Legendary heavy metal giants Pantera were certainly “Louder Than Life” in Louisville on Saturday, September 23, 2023.
The new iteration of the band were the second-to-last headlining act on Day #3 of the four-day rock festival.
The Texas juggernauts left no one guessing what was motivating them on the Space Zebra Stage.
“Every song we rip, everything goes out to Dimebag and Vince,” frontman Phil Anselmo told the Kentucky crowd.
The late Abbott brothers were clear inspiration for Pantera at Louder Than Life, with a video tribute, along with a Dimebag graphic and silhouettes of the brothers appearing on the video screen, as the band took the stage.
The tributes could be seen elsewhere at the Highland Festival Grounds all weekend long as well, as a Dimebag booth was set up in the vendor area.
Fans could purchase Dimebag themed apparel, Pantera merchandise and even browse Dimebag memorabilia, including: guitars, wristbands and even an old toothbrush.
Pantera had announced last summer they would be reforming for the first time since 2001 and going on tour, with original members Anselmo and bass guitar player Rex Brown.
It was later confirmed that Ozzy Osbourse guitarist and Black Label Society frontman Zakk Wylde would be taking his pal, Dimebag Daryl’s, spot on lead guitar, while Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante would be manning the drum kit, in place of Vince.
When the tour got underway, the tribute was clearly a focal point: “For the fans… for the brothers… for legacy” the tagline for the reunion tour stated.
Throughout the band’s 11-song set in Louisville, any semblance of doubt in the mind’s of fans about the authenticity of Pantera’s new era, were evaporated by the raging pyrotechnics on stage and crushed by the pounding Benante drums, the punishing Brown basslines, the roaring Anselmo vocals and the jaw-dropping talent of Wylde – who was the perfect choice to fill Dimebag’s shoes.
The new quartet were tight, powerful, in sync and thoroughly did justice to the catalog and legacy of Pantera, on the steamy Kentucky evening.
“It means so much, man, it means so much,” Anselmo told the crowd.
“This next song, this is a gamebreak song for a lot of people. This is a song that, for a lot of you, got you into Pantera. I keep thinking about all you youngsters out there growing up… overhearing these motherfuckin’ songs. It trips me out, it trips me out to the fuckin’ core,” he added, before the band tore into ‘Walk’.
A group of singers joined the band on stage for the 1992 classic, singing the familiar ‘re-spect’ lines in the tune.
Before leaving the stage, and before they played their closing number 1990’s ‘Cowboys From Hell’, Anselmo hinted at future shows coming through Kentucky.
“Give yourself a round of applause, man,” the singer said.
“It’s awesome. I want to send love out to all the bands here, all the crews here, the festival itself, everybody, fuckin’ love you all. I got one last thing, if and when, Pantera comes back through this motherfuckin’ place, who the fuck is going to come see Pantera jam again? Spread the word.”
Here is the full Pantera setlist from Louder Than Life.
Regular People (Conceit) (Video tribute to Dimebag and Vinnie Paul Abbott)
1. A New Level
2. Mouth for War
3. Strength Beyond Strength
4. Becoming
5. I’m Broken
6. Suicide Note Pt. II
7. This Love
Cemetary Gates (Intro only, with video tribute to Dimebag and Vinnie Paul Abbott)
8. Fucking Hostile
9. Walk
10. Domination / Hollow
11.Cowboys From Hell
Here are some photos of their performance by Steve Thrasher:
Pantera is set to open for Metallica at a pair of shows this year, including at Ford Field in Detroit on November 10, 2023. They have five other dates scheduled for next year, also opening for Metallica.
For more details, follow the band on their official website https://pantera.com/.