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I got this album for "Walk". I love the pulse pounding guitar riffs in this song. This is my introduction to Pantera, so I'm exploring more. From what I can tell, this is some hard, heart pounding music. Looking forward to see what else i like from this group.
'Vulgar Display of Power' is usually considered to be Pantera's best album. After the total overhaul of 'Cowboys from Hell', Pantera returned with an even heavier offering. Diamond Darrell (soon to be re-baptized as "Dimebag Darrell") D-tuned his guitar and conjured up some of the most crushing guitar tones of the time, and Phil Anselmo cut out much of the Rob Halford-esque vocals that he employed on previous albums and replaced them with a powerful roar. (I think that would've been cool if he showed off some of his higher pitched vocals, too, though.) Rex and Vinnie Paul also became one of the most powerful rhythm sections in metal, allowing Darrell to solo without a backing guitar on many of the tracks. The lyrics also turned from stereotypical metal lyrics to more personal and social topics that would influence the burgeoning nu/alternative metal movement.
As for album highlights, the first five songs are definitely the best and easily among the absolute best in Pantera's entire catalog. "Mouth for War" is a slightly thrashier opener, while "A New Level" bulldozes the listener afterward. This segues into "Walk", perhaps the band's most popular song. I find it hard to believe that many people don't consider Pantera to be thrash/speed metal when they have songs like "F***ing Hostile", which is totally speed metal. "This Love" twists around the typical power ballad into a musically and emotionally gut-wrenching song. The remainder of the album is not quite as good, although "Hollow" does come close to the quality level heard on the first five songs. Still, all of the songs are good and worth checking out.
This album is highly recommended to any fan of extreme metal. Not only did it further establish the very small subgenre of metal that Pantera created, "groove metal", but it also signaled things to come for music with some of its alternative metal leanings. However, don't think that this is some downtuned, hip hop-influenced, guitar solo-less, not necessarily "metal" album. This is a metal album for metal fans, so if you're pissed off and want something brutal, this album is for you.
As for album highlights, the first five songs are definitely the best and easily among the absolute best in Pantera's entire catalog. "Mouth for War" is a slightly thrashier opener, while "A New Level" bulldozes the listener afterward. This segues into "Walk", perhaps the band's most popular song. I find it hard to believe that many people don't consider Pantera to be thrash/speed metal when they have songs like "F***ing Hostile", which is totally speed metal. "This Love" twists around the typical power ballad into a musically and emotionally gut-wrenching song. The remainder of the album is not quite as good, although "Hollow" does come close to the quality level heard on the first five songs. Still, all of the songs are good and worth checking out.
This album is highly recommended to any fan of extreme metal. Not only did it further establish the very small subgenre of metal that Pantera created, "groove metal", but it also signaled things to come for music with some of its alternative metal leanings. However, don't think that this is some downtuned, hip hop-influenced, guitar solo-less, not necessarily "metal" album. This is a metal album for metal fans, so if you're pissed off and want something brutal, this album is for you.