Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

Live Report and all the photos by Erik Hernandez

The story of PANTERA goes all the way back to the 1980’s. A time when even Phillip Anselmo wasn’t in the band. Through hard work and determination, Pantera rose through the metal ranks and became one of the best-selling Metal bands in history. It wouldn’t last, and tragedy would take the Abbott brothers away from us. The world was void of Pantera for over two decades. There would be rumors that a Pantera “reunion” was going to happen, but it never did…until it did.

Fast forward to this month and Pantera is back with a new lineup that consists of Phil Anselmo, Rex Brown, Zakk Wylde, and Charlie Benante. The band has embarked on the second leg of their Legacy tour and stopped in Nashville to put to rest all the rumors that they didn’t have what it takes anymore, did they ever prove the haters wrong!

As we photographers were being escorted to the photo pit we were in awe of the crowd. The sound was deafening! It was glorious and amazing that after 24 years, Pantera was back in Nashville and the crowd was hungry for them. The Arena was packed.

Hanging above the stage and down to the floor was a huge black banner with one word written in big letters PANTERA. It was joined on each side by screens showing the brothers in various antics through the years and people were shouting DIMEBAG, DIMEBAG, DIMEBAG, and VINNIE, VINNIE, VINNIE. It was evident that the love still hangs on for those beloved brothers that everyone remembers so well. There were so many young people there, that had never seen the original lineup and they were chanting right along with the veteran fans.

The intro began and the curtain dropped, and there stood Phil, Rex, Zakk, and behind the drums, Charlie. They opened with A New Level, and it was insanity! The crowd was jumping up and down to the groove, and hands were in the air, horns held high. The band sounded amazing, and they all looked very healthy and, well, younger! The energy, the tightness of the band as they played was unmatched, for all rights and purposes, Pantera was back!

Any doubts of Pantera not being on par with their past were crushed under the weight of songs like Becoming, I’m Broken, 5 Minutes Alone, This Love, and Walk! The Floods tribute was as amazing as it was sad. Zakk did an honorable honor to Dime as he held his fist high during a sustained high note.

The show closers were first Cowboys from Hell and final, Fucking Hostile. The crowd never stopped chanting the brothers’ names after the final note. It was more than a concert; it was a homecoming.
Most are calling this a tribute, and for most intents and purposes, it is. But Phil said see you next time and the seed is planted that asks the question, will there be a new Pantera record? We can only hope.