4.0 out of 5 stars
Pantera's dominating swansong, July 31, 2007
This review is from: Reinventing the Steel (Audio CD)
Reinventing The Steel (2000.), Pantera's fifth recognised studio album (their ninth if you count their four album releases during the 1980's which the band now totally disregards)
Pantera are a band never to shy away from their own musical direction no matter what was the `done' thing in music at the time. From the time when Pantera evolved themselves into the heavy, brutal and uncompromising band we've known them to be (i.e. `Cowboys From Hell' era onwards) the band provided a new benchmark for a generation of heavy metal. Following the released of their excellent 1996 album `The Great Southern Trendkill', the band took somewhat of a break from the creative album-making process. Inner tensions may have suggested overwise however Pantera still had more metal to power to their audience. `Reinventing The Steel' was released in 2000, after a four year hiatus and surged to #4 in the Billiboard 200 chart. Pantera were back and were ready to dominate for one last time...
`Reinventing The Steel' picks up where the band's previous albums left off. After more than proving themselves with previous album releases, Pantera keep the standards high with this disc which is another hugely powerful record. Their sound here still has that intense no-frills nature to it; Dime's riffs have that hard edge to them as ever and Phil Anselmo belts out another stunning hardcore vocal performance. The band are as sharp as ever in the face of musical trends at the time which leaned ultimately towards nu-metal. `Reinventing The Steel' is very much an album for the fans as the band dedicated the album to all the fans who had stuck with them through the years. `Goddam Electric' is a prime example of this gesture. Indeed the band have a little more of an upbeat outlook on this album and set many themes around their great career and the times they have passed through. `We'll Grind That Axe For A Long Time' carries that message, says thanks to the band's fans and a middle finger to those who always try to write Pantera off or those band's who have strayed away from their direction in search of fame. `Reinventing The Steel' is an extremely refreshing listen as it stands as a true serving of metal at a time when good quality heavy metal was hard to come by. Although I don't think this album is quite as heavy as it's predecessor `The Great Southern Trendkill', this album still has plenty of juggernaut riffs and pounding melodies.
`Hellbound' is a short opener to get the album underway. A rather sonic intro gives way to an intense Pantera staple with a particularly fast and thrashy chorus. `Goddam Electric' is one of the album's highlights. A brisk distorted verse gives way to a slower, plodding but really heavy chorus that has some infectious grooves and guitar fills. The band are on the top of their game on this track. `Yesterday Don't Mean Shit' keeps up the ante with some excellent guitar melodies and galloping riffs. Phil Anselmo makes his point very clearly on this one - not that he doesn't usually anyway! `You've Gotta Belong To It' is another impressive song with plenty of riffs that mix pounding chords with screaching melodies. The song as a particularly atmospheric interlude. `Revolution Is My Name' is much slower and foreboding with a particularly gripping chorus line. Dime gives a great solo in the middle of the track that sounds absolutely fantastic. Theres some awesome harmonies also.
Vinnie Paul's drumming gives an urgent start to `Death Rattle' before we're treated to more excellent riffs and a demonic chorus. `We'll Grind That Axe For A Long Time' is true Pantera in lyrics (mentioned above) and style with a punchy chorus and powerful verse grooves. `Uplift' is another good track, with the rhythms set by a definitive drum line. A stripped down verse makes a cool variation, with Phil belting out the vocals with no backing. `It Makes Them Disappear' is a longer track with a suspense-like intro. The grinding feel is excellent, as is the guitar solo but the track could do with a bit of variation as it progresses. `Ill Cast A Shadow' is Pantera closing another fantastic album in style. A hellraising intro, an intense verse and chorus that'll raise the hairs on your neck.
`Reinventing The Steel' is an album of 100% metal and is more than fitting as Pantera's final album. Sadly the band would split in 2003 due to longstanding tensions in the band. Vinnie Paul and Dimebag would go on to form Damageplan and release more great metal but tragically Dime was murdered on stage playing for Damageplan in late 2004. For me and many others, he was one of the great metal guitarists, a musician of amazing technical ability, power and flair who will be sorely missed in the music world. This album is the final offering for a band that have left an untarnished legacy of kickass metal that defined a new generation in the genre. Enjoy the vocals, enjoy Dime's musical brilliance, enjoy the music from the legendary band Pantera.
R.I.P. Dimebag Darrell
MY RATING: 8/10
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