, Fear Factory, Machine Head, and Powerman 5000. Additionally, the band played on the 1998 UK Ozzfest tour alongside Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Foo Fighters, Slayer, Soulfly, Fear Factory, and Therapy?, as well as touring with Clutch and Neurosis.[18]

Check out my website for more cool music: Aaron Sparks
Check out my abstract graphics galleries: Aaron Sparks
Check out my links page for all things guitar related: Aaron Sparks

Oldschool Thrash Metal Bands: PANTERA (pt. 4)

Far Beyond Driven (released on March 22, 1994) debuted at #1 in both United States[2] and Australian album charts. The album’s first single, “I’m Broken”, earned the band’s first Grammy nomination for “Best Metal Performance” in 1995. Driven saw Pantera continue its groove metal approach, while taking an even more extreme direction with its musical style. The album’s original artwork (a drill bit impaling an anus) was banned, so it was re-released with the now familiar skull impaled with a drill bit. A limited edition was released with a slip-cover case. Also, a boxed set called Driven Downunder Tour ’94 Souvenir Collection was released in Australia and New Zealand to coincide with the tours there. It featured Far Beyond Driven (with its original banned artwork) with a bonus 13th track, “The Badge” (a Poison Idea cover), the 5-track aLIVE and hostile e.p., and the Japanese collector’s edition Walk EP, all presented in a special cardboard box with an 8-page color biography. Just like the other rare editions of Far Beyond Driven, this box set is very rare and is highly sought after.

Pantera hit the road again and toured South America, along with being accepted into another “Monsters of Rock” billing. At that festival on June 4, 1994, the Abbott brothers got into a scuffle with journalists from the music magazine Kerrang! over unflattering cartoon depictions of drummer Vinnie Paul. Then in late June, Anselmo was charged with assault for hitting a security guard after he prevented fans from getting on stage, Anselmo was released on $5,000 bail the next day.[7][8] The trial was delayed three times.[9] In May 1995, he apologized in court and pleaded guilty to attempted assault and was sentenced to 100 hours of community service.[10][11] Pantera continued their tour of the United Kingdom in 1994 and eventually ended it in the United States where the band was opened for by fellow groove metal band Prong.

Band tension and The Great Southern Trendkill (1994–1996)

According to the Abbott brothers, frontman Phil Anselmo began behaving strangely and distanced himself from the band when they returned to the road in 1995. The rest of the band members first thought that Pantera’s perception of his fame had gotten to Anselmo, but Anselmo cited back pain from years of intense performances as the reason for his erratic behavior. Anselmo attempted to subdue his pain through alcohol, but this, as he admits, was affecting his performances and “putting some worry into the band.”[3] Doctors predicted that with surgery, Anselmo’s back problem could be corrected, but that the recovery time could be a year or more. Not wanting to spend that much time away from the band, Anselmo refused, and began using heroin as a painkiller.

Anselmo’s on-stage remarks became notorious during this time. After stating at a Montreal concert that “rap music advocates the killing of white people”, Anselmo denied accusations of racism, and later issued an apology,[12] stating that he was drunk and that his remarks were a mistake.[1]

In 1995, Down, one of Anselmo’s many side projects, took off. Down was a supergroup consisting of Anselmo, three members of Crowbar—guitarist Kirk Windstein, bassist Todd Strange and drummer Jimmy Bower (also of Eyehategod)—and Corrosion of Conformity guitarist Pepper Keenan. Down’s 1995 debut, NOLA, was a success, but shortly after the group members returned to their respective bands, leaving Down inactive for several years.

Check out my website for more cool music: Aaron Sparks
Check out my abstract graphics galleries: Aaron Sparks
Check out my links page for all things guitar related: Aaron Sparks

Oldschool Thrash Metal Bands: PANTERA (pt. 3)

Lets continue to Pantera saga . . .

Released on July 24, 1990, and produced by Terry Date and Pantera, Cowboys from Hell was another leap into heavier territory. Pantera showed a more extreme style on this outing, leaving behind its glam metal influences in favor of an amalgamation of thrash metal and groove metal dubbed “power groove” by the band. Although Anselmo still used Rob Halford and Eric Adams-influenced falsetto vocals, he also adopted a more abrasive delivery. Darrell’s more complex guitar solos and riffs, along with his brother’s faster-paced drumwork were evidence of the band’s extreme transformation. The album marked a critical juncture in the band’s history. Many fans, as well as the band itself, consider it Pantera’s “official” debut.[6] Cowboys included the tracks “Cemetery Gates”, a brooding seven-minute piece that focuses on death and religion, and the thrashing title track, which gave the band members their nickname and asserted their raucous personality and style.

