Pantera

Pantera

3 Vulgar Videos From Hell (Rhino)

The first group Queen guitarist Brian May and his son both liked? Pantera. What began as another Metroplex metal band grew into one of the most influential and bestselling metal acts of the Nineties. Founded in 1981 by the Pantego, Texas-residing Abbott brothers – drummer Vinnie Paul and guitarist "Diamond/Dimebag" Darrell (both sons of country songwriter and studio owner Jerry Abbott) – Pantera didn't hit its stride until bassist Rex Brown and lead screamer Phil Anselmo joined, releasing their breakout Cowboys From Hell in 1990. After four platinum-plus albums and global tours, internal discord pulled Pantera apart in 2003. Band-members had other projects, but any glimmer of a reunion was blacked out on December 8, 2004, when Dimebag was murdered on stage while he and his brother's new outfit, Damageplan, began their first song at a show in Ohio. The content on these two DVDs will make any fan salivate. Twelve studio videos and five live ones, with Pantera's zany touring antics composing the rest of the total four hours, including performances and/or partying with Alice in Chains, Suicidal Tendencies, Rob Halford, Slayer, Trent Reznor, Black Sabbath, Marilyn Manson, and Kiss. Not surprisingly, this ain't PG-13 footage, more of a convention of Animal House alum, Jackass veterans, and Girls Gone Wild. Or as the jester-alchemist Dimebag opines: "Most people take this shit seriously. To me, it's just one big jackoff session." But hold that mouth watering: All of this was originally released in 1999, save for new menus and a 5.1 Surround Sound option. Which prompts the question: is the new 3 Vulgar Videos From Hell archival, or opportunistic? A little of both, but more of the later. Fans should save their cherry for Vinnie's brotherly DVD tribute, DimeVision – Vol 1: That's the Fun I Have, out later this year.