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""Vulgar Display Of Power" is Pantera's masterpiece and even Thrash in general. A brutal, aggressive, original and uncompromising album."
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5/5
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Is it still necessary to present this album? A true institution of metal, "Vulgar Display Of Power" can claim to be one of the most influential records of Thrash Metal. After the success of "Cowboys From Hell", Pantera goes back to work, determined to push its limits at a time when the genre is beginning to run out of steam. Always supervised by Terry Date, he enters the studio with confidence and determination. The result is now part of history.
From the very first tracks, Pantera presents its new roadmap: slowing down the tempo, injecting groove and hardening the tone. Anselmo has put away his falsetto, Darrell is giving himself over to his instrument and the Rex/Vinnie duo is building the solid framework on which the entire album will rest. Pantera is a new band, and "Cemetary Gates" is far away. Hard, incisive, brutal, syncopated, it is a new school of metal that opens its doors. Anselmo is on the verge of a growl, spouting out snarling lyrics.
The album starts with an energetic and powerful 'Mouth For War' which ends with a terrible acceleration followed by 'A New Level' which bears its title well. 'Walk', which will be the second single from the album is a myth in itself. The riff is unmistakable, Anselmo's phrasing is perfect, the solo brief but rock'n'roll, and the hallucinatory finale is downright hypnotic. The album could have stopped there and brought glory to its authors, but it was only an appetizer.
Because 'Fucking Hostile' is there to remind us that Thrash was not just a fashion. Once again, the riff is monstrous and Anselmo harangues the listener. This track alone will earn the band their first "Parental Advisory" label. 'This Love' starts off surprisingly quiet, and you'd think that after these four unusually violent tracks, the band would finally slow down. Anselmo finally sings and Darrell plays with feeling, we believe it... until the chorus. The fantasy of the power ballad fades little by little, and ends up disappearing (almost) completely after the second chorus, which launches a thunderous riff, then the song sinks into the most complete darkness. Again, Pantera hypnotizes with its heaviness, never heard before at the time. The solo is, like its author, become cult.
And it is not finished. 'Rise', which starts with two titanic riffs, presents a rhythmic work simply amazing, proposing breaks and other accelerations with a disconcerting ease. 'No Good (Attack The Radicals)', which will earn Anselmo his neck tattoo, is a new demonstration. Original, surprising, groovy, endowed with an unstoppable chorus, Anselmo alternates in it rapped verses and angry passages of which he has the secret. The two following tracks, 'Live In A Hole' and 'Regular People' follow the same way with a demonic groove, effects and sounds coming from elsewhere and a heaviness which forces the respect. "Vulgar Display Of Power" ends on a power ballad in the vein of "Cemetary Gates" but unlike this one, the track stops abruptly on a guitar scream to start over again.
Far from the fashions and the influence of the media, Pantera delivers here a masterpiece, an accomplished and excessive album. For the anecdote, you should know that the famous image of the cover is real: a brave volunteer was paid 300$ by the persons in charge for the label to take punches... At ten dollars a punch, it took 30 to make the picture perfect! And that's about what the stunned listener has the impression of having taken after the listening of such an album. Exhausting, but cult. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Mouth For War – 03:56
02. A New Level – 03:57
03. Walk – 05:15
04. Fucking Hostile – 02:49
05. This Love – 06:32
06. Rise – 04:36
07. No Good (Attack The Radical) – 04:50
08. Live In A Hole – 04:59
09. Regular People (Conceit) – 05:27
10. By Demons Be Driven – 04:39
11. Hollow – 05:45
LINEUP:
Dimebag Darrell: Guitares
Phil Anselmo: Chant
Rex Brown: Basse
Vinnie Paul: Batterie
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READERS
4.4/5 (5 view(s))
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STAFF:
4/5 (6 view(s))
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