Can you believe that we are at the 25th Anniversary of Pantera’s “Vulgar Display Of Power”? Well we are and while this is actually the sixth album in the bands discography, it’s pretty much the second in the more throttling and intense “Groove Metal” sound that they were laying down and claiming some dominance over. I remembered that I first got into Pantera when I heard some tracks on WSOU and despite my being a fan of some of the earliest Power Metal and Glam Rock of the day, I never did hear of the band during their non-Thrashy times. To say that I played “CFH” to death would be an understatement but it was with “VDOP” that this band firmed up in everyone’s Metal minds that they meant business. As always, these milestone reflections are more personal thoughts as the full litany of what made this album come to pass are well outlined in the official Wikipedia entry below. Let’s continue.

From the moment that I first played this at the time new album I felt that the band had upped their Heavy Metal game. They were intense and very in your face and had this whole “Take No Prisoners” sort of attitude. In 1992 the Grunge Rock scene was getting more and more prominent and the Metal Legions had to stick by their favorite music in order for it to thrive. It would not be an easy task for Phil, Dimebag, Vinnie and Rex to do since these Seattle based melodic strains were quickly taking over the airwaves and even the video ones. Bands like Pantera were slowly relegated to only being showcased on the later evening “Headbangers Ball” that broadcast once a week. When you did play this album it was very often done at levels that would send a more civilized sort into hiding. Like I said up above, this was some true in your face stuff and for those of us who were enjoying it we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Continue reading Hails To 1/4 Century Of Pantera’s “Vulgar Display Of Power” (1992-2017) →