Growling vocals, crowd surfing and mosh pits. This gig was worth the wait – The Irish Times

Pantera Returns to dublin After 30 years

The curtain dropped on the 3Arena in Dublin, and the standing section erupted. Texan metal monsters Pantera were on stage, nearly 33 years after their last performance at the venue.

A Long-Awaited Return

A barefoot Phil Anselmo, arms outstretched, beckoned the already whipped-up crowd to go wild. They had waited a long time for this, having been heated up by Australian grindcore outfit King Parrot and impressive Dallas thrashers Power Trip.

Anselmo told the crowd that Dublin was the first city to sell out tickets for this part-reunion, part-tribute tour for the groove metal pioneers. It’s no wonder given they hadn’t played here since SFX in 1993.

The band’s planned return in 2001 was derailed by international travel restrictions following 9/11. They have been absent from Dublin ever as, a period marked by critically important changes.

A Troubled Legacy

Pantera broke up shortly after that planned 2001 gig, in 2003, following years of strained relationships. A year later, founding member and guitarist Dimebag Darrell was tragically shot dead by a fan on stage with his post-Pantera band, Damageplan. His brother, Pantera’s drummer Vinnie Paul, died of heart disease in 2018.

Anselmo himself had fallen out with both brothers over the years and endured struggles with substance abuse, nearly dying from a heroin overdose in 1996.

Reunited, But Not Without Controversy

In 2022, Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown reformed the band, with Black Label Society’s Zakk Wylde, also known for being Ozzy Osborne’s lead guitarist, and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante filling in for the late Abbott brothers.

“I know for a damn fact vince and Dime would want us to do this, hands down,” Anselmo said on a podcast a few years ago. “they would want the Pantera brand or the legacy to go on. And I don’t know what you believe in, but sometimes, you know, you would like to think that them old fellas are looking down on us, giving us the thumbs up.”

However, the reunion hasn’t been without controversy.A number of planned concerts in Germany were cancelled in 2021 after a fan backlash over a 2016 incident in which a drunken Anselmo made a Nazi salute and yelled “white power” at a concert. He later apologised, saying “anyone who knows my true nature knows that I don’t believe in any of that”. The band played three gigs in Germany earlier this month.

A Roaring return

Regardless of the external controversies, Anselmo remains a powerful frontman. He commands the stage with his signature growling vocals, embodied by his “stank face” and distinctive “Dis grace yourself” T-shirt, even if some of the high notes of his younger years seem a challenge at 56.

“Y’all are old, man…Nah, it’s the other way around. But with that we got this whole new audience … Most of you guys have been listening to us your entire f*king lives,” he declared to the crowd, acknowledging the mix of veteran metalheads and a new generation of fans.

Seminal early 1990s albums A Vulgar Display of Power and Far Beyond Driven dominated the setlist, with Becoming kicking off proceedings. Anselmo conducted the Olés before launching into Five Minutes Alone, sparking a flurry of mosh pits.

The melancholic groove of Floods was accompanied by a video montage tribute to Darrell and Paul before its brutal breakdowns and emotional solo outro. anselmo urged the crowd to “crack their knuckles and sing with their fists” as they went into classics like Walk, Domination, and Cowboys from Hell

An Encore Worthy of the Legends

An encore performance of Yesterday Don’t Mean Shit* concluded the show, bringing a standing ovation. Though some grumbled about Zakk Wylde’s flourishes on guitar and missed the sound of the Abbott brothers,the raucous crowd left happy.

Thirty-two years. It was worth the wait.

What is Phil Anselmo’s stance on the controversies surrounding Pantera in the past and how does he address them in the context of the reunion tour?

An Interview with Phil Anselmo: Pantera’s Return to Dublin After 30 Years

Welcome Back to Dublin, Phil

Its been 33 years as Pantera last graced the stage in Dublin. How does it feel to finally be back?

Phil Anselmo: “Man, it’s astounding. The energy here is electric, just like I remember it. Dublin’s always been a special place for us, and we’re thrilled to be back after all these years.”

A Long-Awaited Reunion

This reunion tour has been a long time coming.What made you decide to bring Pantera back now?

Anselmo: “Well, it’s something the fans have been asking for, for a long time. And I think it’s vital to honor the legacy of Pantera, to keep the music alive. Plus, I’ve got a new generation of fans out there who’ve never seen us live. I wanted to give them that experience.”

Dealing with the Past

The band’s history is marked by tragedy and controversy. How do you approach that in this reunion?

Anselmo: “It’s tough, you know? We’ve lost Dime and Vinnie, and that’s a heavy weight to carry.But we’re here to celebrate their lives and their music. As for the controversies, I’ve apologized for my past mistakes, and I’m just trying to move forward and make the best music I can.”

Controversy in Germany

Some of your shows in Germany were cancelled due to fan backlash. How do you respond to that?

Anselmo: “I understand where they’re coming from,but I’ve apologized for my actions. I’m not the same person I was back then. I think the fans who came to our recent shows in Germany could see that. We had a great time, and I’m grateful for their support.”

looking Ahead

What’s next for Pantera? Any plans to record new music or tour more extensively?

Anselmo: “We’re taking it one step at a time. We’re enjoying being back on stage, playing these classic songs. As for new music, I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m always writing, always creating. We’ll see what happens.”

Final Thoughts

What message do you have for the fans who’ve been waiting so long for this moment?

Anselmo: “I just want to say thank you. Thank you for waiting, thank you for supporting us, and thank you for being a part of this Pantera family. We couldn’t do this without you.”