Words and Pictures: Dave Martin / (C) Faversham Photography
It has been 25 years since Pantera last graced England’s capital. Much has changed since the band played at the Brixton academy as part of their Reinventing the Steel tour. Gone are the Abbott brothers who helped pioneer the band’s distinctive sound and in their place the band is joined by legendary guitarist Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society and Charlie Benante of Anthrax.
The groove metal band from Texas were accompanied by Australian grindcore specialists King Parrot and fellow Texans Power Trip.
First to the stage were King Parrot. This was my first experience of the band and my first impression was the similarity of aesthetic between lead singer Matt Young and the onlooking Phil Anselmo. The band aimed to whip up the crowd from the off, encouraging a mosh pit from the very first song. When addressing the crowd Young commented that this performance was a “Dream come true to play with Pantera and to play Wembley” stating that they were the first (and probably the last) Australian grindcore band to play the venue. The individual members gave an expressive performance often posing for the media in front of the stage. The band were well received by the fans that arrived in the venue early.
King Parrot Setlist:
Get What Ya Given
Butcher
Disgrace Yourself
Dead End
Bozo
Target Pig Elite
Gutter
Ten Pounds
Hell Comes Your Way
Shit on the Liver
Fuck you and the Horse you Rode in On
Second to perform were Dallas-based thrash metallers Power Trip. The group, now fronted by Seth Gilmore who replaced original singer Riley Gale, took to the stage to a warm reception. During the bands opening number the crowd could be seen headbanging and raising their fists in appreciation to what they were seeing. The energy built through the set as did the size of the pit forming at the front centre near the barrier. At one point the band stopped playing as they had noticed someone down in the pit and encouraged the crowd the make way for medical support. Upon resuming the band thanked those assembled telling them “We need to look out for each other”. As the set drew to a close Gilmore says “As we only have one more song, I need to see some shit.” This upped the ante with more crowd surfers making their way to the barrier and more moshing behind. The performance finishes with the now obligatory photo with the audience in the background.
Power Trip Setlist:
Soul Sacrifice
Executioner’s tax (Swing of the Axe)
Firing Squad
Hornet’s Nest
Nightmare Logic
Drown/Crucifixion
Waiting Around to Die
Manifest Decimation
As the previous group left the stage a banner was erected at the front of the stage, something that seems commonplace at this venue. The anticipation in the building was palpable for those fans who had waited for up to 25 years to see the band’s anthemic songs performed live. Whilst waiting for the banner to unfurl a silhouette of Dimebag and Vinnie Paul could be seen on the screen in the first of many tributes to the late Abbott brothers. As the banner dropped, the group launched into “A New Level” with the crowd singing in full voice from the first moment. This set the scene for the rest of the evening. In another nod to Dimebag, Wylde played a guitar with the same graphics as the dimebolt, Abbott’s signature model. The movement in the audience was energetic with abundant crowd surfing and moshing. Before fourth track “Becoming” Anselmo thanked the crowd for passing down the songs to the next generation. During the song the band stop playing to allow the crowd to sing the chorus which they did with gusto to which the Pantera frontman simply replied “Thank You”. As the music started for “This Love” those gathered continued the vocal barrage singing the full intro. In another touching tribute the screens displayed a video montage of old footage of the Abbotts before Wylde played the distinctive intro riff to “Floods”.
Before the start of fan favourite “Walk” the stage crew added two extra mics teasing something special and it didn’t disappoint. Pantera were joined on stage by Power Trip, King Parrot and Aquaman star Jason Momoa. The additional stars sang along with the band’s most streamed song.
The performance made effective use of visuals including pyrotechnics most notably in “Cowboys From Hell” the final song before the encore. These combined with the strong graphics on the screens only enhanced the overall event. The crowd participation built throughout climaxing during last track “Fucking Hostile” where the mosh pit was enormous and volume of the singing surged. The wait for this night was well worth it and I only hope this is not the last we see of this incarnation of the band.
This was the last performance of the UK leg of the tour. Pantera now return to the US to support metal giants Metallica starting in Syracuse.
Pantera Setlist:
A New Level
Mouth for War
Strength Beyond Strength
Becoming
I’m Broken
Suicide Note Pt 2
5 Minutes Alone
This Love
Floods
Walk
Domination/Hollow
Cowboys From Hell
Revolution Is My Name
Fucking Hostile
About Author
