Den Headz, it was on this date two decades ago that Arlington, Texas heavy metal act PANTERA unleashed the album entitled Vulgar Display Of Power, hailed today as one of the greatest metal albums of all time, and definitely the best of the 90’s, during an era that found the likes of pop-punk darlings NIRVANA ruling the music world.
What once dominated radio and MTV, glam metal itself would be taken over by the new alternative sound called “Grunge”, thanks to Cobain and co., along with the likes of PEARL JAM and SOUNDGARDEN, it seemed as if metal may have finally met its demise for good. Enter Pantera…
With an absolutely skull-crushing sound, they set a new standard for metal music. On the heels of their groundbreaking ’90 release Cowboys From Hell, they turned it up even louder on VDOP. They unleashed their most balls-to-the walls, side-winding like a snake delivery that turned out to be more fun than even a stripper can handle. This was a band out to decimate anyone that stepped in their path at this time. You heard it loud and clear in their precious blend of thrash metal and southern rock. Point blank, in 1992, Pantera became the most frightening band on the scene… and this was the album that did it.
The album cover art of VDOP is itself a total classic. A man’s face being smashed by a fist. This spoke to the pure sonic brutality contained within that was leveled onto our heads like concrete being smashed under a large steel structure.
It is a double platinum-selling record that features one ferocious gem after the next, with titles as bad ass as the dominating music delivered: “Mouth For War”, “Fucking Hostile, and “By Demons Be Driven”.
Music web site IGN named VDOP as the 11th most influential heavy metal album ever, going on the record to say:
“This album makes the list because it took heavy metal and made it heavier. It took darkness and made it darker. It took anger and made it angrier. Never before had a band tuned down its guitars and crunched a heavier riff than on this album. “Mouth for War” and “A New Level” and “No Good (Attack the Radical)” stand out on an album where every track is a classic track. Dimebag Darrell was an innovator and a true godsend for heavy metal. And this may sound corny, but the way the band was able to turn seemingly negative aspects of the genre – hate, anger, violence and despair – into positive thoughts is somewhat akin to De La Soul dropping a positive message into rap.”
Before the ultimate demise of Pantera after 9/11, lead guitarist Darrell “Dimebag” Abbott would become regarded as the world’s best lead guitarist, regularly winning readers polls in all of the top metal magazines. Dime’s and Pantera’s insane popularity continued for the rest of the 90’s and into dawn of the 21st century.
On VDOP, bassist Rex Brown and drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott lock into one of the most solid rhythm sections ever recorded. Vocalist Philip H. Anselmo was clearly in his finest form on VDOP. His bald head and scowling look of discontent forever burned into the minds of millions of fans around the world. However, it is Anselmo’s lunatic, air-siren of a voice that will be remembered above all else.
With Vulgar Display Of Power reaching 20 years of age, coupled with the fact that our beloved Dimebag is gone for good and a reunion of the surviving members does not ever seem possible, this is surely a time to pay our respects to this rocking band’s accomplishments and appreciate this electrifying metal masterpiece, one more time… for it truly is one of the finest ever.
http://www.pantera.com/
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