Need We Say More?

After over ten years, five studio albums (including their latest, Reinventing The Steel), three great home videos and hundreds (thousands?) of live shows, Pantera are the undisputed metal gods. As rock has changed and went off in all directions, Pantera have stayed the course, undeterred in their desire to rock relentlessly. Pantera's own bassist, Rex sums it up rather succinctly; "People say metal's dead, but we keep selling records and tickets, so those people are full of shit, man."

It's hard to argue with the facts. The trends have come and gone, the names in the press have changed, but Pantera is still kicking ass and not taking names.

With Reinventing The Steel, Pantera isn't looking to change things in anyone's eyes but their own. They aren't looking to have the critics love them or see their names on the charts, or suddenly get the radio support they've never had. It's about Pantera's own commitment to metal. Their last four albums have all gone platinum and their three videos have gone gold all based on their own merits. The video stations don't play them, so it's through the connection they have with their fans that has brought Pantera to the top of metal's mountain.

It only takes seeing Pantera live once to know it's all real. The are absolutely amazing on stage. With the pyrotechnics added in, it's an incredible show. When we caught them at Ozzfest, the metal masters suddenly brought a crowd that had braved a day of 100+-degree heat back to life. Thoughts of heat stroke were forgotten and metal was all they needed. The fans got their moneys worth right then.

Just prior to Pantera hitting the road with Ozzy, we had the chance to talk to a majorly hung-over Rex. Wanna see pictures and read the interview? Then move on!