Hello! My name is Alex and I love music with a passion. I currently play guitar in two bands, one a ...
Hello! My name is Alex and I love music with a passion. I currently play guitar in two bands, one a funky blues/rock band and an originals rock band. I also love films, horror and thrillers being my favourite genres.
Member since:14.06.2006
Reviews:8
Pantera's "Cowboys From Hell" is the bands first release on a major label and is the second album featuring Phil Anselmo. This saw the emergence of a heavier, more aggresive sound compared to the bands four previous albums. Which thankly turns out to a step in the right direction, getting away from the glam-rock tendencies, although Anselmo still manages to incorporate some Halford style screams, but so good that they are, it doesn't matter. Listen to the end of "Cemetery Gates" whilst guitarist Diamond Darrell uses the whammy bar, and Anselmo reaches evey high note perfectly in unison with the guitar. This is a classic Pantera song, but there are plenty more on this album
The title track "Cowboys from Hell" is a real barnstormer, with a ridicously catchy blues-metal riff, which never lets up. The emergence of the famous Pantera "Power Groove" sound is evident on this song.
"Pyscho Holiday" is a favourite of mine, and features some brilliant Drumming from Vinnie Paul and some real lowdown bass grooves from Rex Brown-check out the bottom end during the guitar solo-which is also sheer brilliance. The songs outros on a thrashy style riff and gets the adrenaline pumping.
"Heresy" is a more thrash based song but I absolutely love this one. Features more Halford like screams from Anselmo and a fantastic guitar solo. Kudos also to the double-bass pedal drumming from Vinnie Paul.
"Domination" is a favourite of many Pantera fans as well as metal fans in general and it's not hard to see why. The end riff is well worth the wait!
The next couple of songs like "Shattered" "Clash With Reality" and "Medicine man", are in my opinion the weakest on the album but still excellent in their own right, it's just that they can't compare to the rest of the brilliant material. "Message in Blood", features another seriously catchy riff and is in the Pantera Power Groove mould, great song. The other ballad style song on this album after "Cemetery Gates" is "The Sleep". I love this song as well. It begins with some haunting acoustic guitar and goes into a slow chugging riff which is also very catchy and has a fantastic guitar solo. And what a way to round the album with the pulverising "The Art of Shredding", a faster thrashier number, but starts off with an awesome groovy riff. Not one of my favourites but still very good.
I thing Iove about this album is whilst it is very heavy in places, it still manages to convey melody and catchiness, due to the amazing guitar playing, great grooves played machine-like precision from the Rhythm section and the powerful, aggresive singing that never descends into noise and every word is clear. Those who have only heard the later, heavier Pantera albums may find this a little"Judas Priest" in places what with Anselmos high-pitch screaming in effect, but this is a must have album for any Pantera and metal fan.
Song Highlights:
Cowboys From Hell Pyscho Holiday Heresy Cemetery Gates Domination Message in Blood The Sleep The Art of Shredding
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Even those who scoff at the idea that rock&roll is the devil's music have to think twice ... more
when listening to Pantera. The pill-popping, strip-bar-ogling, beer-guzzling Texas combo takes Metallica's speed-metal cues to new heights of brutality and sacrile...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Even those who scoff at the idea that rock & roll is the devil's music have to think twice ... more
when listening to Pantera. The pill-popping, strip-bar-ogling, beer-guzzling Texas combo takes Metallica's speed-metal cues to new heights of brutality and sacri...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Sep 4th, 2008
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