Few bands in metal get their groove on quite like Pantera.
Founded in the Eighties by the late Abbott brothers — guitarist Dimebag Darrell and drummer Vinnie Paul — the group took some time before they perfected their “power-groove” attack. But from 1990’s Cowboys From Hell and onwards, the band’s classic lineup cratered banger after banger into our collective consciousness.
Best of all, the songs hit even harder in a concert setting — something proved time and time again through the band’s Nineties heyday, and more recently via the lineup vocalist Philip Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown currently helm with guitar great Zakk Wylde and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante.
But what’s the Pantera song that dominates the most in-concert? The real 101-proof heater that throws arenas into a frenzy. The track that brings a flood of fans to the pit? We asked Revolver readers this very question, and they ranked their picks accordingly.
“Becoming”
Driven by its standout screechiness, “Becoming” is a big-time fan favorite full of groove, growls and a signature Dime lick that sounds like a cat repeatedly shocking itself on a live wire.
A long time ago, Dimebag yielded that animalistic tone using his then-new DigiTech whammy pedal — which also landed “Becoming” its terrifyingly textural art-metal solo. These days, Zakk Wylde has his techs stompin’ on the pedal during Pantera sets — one time he even had Anthrax’s Scott Ian stepping in to perform those duties behind the scenes.
“I’m Broken”
Though informed by Anselmo’s chronic back pain and how he’d often been playing shows in agony, Far Beyond Driven’s first single is ultimately an anthem about living life the way you want to and persevering through all the bullshit the world hucks your way. While not explicitly feel-good on Anselmo’s part, the fighting spirit of the song still resonates with metal fans around the world.
Between its elastic, all-timer riff, steel-driving 7/4 lurch and epically fingered-out solo, it’s also a crown jewel in any Pantera live set.
“A New Level”
It goes without saying that Pantera took themselves to a whole new level with 1992’s Vulgar Display of Power, and the classic album’s second track is peak, punishing perfection.
Confidently crushing in all the right ways, “A New Level” is stacked with memorable moments — from it’s propulsively creepy-crawled intro to the precision-judded verses to Anselmo’s teeth-bearing, take-no-prisoners mic work.
When Pantera break this out onstage, you know the mosh pit is getting turned up a notch.
“Suicide Note, Pt. 2”
While fans certainly praise Pantera for their unshakeable grooves, it’s just as goddamn electric when the band level up the intensity with a furious, full-on thrash beat.
“Suicide Note, Pt. 2” is a masterclass in speed-barrier-breaking mania — Vinnie Paul pummels his snare at a ballistic clip, Dime rips into a snarling and noise-spiked guitar rhythm, and Anselmo barks like a rabies-mad bulldog about a tortured existence.
It’s Pantera at their most dangerously unhinged, and it thrills the metal masses every time.
“Domination”
When it comes to live fan favorites, no other Pantera song gets Revolver readers going in-concert like “Domination.” It’s a song that clearly consumes the faithful, considering the voter turnout for the Cowboys-eras cut absolutely eclipsed every other tune.
Especially when witnessed in-person, where it’s often been stitched together with “Hollow,” “Domination” is a dynamic wrecking ball reflecting mean-spirited grooves, double-time damage, and a god-tier mosh finale. While heavy as hell, there’s a good chunk of melody, too — Anselmo, for instance, brings out A-game blues-rasps and metal yells throughout.
Simply put, the writing was on our various socials walls the second we opened the polls: “Domination” rules.