So began the Cowboys from Hell tour alongside thrash acts Exodus and Suicidal Tendencies. In 1991, Rob Halford performed with the band onstage, which led Pantera to open for Judas Priest on its first show in Europe. The band eventually landed a billing for “Monsters in Moscow” with AC/DC and Metallica in September 1991, where they played to a crowd of over 500,000 in celebration of the new freedom of performing Western music in the Soviet Union shortly before its collapse three months later. The band was often found at the Dallas club “the Basement”, where the band shot the videos for “Cowboys from Hell” and “Psycho Holiday”. Pantera’s 2006 home video compilation 3 Vulgar Videos from Hell features performances of “Primal Concrete Sledge”, “Cowboys from Hell”, “Domination”, and “Psycho Holiday” from the show in Moscow.

Vulgar Display of Power and Far Beyond Driven (1992–1994)

Pantera’s unique “groove” style came to fruition in its breakthrough album Vulgar Display of Power, released on February 25, 1992. On this album, the power metal falsetto vocals were replaced with a hardcore-influenced shouted delivery and heavier guitar sound. Two other singles from the album became two of Pantera’s most notable ballads: “This Love”, a haunting piece about lust and abuse, and “Hollow”, somewhat reminiscent of “Cemetery Gates” from Cowboys. The band would play the song “Domination” (from Cowboys) leading into the ending of “Hollow” (what is roughly the last 2:30 of the album version), forming a medley referred to as “Dom/Hollow”, as can be heard on the band’s 1997 live album. Singles from Vulgar also received significant airplay on radio as did the companion music videos on MTV. The album entered the American charts at #44.[2] Pantera hit the road again, visiting Japan for the first time in July 1992 and later performing at the “Monsters of Rock” festival co-headlined by Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath in Italy. It was around this time that Darrell Abbott dropped the nickname “Diamond Darrell” and assumed “Dimebag Darrell”, and Rex Brown dropped the pseudonym “Rexx Rocker”.

Check out my website for more cool music: Aaron Sparks
Check out my abstract graphics galleries: Aaron Sparks
Check out my links page for all things guitar related: Aaron Sparks

Oldschool Thrash Metal Bands: PANTERA (pt. 2)

A new vocalist emerges (1987–1989)

1986 and 1987 saw the release of several landmark thrash metal albums that would prove influential to Pantera’s developing musical style. Among the most prominent of these were Metallica’s Master of Puppets, Slayer’s Reign in Blood, Anthrax’s Among the Living and Megadeth’s Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying?[3][page needed] Terrence Lee’s glam approach did not fit the band’s new outlook and he and the other members parted ways, beginning the search for his replacement. Terrence then went on to form rock group, Lord Tracy.

The band went through temporary vocalists Rick Mythiasin, Dave Peacock and Matt L’Amour before eventually discovering New Orleans native Phil Anselmo in 1987. Anselmo had previously been the vocalist for the bands Samhain[1] (not to be confused with Glenn Danzig’s band of the same name) and Razorwhite. Upon playing with Pantera, Anselmo immediately clicked with the other three members. More than just the band’s image was changing, however. In 1988, Pantera released its first album with Anselmo, entitled Power Metal. By far the band’s heaviest album at this point, Power Metal was a mix of 1980s hard rock and thrash metal, sometimes blending both styles in a single song. Complementing the band’s new sonic approach was Anselmo’s harder-edged vocals compared to those of Terrence Lee. After the release of Power Metal, the band members decided to seriously reconsider their glam metal sound and image. Referring to the band’s spandex appearance, Vinnie Paul remarked at a band meeting that “These magic clothes don’t play music; we do. Let’s just go out there and be comfortable—jeans, t-shirt, whatever—and see where it goes.”[3]

As with the previous three 1980s albums, Power Metal was released on Metal Magic Records. Power Metal began to reflect the characteristic sound of later Pantera, though it still contained many elements of 1980s glam metal. The band members would later ignore their independent releases, including Power Metal, as they sculpted a new, heavier image to accompany their developing “groove” sound. Their four independent albums are not listed on the band’s official website and have become hard-to-find collector’s items.

