Pantera Songs Ranked
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. The group was formed in 1981 by the Abbott brothers—drummer Vinnie Paul and guitarist Dimebag Darrell—along with lead vocalist Terry Glaze. Bassist Rex Brown joined the band the following year, replacing Tommy D. Bradford, who was the unofficial original. Having started as a glam metal band, Pantera released four albums independently during the 1980s. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera replaced Glaze with Phil Anselmo in late 1986 and released Power Metal in 1988. In 1989, the band secured a record deal with the major label Atco. With its fifth album, 1990’s Cowboys from Hell, Pantera popularized the groove metal genre, while its 1992 follow-up Vulgar Display of Power exhibited an even heavier sound. Far Beyond Driven (1994) debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. In addition to their contribution to the groove metal genre, Pantera is credited for being part of the second wave of thrash metal scene from the late 1980s to early-to-mid 1990s.. Here are all of Pantera’s songs ranked.
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20. Psycho Holiday (Cowboys from Hell, 1990)
“Awesome opening and continuing riff. The vocals work really well with the groove and flow. An easily overlooked song. This song is so amazing and crazy! Only maniacs can write things like this.”
19. The Sleep (Cowboys from Hell, 1990)
“This song really shows off Phil’s powerful and dynamic vocals. The rest of the guys obviously the best at what they did and still do to true metal heads today. Amazing song”
18. Primal Concrete Sledge (Cowboys from Hell, 1990)
“This song singlehandedly turned me from Pantera hater to Pantera fanboy. That drumming groove is ingenious, and Dime’s riffing (especially in the breakdown) is brilliant!”
17. Becoming (Far Beyond Driven, 1994)
“Die hard pantera fans will know that the band had 5 songs ( revolution is my name and damn electric not counted because they were touring that brilliant record anyway) that never ever left the set list, this is one. The other 4 being cowboys, walk, f***** hostile, this love. Crowds went craziest during becoming.”
See more: Pantera Albums Ranked
16. Suicide Note Pt. II (The Great Southern Trendkill, 1996)
“Such a brutal song. Live and learn, rape and turn… The guitar, these pitches, the vocals an anthem to break your neck. Maybe one of the greatest songs in history it s deserve at least top 3”
15. Slaughtered (Far Beyond Driven, 1994)
“I listened through all of Pantera’s albums in 1 very long sitting. There was one song that stood above the rest. It was “Slaughtered.” The opening riff/verse is like a jackhammer, the chorus riff is like a chainsaw, and the interlude is like being surrounded and shot at by a firing squad armed with a vast assortment of different guns. There is no solo and for this song, and this song alone that’s a good thing. This is basically Texas Chainsaw Massacre the song.”
14. Drag the Waters (The Great Southern Trendkill, 1996)
“Killer song through and through! Best off of the southern trendkill album classic Pantera! That drumming has got to get anyone headbanging in their living room!”
13. A New Level (Vulgar Display of Power, 1992)
“This is a tough list to do I love em all. But I remember when this album came out laugh out loud wish they were still tearing it up. I seen far beyond driven at the panel room in Chicago when I was younger, them and slayer have the greatest moshes. Pantera is the greatest ever.”
12. Revolution is My Name (Reinventing the Steel, 2000)
“Greatest song on their greatest album. I own all 9 albums plus the live album. Awesome intro tons of killer riffs 2 great solos and some of Phil s best vocals of his career. Love the switch from yelling to screaming to singing. Brilliant song. Great live too”
11. Hollow (Vulgar Display of Power, 1992)
“One of their heaviest songs and one of their most emotional songs at the same time, the intro solos are so good and the clean riff between the intro and the heavy part is so dark, and the heavy part is absolutely insane, especially at 5:19, the lyrics are sad and you can hear Phil’s anger through them, the drumming is on point, the riffs and the solos are out of this world and the bass contemplates everything perfectly.”
10. This Love (Vulgar Display of Power, 1992)
“My favorite other than cemetery gates. These people have amazing taste in bands. I love the whole song from start to finish, The Frontman Phil is something to be respected. I absolutely love it when a song is taking it slow and with such feeling, and then BAM! they hit you with some sick heavy riff!”
9. F****** Hostile (Vulgar Display of Power, 1992)
“his song has everything Pantera is good at. Killer grooves, thrashy tone, insane vocals, and an awesome instrumental. To me, this is a defining Pantera song”
8. Domination (Cowboys from Hell, 1990)
“This is the best song that Pantera has ever made. This song is fast, has great vocals from Phil Anselmo, and best of all has an amazing guitar solo from Dimebag Darrell. The fact is that Cemetery Gates is should not even be close to number one but there it is. I’d have to say that Cowboys From Hell and Walk are in the right place on the list”
7. I’m Broken (Far Beyond Driven, 1994)
“If you are a Pantera fan and you haven’t heard this song yet, YOU SHOULD DO SO RIGHT NOW. That being said, I also want to say R.I. P Dimebag. I know almost every metalhead says that, but it really hurts that he’s not on this planet anymore.”
See more: Sepultura Albums Ranked
6. Mouth for War (Vulgar Display of Power, 1992)
“This song pumps me up every time I listen to it. Brutal song, easily one of Pantera’s best works. Dimebag’s solo is amazing. Brutal metal, with a positive message in the lyrics. Love rocking’ out to this one!”
5. 5 Minutes Alone (Far Beyond Driven, 1994)
“Don’t bother searching for a heavier, grimier song than this. Easily the best riff, and one of the best choruses you will ever hear from Pantera. Needs to be higher. Definitely deserves to.”
4. Floods (The Great Southern Trendkill, 1996)
“Floods is the best song by Pantera in my opinion. It has a chilling vibe, but also captures you and takes you for a ride. It hits you with a chilling intro, then tells you a chilling story through and through. Afterwards, you get hit with the first part of a very very powerful breakdown”
3. Walk (Vulgar Display of Power, 1992)
“The distorted riff is so simple but yet so catchy at the same time. The lyrics are also easy to relate to with an important message to take from it. Pantera’s best work for me.”
2. Cowboys from Hell (Cowboys from Hell, 1990)
“I love all pantera they are awesome but I think that since this is the song that made them break into the mainstream it should be number 1. Also this song is just kick ass second best guitar solo by Dimebag the first being walk, but everything else such as the riff and the vocals are so much better.”
1. Cemetery Gates (Cowboys from Hell, 1990)
“Amazing riffs, and a one-take improv solo that kills… This is a must-have for any metalhead, along with pretty much everything else Pantera did. Rest in peace, Dimebag… We miss you. Anselmo’s mesmerizing vocals define the song, they’re just that great. Dimebag’s guitar produces possibly one of the greatest guitar solos ever.”