Pantera

To mark the 20th anniversary of Pantera's classic, landmark Vulgar Display of Power, Warner has put together a reissue of that seminal release. The remastered version also includes recently released lost track "Piss" and a bonus DVD that contains an unreleased live performance filmed in Italy in September of 1992, as well as three official music videos. Other than sounding a little cleaner, with some enhanced production quality, the difference between the original and remastered tracks is negligible. But when listening to Vulgar Display of Power front to back it's clear why the record was the quintessential aggressive metal release of the '90s. Phil Anselmo's powerful vocals dominate and are the perfect counterpart to the late Dimebag Darrell's catchy, heavy riffs and wah pedal-/whammy bar-embellished shredding. "Mouth For War," "Walk" and "Fucking Hostile" may be nostalgic, but they remain seething and anthemic nevertheless, while "Hollow" holds new meaning since Dimebag's tragic murder. However, "Piss" sounds oddly out of place on this reissue, as the track simply doesn't match the rest of the songs' intensity. The DVD is what makes this release worthwhile, showcasing the band's dynamic live performance of five tracks, including an exceptional rendition of "Cowboys From Hell."