Pantera - "Reinventing The Steel" (Elektra)

Finally, the most highly anticipated album of the new century is here! Pantera, the ruthless, mind-blowing, destructive bad boys from Texas are back and better than ever with their fifth full-length release “Reinventing The Steel”. Another name for the album could also be “Reclaiming The Throne”. For those of you looking to get your mind blown, or your ears rung, look no further because you’ve come to the right place. “Reinventing The Steel” sets the tone for heavy metal music for generations to come. It is ten tracks of pure, in-your-face, aggressive metal pleasure that will leave you begging for mercy.

It is obvious that Pantera intend to defend their crown as the “Kings of Metal” with such cuts as “Hellbound”, “Goddamn Electric”, “Yesterday Don’t Mean Shit”, “You’ve Got To Belong To It”, and “Revolution Is My Name”. “Goddamn Electric” features a lending hand from Kerry King of Slayer guitar. The first release, “Revolution Is My Name” is punishing enough to ensure that most radio stations will be too afraid or spineless to give it any air time. And with tracks like “Death Rattle”, “We’ll Grind That Axe For A Longtime”, “It Makes Them Disappear”, and “I’ll Cast A Shadow” it is also obvious that the band intends to stick with their beliefs and never give-in to pleasing anyone but their fans. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Reviewed by: Jeremy Mitchell