Age of The Nerd
What a night! I just got back from the Pantera and Lamb of God concert at the Freedom Mortage Pavilion in Camden, NJ, and I’m still buzzing from the adrenaline. It was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot. The crowd was insane, the sound was loud, and the bands were on fire.
Legacy would be a fitting name for this tour, because let no one be mistaken, this is not a Pantera reunion tour by any means, but much more of a statement and tribute to the band’s unrelenting and dynamic legacy. It will never be called a reunion because there is no way that could ever be true, as we are sadly missing two of the band’s founding members, brothers Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul Abbott…and they left some very big shoes to fill.
Dimebag was tragically gunned down during a live performance in Columbus, Ohio back in 2004. He was performing with the brother’s new band Damageplan at the time of the incident. Vinnie Paul has also left us far too soon, passing away in 2018 due to heart disease.
With this tour the surviving members of Pantera, vocalist Phil Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown joined together with guitarist Zakk Wylde and drummer Charlie Benante, both of whom graciously lent their extreme talent to fill in for the dearly departed Abbott brothers. The entire show was a beautiful and emotional tribute to the musical legacy that the original four members of Pantera left on the world. So, once again, this is not a reunion show, nor should it be looked as one. I urge those that are spewing negativity online surrounding this tour to get out from behind the screen, come out, and actually see the amazing show that these musicians have put together, and rest assured the Abbott brothers are surely being paid a fitting tribute each and every night. Dimebag and Vinny will never be gone from our hearts or the hearts of their bandmates and musical colleagues.
After opening band Child Bite, Lamb of God took the stage and performed a blistering set, delivering a mix of old and new material. They played songs that spanned their career, but only one, “Ditch” off their latest album, “Omens”, which is a masterpiece of modern metal. They also played some fan favorites like “Resurrection Man”, “Laid to Rest”, and “Redneck”. The band was relentless and precise, and Randy Blythe’s vocals were savage. He also had a lot of fun with the crowd, making them chant, jump, and mosh.
Pantera opened the show with a bang, playing some of their classic hits like “A New Level” and “Mouth for War” and telling the crowd, “Every note with play tonight is for Dimebag and for Vince. The band was tight and energetic, and Phil Anselmo’s voice was as powerful as ever. His vocal prowess really shined on songs “I’m Broken” and my personal favorite “This Love”! He interacted with the fans a lot, cracking jokes and telling stories. The entire performance felt like a family reunion in the best way possible!
The Abbott brothers were featured prominently throughout the evening by way of several video montages. One took place just prior to Pantera taking the stage set to the song “Regular People” and another touching montage was played during the middle of the show set to a recorded version of “Cemetery Gates” and while the band performed the Black Sabbath cover “Planet Caravan”.
After the video montage, Phil joked with the audience that nearly 100% of them would know word for word the next song and he was not wrong, as the band blasted into their hit “Walk”. They also brought out opening band Child Bite to join them onstage to sing the chorus. Pantera closed out their main set with “Domination/Hollow” and “Cowboys From Hell” and the audience went wild. For the encore, they performed “Slaughtered” and “Revolution Is My Name”.
It was an unforgettable night of metal madness, and I’m so glad I was there to witness it. Pantera and Lamb of God are two of the best bands in the world, and they proved it once again. If you have a chance to see them live, don’t miss it. You won’t regret it.
See our full photo gallery from the show below:
Photo credit: Bill Raymond
Pantera
Lamb Of God
