PANTERA
Vulgar Display Of Power (20th Anniversary Re-Issue)
[Elektra/Rhino]
Verdict: 10/10
It’s very hard to honestly believe that it has actually been 20 years since this slab of metal greatness was released. When it dropped two decades ago, it was without a doubt the heaviest and grooviest monster. Unknown to us metal heads and even the band themselves, it would help define music for generations. From Phil Anselmo’s hardcore barks, personal and political lyrics to the devastating breakdowns that still, to this day, resonate in EVERY mosh ready breakdown to Dime’s hotter that lava solo’s, PANTERA helped influence every good, and bad, metal and hardcore band that came after. Sadly, a majority of kids these days aren’t concerned with where their favorite bands got their influences from AND even sadder is knowing, some of these young bands don’t know either. What METALLICA did with 1986′s Master Of Puppets, PANTERA did with Vulgar. Only on a much larger scale. Just to name a few of the bands that were heavily influenced by this record/band; LAMB OF GOD, BURY YOUR DEAD & WHITECHAPEL. On the flip side though, there are greedy and talentless bands waving the banner for metal claiming PANTERA as a major influence when all they write are cheap hooks and sub par lyrics. Example? FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH. Their tribute cover of ‘A New Level’ was insulting and disrespectful. But I digress. Personal views aside, as far as ANY heavy genre is concerned, Vulgar… was pretty much a starter hand book, a blue print as it were, on the correct way to destroy anything in your way musically. It set standards and broke molds. Easily. Not only is the music on here remastered to sound even bigger than before, it includes a rare gem in the form of a track called ‘Piss’. PANTERA fans will easily recognize what happened to parts of this track eventually, but as a fan, it’s a very cool track to hear and almost as cool as the Cowboys… demo’s from the 20th Anniversary Deluxe 2 years ago. Hearing how a band’s songs progress has always been a fan boy fascination. Also included here is a DVD of rare, unreleased live footage from the 1992 Monsters Of Rock Italy as well as the bands three official video from Vulgar. PANTERA live were where the band ‘sold’ themselves to countless fans worldwide. They had the uncanny ability to own any stage they performed on, whether it was their own headlining gig, or an opening slot, they commanded attention and got it. The fans always felt welcomed and a part of the PANTERA Family. This is also the last record to name Dime as the Glam related era “Diamond”. Even 20 years after it’s release, Vulgar Display Of Power still stands strong and sounds as important and relevant as any newer release. -by Jon Hole
Recommended listening: All of this.
Production credits: Engineered, Mixed & Produced by Terry Date. Mastered by Howie Weinberg.
Release date: May 15, 2012
In conclusion…Owning and being familiar with one of the 90′s most intense and brutally destructive and influential records is a necessary thing. To know the future, one must know and embrace the past. PANTERA’s Vulgar Display Of Power is the perfect start.
