Search - Pantera :: Driven By Demons

1989 was a landmark year for the revitalised Pantera, they acquired the services of manager Walter O'Brien, who remained with them until 2003, and scored a deal with Atco Records. Their first major label release, 'Cowboys From Hell' (July, 1990), displayed the group's new found style - dubbed Power Groove by the band themselves - to superb effect. The album's strongest cuts are highlights of these live recordings: Heresy, Domination, Psycho Holiday, the lengthy Cemetery Gates, and the title track itself. The follow-up album, 'Vulgar Display Of Power' was harder and heavier still, although it included powerful ballads This Love and Hollow, with Anslemo's previously falsetto vocals being retooled into a more guttural style. The album stayed on the 'Billboard 200' for over 18 months and is now their best-selling record. Featured herein are onstage versions of Mouth For War, Hollow, Walk, This Love (all of which were also released as singles) and By Demons Be Driven. It is hardly surprising that Pantera eschew live versions of songs from their previous 1980's albums as they have resolutely distanced themselves from their earlier Glam incarnation over the intervening years. Finally, Strength Beyond Strength, I'm Broken, Becoming and 5 Minutes Alone are all drawn from 1994's 'Far Beyond Driven', the last chapter in a trio of great Pantera albums. It made its debut at the Number One spot on the Billboard - the first extreme Metal album to do so - and eventually went double-platinum in 2004. Unfortunately, 2004 also marked the tragic murder of founder member Dimebag Darrell, who was shot dead by a deranged maniac while onstage in Columbus, Ohio, on December 8th. Thankfully, recordings like this exist to commemorate Dimebag's unique contribution during Pantera's prime era.