There was a time when active artists would, more consistently
than not, release a new album every year. The main reason for this being, in a
world with no internet, the only way bands could be sure they would remain
relevant in the music world was by always releasing new music. Many times I
wish bands still did this; it gets frustrating sometimes waiting the usual three
years for new music from an artist. The reality, though, is that by waiting an
extended period of time between albums, artists have more time to make sure
they are writing the best material possible. The term “filler” doesn’t apply to
as many albums now as it used to.
I’m going to take the time to write an article on another
not-new album. This time I’m going to go back to the summer of 1990, when heavy
metal would forever change. Many who know Pantera
(and let’s face it, there are MANY) know the band to have been the band to
create the “groove” metal genre, though I’ve never truly understood, beyond the
music of Pantera, what classifies as a “groove metal” band. The band didn’t
truly break ground on this new genre until their 1992 album Vulgar Display of Power, but before
that, the world got a glimpse of what was to come with Cowboys From Hell.
All, to almost all metal fans know the name Philip Anselmo (for reasons that I
think are obvious, I prefer to refer to him as “Phil” rather than “Philip”).
Whether or not you’re a fan, it is undeniable that he and a little band named Pantera made such a difference in heavy
metal music that it is still being talked about today in the form of god
status. Phil, as well as drummer Vinnie
Paul, bassist Rex Brown and of
course the late guitarist Dimebag Darrell
are all equally responsible for changing metal as we know it.
