Pantera Album: “Reinventing the Steel”

If you're one of those reviewers that don't like this album for some reason, I urge you to go back and listen to it a few times. It is really quite an amazing CD. I liked it a lot the first time I heard it, and now, after repeated listenings, I love it. Pantera does not falter here at all. In fact, they sound better than ever.

For starters, "Steel" contains two of Pantera's best songs ever: "We'll grind that axe for a long time" and "I'll cast a shadow." I think these songs hold their own with classics such as "5 minutes alone" and "Drag the waters." But that's just the beginning. Every song here rocks. There is not one clinker. "Uplift" kicks my a## every time. "Death rattle" actually scares me, it's so brutal. "You've got to belong to it" is ferocious. I could say the same for every track here, but you get the point. This album doesn't compromise, doesn't cop out, doesn't go soft. It'll smash your face in.

Leave it to Pantera, the hardest band on the planet, to give hard rock fans something to cheer about for once.

After a four year wait, Pantera returns with yet another classic metal album. This album returns to the cleaner guitar/bass sounds remniscent of "FBD" and "Vulgar", yet with more "Cowboy's"-esque Dimebag riffs. Phil's voice is still Phil's voice, powerful and in your face! The best songs on this CD are: the heavy plodding "------- Electric", "You've Got to Belong to It" which sounds as if it could have almost been on the "Cowboys" album, "Revolution is My Name" where Phil actually SINGS pretty well, "Uplift" which features excellent bass play by Rex, and the album's closer "I'll Cast a Shadow". Any long-time PanterA fan will be more than satisfied with this album. Anyone that's just getting into the metal scene, here are a few bands that are definitely worth giving a listen to: Drain STH, Sevendust, Puya, Machine Head, Skinlab, and Candiria. Enjoy.

I read the negative reviews on this CD, so I decided to go back and listen to it. It doesn't bother me that there aren't catchy hooks on this work. That's not what Pantera was about anyway. Listen to it closely. There's some outstanding guitar and bass playing on this album. It also shows some great rhythm playing by Dime. It's not really like the 1st 3 albums, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I like when a band evolves the right way. I'd also like to strongly agree with another reviewer here who said something to the effect of, yeah, Dime's gone, but put on one of Pantera's CD's and it brings him back to life. This album is definitly for hardcore Pantera fans. You may not like it if you're one of those stuck on the first 3 albums and cannot get past them. You may want to re-examine your loyalties.

Whoever says that Pantera sold out w/ this album obviously doesn't listen to Pantera on a regular basis as I do. The main objective of Pantera's music is to enfuriate it's listeners. If the music makes you want to jump in the pit and beat the crap out of someone..then it has served it's purpose. Now, while this album doesn't do for me what Trendkill does, it still makes my blood run hot. For me, the best part is the pinch harmonics riff near the end of Revolution is My Name. When I hear that, I feel like smashing everyones face around me. But I don't, because if I did that, then they would blame Pantera for all violence in the world[...].

Reinventing the steel...well what can one say other than "Welcome back guys!". The four year waiting period was well worth it. By far the best metal album released in 2000. Reinventing the steel serves as a wake-up call to all these new wannebe metal bands of the new millennium, showing them how it should be done. Pantera's sound is forever. I can't pick a favorite song, because they are all just perfection itself. If you are a serious metal head and enjoy an angry rock solid sound, this one's for you. Panterain warriors Phillip, Diamond, Vinnie and Rex...thank you.