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Class 6(66)

Pantera: Vulgar display of power

03/04/06  ||  Statik Majik

Released: 1992

Introduction

This is the first Pantera album I heard and I think it was pretty much right after it hit the record stores back in 1992. A friend of mine bought the cd, copied it to cassette and gave it to me with the words “it could be something you might enjoy”. And he was more than right. Even though back in 1992 when I was 99% devoted to death metal I had no problems whatsoever opening up to “Vulgar display of power” and the “easier” side of metal it represented. For me it actually felt as heavy as any death metal album I heard even if it didn’t have growls.

Songwriting

10. From the very first drum hit of “Mouth for war” ‘til the last faded sound of guitars in “Hollow”, this album is perfection. There’s not a single bad thing to say about the songs. Not a fucking thing. And you can compare this to any new album, I guarantee that it still kicks more ass than most of the stuff released this year ever will. Even the slower tracks (“This love” and “Hollow”) are heavy as fuck.

Production

8. Terry Date, Vinnie Paul and the rest of the gang have done a damn good job. This album sounds heavy. Or should I just say “Fuckin’ hostile”. You can hear all the instruments clearly but the sound isn’t too clinical.

Guitars

10. Dimebag Darrel. The name itself equals excellent guitar playing, catchy-as-fuck riffs and heaviness, which every beginning guitar-player tries/wants to copy.

Vocals

9. Philip Anselmo’s performance on Pantera’s albums is… Well, second to none. Every since I heard this monster I was hooked on his voice. The power he has is fucken impressive, to say the least. Anselmo does as good job with regular metal-vocals/screams as Jörgen Sandström does delivering death metal growls.

Bass

8. Again, like on most of the albums, it’s there. Since Pantera mainly concentrates on one guitar, bass has a slightly more importance in their music than what is usually the norm. And Rex delivers excellent shit, perfectlly supporting both guitars and drums throughout the songs. ( Note by the The Lord: Really?! I thought he supported some soccer-team and not actual songs on the albums. You incredibly drunken Fin. )

Drums

10. Vinnie Paul. Vinnie fucking Paul, ladies and gentlemen. Pure brilliance if you ask me. And since you are reading a review written by me, that’s the only opinion that matters for now.

Lyrics

8. Anselmo is pretty damn good at writing lyrics. he deals with feeling different, hostile, better than the rest. Showing respect where it’s due, intolerance and so forth… You name it. Enjoyable, and more than suitable with Pantera’s music

Cover art

7. A guy’s face is being hit with a fist. I’m sure making the photo wasn’t as fun as it is watching it. At least not for the reciever of the fist.

Logo

7. Nothing out of the ordinary. Pantera-text in block letters.

Booklet

6. Rather dull. Handwritten lyrics inside the sleeve and credits. Simple as that.

Overall and ending rant

10. Even if the overall count doesn’t add up to 10, I’m still declaring it as one. I can easily say that even after 14 years this is still one of my favourite albums. It has everything I expect a good metal album to have, and more. I consider myself more than fortunate since I had the priviledge to witness Pantera live, twice. Once in 1992 and once in 1994. And I’m more than happy to say that they kicked ass, even more live than on any of their albums.

Class 6(66) -reviews

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