Unreleased Pantera track, "The Will to Survive," available on Facebook

I remember Vinnie Paul saying he had a whole slew of unreleased Pantera tracks along with another Damageplan album he compared to Vulgar Display of Power (but Vinnie is in the mediocre Hell Yeah nowadays, so don't know whether we can trust his musical opinion...). So it was inevitable these tracks would eventually be released.

Which brings us to today, when the group debuted "The Will to Survive," (a Cowboys From Hell era demo) on its official Facebook page (you do have to become a fan / hit the "I like" button to access the song).

"The Will to Survive" gives fans a look into the transition from 1988's Power Metal to the breakthrough 1990 album, Cowboys From Hell. It definitely feels more like Power Metal vocalwise, but musically, the group sounds like it is developing a sound of its own (although there is still plenty of Judas Priest and 80s metal influence).

Especially note the groovin' bass intro courtesy of Rex Brown and the familiar guitar riff that can also be found on "This Love".

My only complaint about issuing this song by itself, is that it means Vinnie will likely be staggering the release of any additional tracks as the Pantera albums are reissued (which I assume they all eventually will be).

I understand Vinnie wants to keep the legacy of Dimebagg alive, but I would be more willing to buy a box set with the final Damageplan album and a CD of all the unreleased demos, in addition to the unreleased Dimebagg DVD Vinnie still has lying around, rather than a reissue of an album all us loyal fans already own.

Putting all this aside though, it does feel good to hear Dimebagg shred once more.

UPDATE: Well I figured the label would take down that clip of "The Will to Survive", so I guess you will all just have to go the Facebook route to check it out. Old school Power Metal track is now below.

I like to believe that most Pantera fans aren't redneck racists.

Today on Facebook, the official Pantera group posted:

"Here is a bit of Pantera trivia for you. What was the original title of "The Great Southern Trendkill"?

The seemingly innocent question, led to a variety of colorful responses specifically from one individual who used a bunch of racist terms, talks of lynching, and more in an effort to be funny. As big of a Pantera fan as I am, I don't know the official original title of the album (although I think it is simply The Great Southern Trendkillers), but I doubt it involves malt liquor and the n-word.

Don't get me wrong, I think racial humor can serve a purpose as social commentary or even just funny incidents where stereotypes prove to be true. But guessing "Shooting Coons" or "Time for a Good Ol' Lynching" as the album title is not funny. Period.

C'mon America, it's time to set the racism of the past aside. And it's douchebags like this that give the genre a bad name. Anyone can enjoy metal.

Listen to Pantera - "The Great Southern Trendkill" below:

Pantera: Vulgar Display of Vinyl

It might actually be time for me to get a record player.

I had overly hopeful plans to get one about two years ago, then realized a good vinyl sound system actually isn't all the cheap. Sure I probably could just settle for something crappier, but I like the idea of owning a sweet record player... maybe someday.

My record player aspirations aside, for all you vinyl lovers out there, three of Pantera's most iconic albums will be reissued on vinyl. That means you will be able to pick up brand new record copies of Cowboys From Hell, Vulgar Display of Power and Far Beyond Driven on a release date TBA later this year.

I meant to purchase Master of Puppets when that was reissued awhile back, but never got around to that one either. I might have to look into that one as well.

I also kind of wish Pantera's often forgotten classic, The Great Southern Trendkill would be released on vinyl, but I can't complain too much.

In the meantime, listen to some Pantera below.

UPDATE: In other Pantera news, former frontman, Phil Anselmo, has made plans for an autobiography. I remember reading a feature on him in Revolver (back when it was much cooler), and the dude has definitely been places. Should be one of the more interesting rocker reads.

5 Years Gone: Remembering Dimebagg

Five years ago on December 8, I received a phone call from my brother late into the night asking if I had heard the news. Dimebagg Darrell, guitarist for Pantera and Damageplan, had been shot pointblank on-stage.

I immediately went downstairs to my computer in disbelief and saw all of the news stories speculating what had happened that night.

I then put on some Pantera. I was wide awake, even if it was late and I had school in the morning.

No matter if you agree that Dimebagg is a legendary guitarist or not, his death was shocking and terrible. It was probably the only "celebrity death" where I felt like I had actually lost a brother and friend.

That was what was so amazing about Dimebagg, even people who only knew him through the music, recognized him as family. That is sort of what is so cool about metal in general. Its ability to connect people is unheard of in just about any other form of music.

As the day draws to an end, I just want to say that no one deserves to go out like Dimebagg did. However, it almost seems kind of fitting for Dimebagg to die doing what he loved on-stage.

He may be dead and gone, but the music still lives on.

Rock In Peace Dimebagg!

Zakk Wylde to cover Suicide Note Pt. 1

This is kind of old news, but cool nonetheless. Guitarist Zakk Wylde will be covering "Suicide Note Pt. 1" off Pantera's underrated album The Great Southern Trendkill.

I think the song will fit Zakk's style well and seeing as Wylde had a near death experience himself (although not from heroin), maybe it will add some personal emotion in the song.

Here is the current list of bands that are recording cover songs for the Metal Hammer tribute album (for the 5th anniversary of Dimebagg's tragic onstage death).

* MACHINE HEAD - "Fucking Hostile"
* CHIMAIRA - "Slaughtered"
* EVILE - "Cemetery Gates"
* THROWDOWN - [to be announced]
* ZAKK WYLDE - "Suicide Note Pt. 1"



Check out this cool "demasked" intro version I found:

Get Better Rex!

Down/former Pantera bassist Rex Brown was recently diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, which is serious business. The condition can be life-threatening even after treatment.

The Metal Show wishes one of the greatest bass players of our time good luck in recovering from surgery and beyond. It has been a long road full of booze and mayhem -- and I'm sure the fans would like to see Brown stick around a lot longer.

Sunday Night Acoustic Jam: Phil Anselmo Covers Alice In Chains' "Nutshell"

Phil Anselmo may not be in top shape vocally anymore due to the drugs and alcohol, but he still is one of the better frontmen in all of metal history.

"Nutshell" comes off Alice In Chains' "Jar of Flies" EP.

Epiphone Revolver Golden God Awards: Hell Yeah!

Watch a comedy bit taken from the intro of the recent Revolver Golden God Awards show that features Brian Posehn and some heavy metal legends.

You can check out the full show streaming on MTV's Web site. They do play metal after all, but only when it's trendy to do so.

MTV Shows

RIP Dimebagg

Well Monday December 8 marked the day that Dimebagg was killed in action on stage. I remember my brother calling me at 4AM telling me the news and I did not believe him when I heard it. Went on CNN.com and sure enough, the unthinkable had happened.

However, we will always remember him in when we pop in a Pantera CD, play one of his riffs on guitar or watch Vulgar Videos.

Hell we will remember him when whiskey is cracked open and fireworks are shot off!

Here is one of the best solos from a metal legend! (The solo is from Floods off The Great Southern Trendkill album.)