Cowboys from Hell (1989–1991)

Shortly after Power Metal was released, “Diamond Darrell”, as he was then known, auditioned for Megadeth’s vacant guitarist slot, and was invited to join the band. Darrell insisted his brother, bandmate Vinnie Paul, be included, but because Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine had already hired a drummer, Nick Menza, Darrell declined and Mustaine instead decided on Marty Friedman. The Abbott brothers refocused their attention on Pantera, and in 1989 they were given their first shot at commercial success. 1989 was also when the band formed their relationship with Walter O’Brien at Concrete Management (the management arm of Concrete Marketing), who remained their manager until they disbanded in 2003.[4]

After being turned down “28 times by every major label on the face of the Earth”,[5] Atco Records representatives Mark Ross and Stevenson Eugenio were asked by their boss Derek Shulman, who was interested in signing Pantera, to see the band perform after Hurricane Hugo stranded them in Texas. Ross was so impressed by the band’s performance that he called his boss that night, suggesting that Pantera be signed to the label. Atco Records accepted, and at the close of 1989, the band recorded its major label debut at Pantego Studios.

Check out my website for more cool music: Aaron Sparks
Check out my abstract graphics galleries: Aaron Sparks
Check out my links page for all things guitar related: Aaron Sparks

Oldschool Thrash Metal Bands: PANTERA (pt. 1)

Alrighty. Time for another of the Big Four. One of my favorites, Pantera. Despite the whole Pantera vs. Exhorder battle, Im a huge fan of both. Both bands have their rightful place in thrash/groove history and deserve respect. . .

Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul (drums) and Dimebag Darrell (guitar) in 1981,[1] bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as the new vocalist.

Pantera has sold around 20 million albums. Starting as a glam metal band, Pantera played a heavier groove and thrash sound when they released Cowboys from Hell in 1990. Their second album Vulgar Display of Power, released in 1992, revealed a heavier sound than Cowboys from Hell and their 1994 release of Far Beyond Driven debuted at No.1 in the Billboard 200[2].

Tensions began to surface amongst the band members when Phil Anselmo became addicted to heroin in 1995. This resulted in the recording sessions for The Great Southern Trendkill to be held separately. The ongoing tensions lasted for another seven years, in which only one studio album, Reinventing the Steel was released. The Abbott brothers disbanded Pantera in 2003 and subsequently formed Damageplan. Any hopes of a reunion were lost on December 8, 2004, when Dimebag Darrell was shot and killed onstage by a mentally unstable fan during a Damageplan performance.

Formation and early glam years (1981–1987)
The band was originally named Pantera’s Metal Magic and consisted of Vinnie Paul Abbott on drums, Dimebag Darrell Abbott (called Diamond Darrell at that time) on guitar, Donnie Hart on vocals, Terry Glaze on guitar, and Tommy Bradford on bass. In 1982, the band was renamed Pantera in order to shorten the name and to settle an agreement between all band members. Hart left the band because he did not agree with the bands’ ethics and Glaze became the group’s vocalist, leaving Darrell as the sole guitarist. Later that year Bradford also departed and was replaced by Rex Brown (then known as Rexx Rocker). Pantera became an underground favorite, though its regional tours in this era never took them beyond Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. The band began supporting fellow heavy metal acts such as Stryper, Dokken, and Quiet Riot, who in turn promoted Pantera’s debut, Metal Magic. Metal Magic was released on the band’s record label of the same name in 1983 and produced by the Abbott brothers’ father, Jerry Abbott (referred to as “The Eldn”), at Pantego Studios.[1]

The following year, Pantera released its second album, Projects in the Jungle. Though still very much a glam metal album, the band members crafted songs that had less overbearing melodic influences than songs from Metal Magic. Another change was Terry Glaze’s name, as he was henceforth credited as “Terrence Lee”. In addition, a music video for the album’s lead track, “All Over Tonight”, was eventually created. Projects in the Jungle was also released on the band’s independent Metal Magic Records label and produced by Jerry Abbott.

