Next Tuesday will see the reissue of one of the most influential heavy metal albums of all time, Pantera's Vulgar Display Of Power, marking the record's 20th anniversary.
So to celebrate twenty years since Pantera's seminal album, Rhino will be releasing a two-disc Deluxe Edition which is set to include a fully remastered version, plus the 'lost', previously unreleased track, Piss, which was only recently discovered. You can watch the video below:
Pantera were one of the preeminent metal bands of the early-mid Nineties. Their blend of post-hardcore power metal, Phil Anselmo's testosterone-fuelled vocal growls and iconic guitar riffs and textures helped to pave the way for alternative metal bands to come.
However, Pantera weren't always so cool. The Texas band had in fact been one of those cringeworthy hair metal bands of the Eighties metal scene and saw little success due to their Glam-inspired music. It wasn't until singer, Phil Anselmo, joined the band that their turning point came about; Pantera's major label debut release in 1990, Cowboys From Hell. Thanks to this, the band were able to put to rest any embarrassing remnants of their past and almost singlehandedly demolish the passe' notion of hair metal with their intense, new style of music.
Pantera's real mainstream breakthrough wasn't until 1992 with the release of the album in question, Vulgar Display Of Power. A much heavier approach, this is the record that really catapulted Pantera into the forefront of the metal scene and into the realms of the likes of Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax - The Big Four!
The success of Vulgar Display Of Power saw the album reach Platinum status (officially certified by the RIAA) and features some of the band's most iconic tracks, including Walk, Fucking Hostile, Mouth For War and This Love. Written and recorded by Phil Anselmo, guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, bassist Rex Brown and drummer Vinnie Paul, the album also stands as a testament and memory to the late Dimebag Darrell who, on December the 8th 2004, was tragically shot and killed onstage by a fan during a Damageplan (Darrell and Vinnie Paul's later formed band) concert.
In a recent interview, Phil Anselmo spoke about the unreleased track, Piss:
"It didn't make the record for a reason, but it's still a cool song. And it's great for fans and collectors. I mean, we never left much lying around, we always trimmed most of the fat away, so I'm glad we had at least one stray track. And it reminds me of that time, which I kind of miss. With my band now, sometimes late at night on the bus, we'll be having a few beers and someone will crank up Vulgar Display of Power and it's like, you know what? This is still just a great fucking record. It just is, dude".
Vinnie Paul also gave his thoughts on the track:
"Piss is the only unheard complete Pantera track in existence. It was recorded at the same time as Vulgar Display Of Power and it's 100 per cent Pantera with attitude and our signature groove! After mixing it, I can't believe it didn't make the record! So it's 2012 and 20 years later and new Pantera music has been delivered."
So twenty years on from their second album, it seems that Pantera's fierce dedication to their fans have saved them from the usual downfalls that other metal bands often succumb to, making them the obvious crown-bearers of the metal scene. According to Vinnie, it was a crown that came naturally:
"We don't ever try to be anything we aren't. The bond between us and our fans can't be broken because they see themselves up there when we play. You can never fake that."
Make sure you get yourself a copy of the Deluxe Edition reissue on May 15th - a great memory for existing fans and a truly exciting discovery for any newcomers out there!