Pantera--Power Metal

Pantera--Power Metal (1988/Metal Magic) Rating--7.4

One of the four pre-'Cowboys' releases that the band chooses to all but ignore these days, 'Power Metal' is actually the first real step towards the Pantera as we know it. This is the first disc that features Phil Anselmo at vocals, and while there's some cheese, sure, there's also a fair amount of sustenance. There's some '80s thrash in places, a few Manowar and Riot type anthem tracks, and cuts that remind of similar-era Priest. Diamond Darrell's now-familiar sound begins to claw through in places; it's not as etched and killer yet, but there are numerous tracks where you can tell it's him. The true telling point: there are a couple of selections which could be re-recorded and possibly slipped onto a new Pantera disc, and no one would be worse for the wear...
"Over and Out" is a ripping cut, and the prancing, stalking "Hard Ride" struts its stuff. There are quite a few fast-paced songs, including "Down Below," "Death Trap," and the title track.
The music on songs like "Proud to be Loud" and the axe-driven "P.S.T. 88" aren't bad at all, but the lyrical content and overall attitude make it rather obvious why the present-day Pantera would rather not be associated with them.
Ahh well... your past is always a part of you!
TRACK LIST: Rock the World/Power Metal/We'll Meet Again/Over and Out/Proud to be Loud/Down Below/Death Trap/Hard Ride/Burnnn/P.S.T. "88"

Back to Discography