In 1985, Pantera again released a full-length album on Metal Magic Records, entitled I Am the Night. As with Projects in the Jungle, this album saw Pantera’s sound becoming heavier (though still rooted in glam metal), and the heavy metal press took more notice of the band. Because of poor distribution, I Am the Night was a costly album to many fans. Around 25,000 copies of I Am the Night were sold. Pantera’s second music video was produced for the track “Hot and Heavy”.

Check out my website for more cool music: Aaron Sparks
Check out my abstract graphics galleries: Aaron Sparks
Check out my links page for all things guitar related: Aaron Sparks

More thrash still to come

More thrash bands still to come. So far, here's who I'm planning:

Megadeth
Metallica
Pantera
Slayer
. . . (ok "Big Four" out of the way - now on to more goodness)

Vandetta
Toxik
Atrophy
Razor
Xentrix
Wargasm
Heathen
Overkill
Laaz Rockit
Meliah Rage
Devastation


and many more :D

Check out my website for more cool music: Aaron Sparks
Check out my abstract graphics galleries: Aaron Sparks
Check out my links page for all things guitar related: Aaron Sparks

Oldschool Thrash Metal Bands: Annihilator (pt. 3)

Jeff Waters has been cited by a vast majority of metal musicians worldwide as an influence on their own music. Artists from bands as diverse as 3 Doors Down, Slipknot, Nickleback, Megadeth, Killswitch Engage, Lamb of God, In Flames, Danko Jones, H.I.M., Children Of Bodom, Trivium and many more acknowledge either being influenced by Waters’ writing or guitar playing or simply just being a fan of the band or his guitar playing. Most all agree that Annihilator and Jeff Waters have had a huge influence on the metal scene while receiving little credit in the USA and Canada for this.

The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists is a best-seller book by British author Joel McIver, released in 2009. It cites Jeff Waters as the 3rd best guitar player. Jeff Waters is also commonly described on the internet as the most under-rated guitar player and metal songwriter of all time. These are mostly from North American media outlets and postings however European and Asian metal fans, press and metal forum’s have been very familiar with Annihilator and Jeff Waters’ work since the 80′s to present. He is also compared often Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters as being a genius multi-instrumentalist and writer.

Jeff Waters is reported to have written many “hit” songs for other artists, under an assumed name, in the country ballad and pop ballad genre.

Waters has frequently changed Annihilator’s line-up throughout its run. In the early days of Annihilator, a stable line-up was a goal of Jeff Waters, however members leaving due to family issues, substance abuse and work commitments left Jeff Waters seemingly always searching for replacements. In fact, Waters had taken on the role of guitar player, bass player, engineer, producer and writer, almost from the very first years of the band. After some time, Waters decided to embrace the idea of working with as many other musicians as possible, attracting the likes of some of the world’s greatest musicians (ex. Mike Mangini -drummer for Annihilator, Steve Vai, Dream Theater, Extreme) and Waters performed all the bass guitar on all Annihilator cds as well as guitars, vocals and engineering, mixing, producing and mastering duties. Jeff Waters performed as lead vocalist for 3 cds and on the songs “Holding On” from 2004′s All for You, “Too Far Gone” from the 2005 album Schizo Deluxe and “Operation Annihilation” from 2007′s Metal.

Watersound Studios Inc. has been Waters’ studio since 1994, recently (2003) relocated from Maple Ridge, BC to Ottawa, ON. A well-known and sought-after mixing engineer, engineer, producer and mastering engineer, Jeff Waters continues to thrive with Annihilator in Europe. The latest Annihilator cd, 13th studio release and self-titled, has been the band’s biggest selling cd in a decade. Touring and audience attendance has grown dramatically for Annihilator in the last 4 years, bringing the band in front of massive crowds at summer festivals and headlining tours.

Annihilator has “returned” to Canada for 2 live shows; the first time the band has played live in North America since 1993. On July 10, 2011, Annihilator headlined the Quebec City Imperial Theatre to a sold-out crowd and there was close to 700 people that could not get in the packed venue. Annihilator played the main stage (along with KISS and Motorhead) on July 24, 2011 at Montreal’s Heavy MTL Festival.

Check out my website for more cool music: Aaron Sparks
Check out my abstract graphics galleries: Aaron Sparks
Check out my links page for all things guitar related: Aaron Sparks