Pantera

Vulgar Display of Power (20th Anniversary Edition) (Rhino)

Texans reload after the 2010 reissue of Cowboys From Hell. Succeeding said Southwestern thrash landmark two years later, 1992’s Vulgar Display of Power bucks similar equilibrium, still turbine tight and “Fucking Hostile.” Dizzying solos from “Diamond” Darrell (“A New Level”), the bludgeoning “This Love,” and second line percussion on “No Good (Attack the Radical)” welcome unreleased crusher “Piss” and 30 minutes live on MTV Italia via DVD. The guitarist – skinny, razor blade around his neck, chin-hair dyed pink – rules, beginning at the four Kiss stickers on his instrument. ****

This article appears in August 10 • 2012.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

San Francisco native Raoul Hernandez crossed the border into Texas on July 2, 1992, and began writing about music for the Chronicle that fall, debuting with an album review of Keith Richards’ Main Offender. By virtue of local show previews – first “Recommendeds,” now calendar picks – his writing’s appeared in almost every issue since 1993.