"Vulgar Display of Power" By: Pantera (Album Review)

2/26/2024

First and Foremost, Happy 32nd birthday to the album that literally changed my life two years ago!!! This album has definitely had lots of influence on my music taste, and the type of music I seem to lean towards. I know this might sound really silly but honestly every song and every lyric on this album really makes me think about my life and how I would like to live it. All emotional aspects aside, the music is just so nice to listen to no matter the occasion

From beautiful power ballads like “This Love” and “Hollow” to absolutely shredful (I made that up) dime solos in “Regular People (Conceit)” and their most popular track off the album “Walk”, let’s be real, what’s not to like about the album. Vulgar Display of Power being one of Pantera's most influential and outstanding albums in their discography is definitely well deserved.

Track list 

1.) Mouth For War 3:56

2.) A New Level 2:57

3.) Walk 5:15

4.) Fucking Hostile 2:49

5.) This Love 6:32

6.) Rise 4:36

7.) No Good (Attack The Radical) 4:50

8.) Live In A Hole 4:59

9.) Regular People (Conceit) 5:27

10.) By Demons Be Driven 4:39

11.) Hollow 5:45

Fun Fact: the title of Pantera's 1992 album "Vulgar Display of Power" was inspired by a line in "The Exorcist" when Father Karras asks Regan why she can't make the straps restraining her disappear if she's supposedly the devil. She then replies,

"That's much too vulgar a display of power, Karras."

Alex Karras was Webster's dad in the hit TV show Webster which Pantera was a huge fan of. Karras was a professional football player for the Detroit Lions and was known for his vulgar display of power. Pantera loved the symmetry and that's why they loved the TV show Webster.

As an ex-band kid and a musician who’s an absolute sucker for power ballads and power metal, you better believe that my top tracks off of this album are “This Love” and “Hollow”. I relate to “This Love” because it made me realize that there are so many different dynamics of love and it is completely valid to be mad at it when it doesn’t turn out the way you thought it would. “Hollow” on the other hand might not resonate with others but after I went through a similar situation in my life a couple of months ago, I knew it was always going to be a favorite.

Musicianship, Emotion, Lyricism, Individuality, Brutality, and Dedication. This was a recipe for greatness which Pantera fell nothing short of with the success of their sixth studio album “Vulgar Display of Power”. It’s always amazing to know that there are always different directions that a specific band can take throughout their career growth; here is where the band's raw emotions reveal a new sense of vulnerability contrasting with their moody groove metal sound in previous work. Some may say that different isn’t always good, then bands like Pantera that go above and beyond to kill those laws of nature.

Rating Overview: 10/10

For outstanding musicianship, emotion, delivery, lyricism, and some damn good power ballads

Happy F*****g Birthday Vulgar Display of Power!