| Artist: |
Pantera |
| Title: |
"Reinventing the Steel" |
| Label: |
Elektra
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| Reviewed by: |
Bushman |
| Rating: |
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Considering the current marketability of heavy music, anticipation was laced
with a lot of apprehensive curiosity for this newest from the Texas pioneers
of proper thrash and grind metal. For anyone that would put "Cowboys From
Hell" or "Vulgar Display of Power" in their top 10's, smoke one in unison for
Pantera has delivered. The opener, "Hellbound" has got a mean hiccup of
stutter not felt since, "Primal Concrete Sledge" (off the aforementioned,
"Cowboys..."). And Phil Anselmos vocal scrape of, "Heeeeeeellllllllll
Boooooouuuunnnd! (forward)" is demon sent. Vinnie Paul (drums) shines often
and creates the percussive textures that sets them past their metal brethren.
"Whiskey and Weed and Black Sabbath" (changed to "...and Slayer" for the
next verse) has the band paying tribute to some influences with vocal props
in "Goddamn Electric" that falls into the slow stomp that fans previous will
be familiar with. "Yesterday Don't Mean Shit" (because tomorrow's the day
you'll have to face) will have legions of live sing-alongs as this track
sticks home with a familiar chord that most into this kind of release will
relate to easily. The riffs are still crushing, and the vibe is still
pummeling as Pantera haven't strayed a lot from what they know works for
them. And at the same time they have managed to put together a very
aggressive album and haven't pulled back a bit. The Sabbath soaked
"Revolution is my name" almost rides the line of derivative until they snap
into this jerky whine off-timed thing that snaps the attention of most who
might have been casually listening. It's these subtle moments of unexpected
structures that allows Pantera to continually mine an approach they helped
define. "Death Rattle" (Snakes) is a bit much and Phil's lyrics sometimes go
a bit overboard on the mean macho trip (but when haven't they)? and are more
a vehicle for dissent than to be interpreted in some kind of hidden meaning
prose. But musically, there's not a slow number in the bunch so speed
junkies strap in and crank accordingly. "ReInventing the Steel" shows that
it is possible to just stick to what you do best and it will reflect
honestly, displayed in this level of convincingly monster heavy that only
Pantera can harness.
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