Pantera - Power Metal
1988 Metal Magic

Track Listing:
1.  Rock The World
2.  Power Metal
3.  We'll Meet Again
4.  Over And Out
5.  Proud To Be Loud
6.  Down Below
7.  Death Trap
8.  Hard Ride
9.  Burnnn!
10. P*S*T*88

Line-Up:
Vocals:  Phillip Anselmo
Guitar:  Diamond Darrell
Bass:  Rex
Drums:  Vincent Paul

Website:  www.officialpantera.com

Horatio's Rating:  A
Overall Rating:  A

Also be sure to read:
Pantera - Far Beyond Driven by Horatio
Pantera - Metal Magic by Horatio
Pantera - Projects In The Jungle by Horatio

Horatio's Review:
Due to internal strife vocalist Terrence Glaze (or Lee, whatever his name was) was removed from the band following three albums, and replaced by the future ham of Phil Anselmo.  Pantera's previous three albums had all been consummate affairs and with Anselmo they shifted gears and adopted a heavier sound, ditching the classy AOR they had toyed with in the 1983-85 years.  But 'Power Metal' was still light years from the likes of 'Use My Third Arm' or even 'The Art Of Shredding'.  Instead it was the heaviest traditional metal imaginable, without any of the thrash bludgeon that appeared two years later.  Listening to this closely it absolutely makes a mockery of anything Maiden, Priest, Megadeth, Anthrax and Saxon were up to in '88.  I can't say AC/DC as they were laying forth utter classics like 'Go Zone' and 'Mean Streak'.

Anselmo was an inspired choice as singer, a tad more polished than Glaze/Lee, but that's not to disrespect the latter, a piece of cornball class all the way.  Title's like 'Power Metal', 'Burnnn!', 'Proud To Be Loud' and 'Rock the World' tell the story here as to the state of Pantera musically in 1988, no frills metal, fast and bloody furious with Diamond going for the throat.  Darrell even provides lead vocals for 'Pussy Tight', his only such moment of glory.  Overall this is the sound of a band on the verge, and you can tell on certain occasions what they would become in a short space of time.  This approach still seems heavier to me than 'Far Beyond Driven', largely because it's real metal.  The energy levels are unsurpassed and there's even room for a bit of grindcore on 'Over And Out'.  Anyone who disrespects this as glam is either ignorant or missing the point.  The true sound of US metal? This is it.

Song summaries include...

1. Rock The World - Now for the lyrical feast!  'We raise our fists, in rebellion we stand, our hungry hearts set the snare!', screams Phil in defiance.  How he came six years later to writing about 'fuck you and your college dream' is anyone's guess.  Nonetheless, a sure fire winner, with huge triumphant chorus, because in the end rock is the winner!  A

2. Power Metal - What metal dreams are made of.  'U say U want some metal, I'll give it all I've got! Power metal! Rock forever!!!!!!'  All speed and bluster, riffs straight from the dungeon, with a blinding section two minutes in with more energy than the combined sum of Testament and Forbidden's output in nearly twenty years.  Don't forget Phil is 'the metal beast, the battle dog I deal!!'  A+

3. We'll Meet Again - Slower with more of the hard rock based sound of the earlier years.  Melodically faultless.  B+

4. Over And Out - Another scorcher, full on with a grindcore blast or two that realistically is heavier than any of the thrash from 1990 onwards.  The buildup to these sections is enough to make you sweat.  'Out of touch with ur life, kantusee the signs?', questions rebellious Phil with shades of his future songwriting direction.  A

5. Proud To Be Loud - Too bloody right!  'Listen up, I got a lot to say, I don't play by the book, one dose of volume, that's all it took!'  This was actually written by Marc Ferrari of Keel and it shows, with the obvious Keel-like chorus which comes straight from the 'Right To Rock' and 'Final Frontier' era.  Phil equals Ron Keel vocally to boot.  B+

6. Down Below - This originally appeared on 'Project's In The Jungle', but the band decided to record it again with Anselmo to demonstrate his vocal ability in relation to Glaze (Lee).  There isn't much of a difference except the production here is cleaner, but the ferocity remains, as does the lyric 'people runnin' in the street, lookin' for some meat to eat!'.  B+

7. Death Trap - The assault continues musically and lyrically, 'butchu know that I'm comin', violenz that blos you in 2 space, I kant Xplain the sheer thrill of it all, to watch the meek just fall!!'.  Vicious riffing makes the grade on this frontburner.  B

8. Hard Ride - Dramatic keyboards open the show, with Phil exhorting, 'U're in the danger zone, u kan't be left alone!' as Phil tells his bitch to get out of his life.  Again this falls into the category of the 'Metal Magic' years, heavy and melodic, equal parts metal, AOR and hard rock.  B+

9. Burnnn!!! - The title earns the classic status alone, especially the triple exclamation point.  'Mach 10 velocity! Your metal heart never bends!', Phil screams with conviction, 'Don't stop to wait for life, just BURNN!!!! it to the ground!'  The years go by, we're all getting older, but one thing still remains, the metal fire that still burns in our hearts.  Well, maybe up until 1990 anyway.  This is the kind of metal I believe in.  Unpretentious and from the pits of the soul.  A

10. P*S*T*88 - Diamond's lone vocal effort and what a compelling piece.  'Pussy tight, tonite!!'  Bold, raunchy and rock steady!  'Coors Light on ice, roll the dice, she's got the magic in her thighs, call it a date, I can't fuckin' wait!'  The band also assures us that 'Diamond Darrell and the boiz have created this flashback for all U girls and major party animals, listen at your own risk, and PARTY DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'  I hope the band was never ashamed of this.  A

Horatio's Rating:  A

Discography (last updated 6.29.06):
Metal Magic - 1983
Projects In The Jungle - 1984
I Am The Night - 1985
Power Metal - 1988
Cowboys From Hell - 1990
Vulgar Display Of Power - 1992
Biomechanical EP - 1993
Alive And Hostile EP - 1994
Driven Down Under Box - 1994
Far Beyond Driven - 1994
The Great Southern Trendkill - 1996
The Singles 1991 - 1996 Box - 1996
Official Live:  101 Proof - 1997
Unofficial Hits EP - 1998
Reinventing The Steel - 2000
Extreme Steel Plus EP - 2001
Reinventing Hell - 2003
The Best Of Pantera:  Far Beyond The Great Southern Cowboys Vulgar Hits - 2003