The 1990s saw major changes in the music industry. Classic hard rock and heavy metal were replaced by more progressive genres, the concepts of which differed markedly from the heavy music of yesteryear. This led to the emergence of new personalities in the world of music, a prominent representative of which was the Pantera group.
One of the most sought-after trends in heavy music in the 1990s was groove metal, which was pioneered by the American band Pantera.
The early years of the Pantera group
Despite the fact that the Pantera group gained resounding success only in the 1990s, the team was created back in 1981. The idea to create a group came to two brothers - Vinnie Paul Abbott and Darrell Abbott.
They were into the heavy music of the 1970s. Young people could not imagine life without the creativity of Kiss and Van Halen, whose posters adorned the walls of their rooms.
It was these classic bands that greatly influenced the creative activity of the Pantera group in the first decade. Some time later, the line-up was completed by bass player Rex Brown, after which the new American group began active concert activity.
The era of glam metal
During the first few years, the musicians managed to perform as an opening act for many local rock bands, occupying a significant place in the underground. The activity was encouraged by their father, who contributed to the release of the first music album in 1983. It was called Metal Magic and was created in the popular style of glam metal.
A year later, the second record of the group appeared on the shelves, which was distinguished by a more aggressive sound. Despite the changes, the second studio album Projects in the Jungle still lived up to the glam. He had nothing to do with the music, thanks to which millions of listeners around the world learned about the musicians.
The efficiency of the new group could only be envied. In addition to concert activities, the musicians managed to record the third full-length album, released in 1985.
The album I Am the Night, although it was warmly received by fans of heavy music, remained difficult to reach for the mass listener. Thus, the Pantera group continued to remain in the underground, not even counting on success in America.
Radical changes in the image and genre of Pantera
In the second half of the 1980s, the popularity of glam gradually began to decrease. This was due to the spread of a new genre called thrash metal.
One after another, such hits as Reign in Blood and Master of Puppets came out. They were an unprecedented commercial success. For this reason, many young bands began to work in the direction of thrash metal, seeing the future behind it.
The members of the Pantera group, who had just found a new young vocalist in the person of Phil Anselmo, did not manage to avoid the genre transformation either. The frontman had a strong and clear vocal, perfect for classic hard 'n' heavy.
So before finally leaving the origins, the musicians released the last glam metal album Power Metal. It already felt the influence of thrash metal, which the musicians began to prefer in the future.
Dimebag Darrell, Vinnie Paul, Rex and Phil Anselmo - it was in this line-up that the group entered a new stage in their creative activity, which became "golden" in their career.
Peak of fame
In 1990, the musicians recorded the best album Cowboys from Hell. It is still among the top most iconic recordings in history to this day.
Musically, the album was in line with the trendy thrash metal trends, while bringing something new to it. The difference was in the presence of heavy guitar riffs, backed up by a hardcore drive.
Phil Anselmo continued to use heavy metal falsetto in the vein of Rob Halford. But often he added rude inserts to the singing, which had nothing in common with the traditional genres of the past.
The success of the album was incredible. The musicians of the Pantera group immediately got the opportunity to go on their first international tour.
As part of the trip, they also attended the legendary concert at the Tushino airfield, which, in addition to Pantera, was attended by musicians from Metallica and AC / DC. The concert became the most attended in modern Russian history.
This was followed in 1992 by another studio album, Vulgar Display of Power. In it, the band finally abandoned the influence of classic heavy metal. The sound became even more aggressive, while Anselmo began to use screaming and growling in his vocals.
The Vulgar Display of Power is still considered one of the most influential in the history of rock music, as it shaped groove metal.
Groove metal is a combination of classic thrash, hardcore and alternative music.
Many critics were convinced that the increase in popularity of groove metal was the cause of the final death of not only heavy metal, but also thrash metal, which was experiencing a protracted crisis in the genre.
Conflicts within the group
Endless musical tours were accompanied by drunkenness, which amazed the stars of the metal scene. Phil Anselmo also began to use hard drugs, which led to the first serious trouble.
After the release of another successful album, Far Beyond Driven, conflicts began to arise in the group. According to the musicians, Phil Anselmo began to behave strangely and unpredictably.
Recordings for The Great Southern Trendkill took place separately from Phil. While the main band was composing music in Dallas, the frontman was busy promoting the Down solo project.
Anselmo then recorded the vocals on the already finished material. Four years later, the last recording of Reinventing the Steel was released. Then the musicians announced the dissolution of the Pantera group.
Murder of Dimebag Darrell
Dimebag Darrell began his solo career with his new band Damageplan. But during one of the concerts, December 8, 2004, a terrible tragedy occurred. In the middle of the performance, an armed man climbed onto the stage and opened fire on Darrell.
Then the attacker began to shoot at the listeners and guards, taking one of the people hostage. Arriving at the scene, the police shot the attacker on the spot. It turned out to be Marine Nathan Gale. The reasons why the crime was committed remain a mystery to this day.
