Tuesday is Late Monday Music Day -- Metal Horns Edition

[xraytheenforcer]

So, back a few weeks ago I agreed to make bassmike a metal mix CD. But upon reflection, I realized that while Norwegian symphonic black metal has its place, a true smorgasbord of rumbling guitar power would include a more temporally (at least the 1980s) and spatially (neglect not Texas and Brazil!) diverse music selection.

Which is just a really long-ass way of saying: PANTERA KICKS ASS.

Vulgar Display of Power was their break-through album commercially (their stylistic breakthrough happened an album prior, Cowboys From Hell), and holy crap, the music is as teeth-kickingly powerful today as it was when I first heard it 15+ years ago. Brain and I used to menace the Germans when "Walk" would come at at the Lindenbaum (Mainz's heavy metal dance club). But the all-time fun track is "Fucking Hostile" -- it basically encapsulates just about everything great about Pantera's approach to metal. Fast, groove-heavy, totally un-wanky.

The whiff of racism has always dogged Pantera (some of it rightfully earned) -- and I urge anyone who wants the album to get it at a second-hand store or, you know, other ways, if you're loathe to chuck cash towards the remaining members of the band. To my mind, the high points of Vulgar Display of Power are some of the high points in the entire metal genre, and are worth at least an ear-searing listen, or three. At top volume.

And now Mike knows at least one band that will end up on the mix. :)