Album Details

• Artist: Pantera
• Album: Vulgar Display Of Power
• Label: Atco
• Year of Release: 1992
• ME Rating: Indie Classic
• Reviewed by: hstisgod on 2007-09-11

Sitting in my freshmen Intro to Keyboarding class, Vinny LoPicolo (classmate) says to me; 'Bro you gotta get rid of that sh*t in your walkman and listen to this'. Suddenly, fifteen years later I sink into a mindset, and its all about the most influential albums of my lifetime. Let's drop all the pattern and genre talk, forget all the bio and other catalogued album coincedences, let's just ramble about one of the finest musically inclined pieces in the history of the music industry. Students of guitar gods and music historians alike would stand firm with their arms crossed about the metallic harmonies of Dimebag, Rex, Vinnie Paul and Phil's 1992 classic, Vulgar Display of Power.

Hard to pick a best track, No Good (Attack of the Radicals) is my first recommendation on this Sophomore effort. Verses drowned in deep bass guitar lead, and an eventual Dimebag solo that makes my fingers typo, fighting the urge to air guitar. Sure, Walk, Hostile and This Love all brought in considerably heavy exposure for one of the heaviest acts of a Grunge derranged consumer span.

Getting strapped down to the electric chair and want one last song played in your honor? Track nine Regular People (Conceit) is the focus track for listeners of all respectable writing and melodies. Rollercoaster verse, chorus, verse of bass drowned and progressive guitar work that always seems to energetically mince with the drums. Anselmo (lead vocals) though lyrically simplistic at times just to squeeze off rhythms, let's be straight, this album was tampered with in and around the styles of one Dimebag Darrell. Starting ecletically, Hollow is rarely thought to be the strongest track here, but the mere peaks to this song make it one of Pantera's great testaments. The one last bridge before its over and done with, one member can be heard, "Hooh!" gesture as the song fades off into the still blitzing outro. Once the speed of the guitars takes off it never looks back.

At all times, perfect distortion tone, winding roads of tempo's, and unforgettable explosions and epic song writing. There is no album that exists with a more equal four quarters of human being banding. Vulgar Display of Power changed the way I sought music. If Metal could be this classical and well-written, than any genre is up for astonishment. Forget what VDOP did for metal, and start contemplating what it can do for your opinion of all music.

Write Off notation;
5 out of 5 without a blink. Yea I know I broke the word count, but that's the spirit of this album. More important, there is no album cover in the world more fitting for my first write off with the great Dennis Scanland. I may be wrong, but thanks to Vinnie Paul AND Vinny LoPicolo, believe its Scanland taking MY punch to the face.

Also noteworthy, I went ahead and reposted my tribute piece to DD on my blog
http://www.musicemissions.com/users/hstisgod/blog/Another+piece+from+the+vault_+_A+Dime+For+Every+Dozen_

User Reviews and Comments

Review:

on 2012-01-29 CharlesMartel Said:

I cannot recall the circumstances under which I bought this, but as I have not been in a coma or suffered any long-term memory loss I can only assume I was drunk. For I can think of no other circumstance where my judgement would have been so impaired as to make me think that "Vulgar Display of Power" was worthy of purchase. This is so not the sort of thing that I would normally listen to for it is metal for all the wrong reasons.

I hate to say it, but this conjures up images of macho Neanderthals who think a good night out is to drink ten pints of Stella and then vomit over the nearest late night Pakistani shopkeeper before hunting down a couple of gays to bash. If you like this, you must have your reasons, and I apologise to you for that stereotypical and judgemental opinion, but it is something which I cannot help. "Vulgar Display of Power" is one of my (thankfully) small collection of albums whose sole purpose in the present day is to be put on to clear a room as quickly as possible.

This is glam rock with added heaviness sung by rednecks intended to get you angry. Angry about what? When you actually listen to the lyrics they come across as less of an exercise in getting your anger out, and more of a cheesy off-putting pastiche. I can just see the metal head teenager in his bedroom getting all worked up when listening to this, only to answer tamely "yes Mom" when called down to dinner.

There is, frankly nothing here which makes me even want to consider listening to it again. Everything which puts people off about metal (growling excepted) is encapsulated in this album. Cheesy lyrics, poor delivery, formulaic musicianship, if I didn't know better I could almost imagine this as being a parody. But it is worse than that - this is a deliberate attempt to create something which could be classed as a great record by trying to identify what makes a great metal record and combining the identified components. All the ingredients are there, it's just that when combined they fit together so badly that there are gaping holes in it.

Needless to say, I do not listen to this any more. Occasionally a track will come up on iPod shuffle and will be quickly passed over. There is far better, far more sincere and certainly far more original metal out there than this. To stand any chance of an airing I am going to need a roomful of guests who have outstayed their welcome.
Rating: 2/10

Review:

on 2007-10-01 hstisgod Said:

No, the reason I asked was in the similar train of thought Dscanland (Dennis) and I both used in our reviews.

At the time of Pantera's release (1992), Metal had been on a serious decline; Exhibit A: What Metallica was and became. For gen xer's, This album opened up the airwaves for a lot metal that is mainstream today. Yes, by today's standards, VDOP is bland. But ask artists like SOAD, and Deftones, and I guarantee you VDOP is a classic top ten pick of the majority. Some of 'em are quoted as to saying their success is much in thanks to Pantera.

In the end though, Dennis is right, you won't be force fed anything round here. The less we agree on favorites, the more diversified our choices are.
Rating: 10/10

Review:

on 2007-09-30 dscanland Said:

@DonnieT: Well, you can't like it all. If you aren't into the genre then you can't be force fed. Kudos for giving it a shot. 20 times to boot.
Rating: 10/10

Review:

on 2007-09-30 hstisgod Said:

ouch Donnie...may I ask how old you are? No offense will be given, hope no offense is taken.
Rating: 10/10

Review:

on 2007-09-11 dscanland Said:

Vulgar Display of Power changed metal. Sure, Pantera set the bar high with their 1990 debut, Cowboys From Hell but no one could have predicted what was to come next. Remember, VDOP was released in 1992, the year after Nevermind changed people's music outlook. Pantera sure weren't grunge and they weren't like any previous metal. Indeed, Phil, Dimebag Darrell (RIP) and crew took nods from hardcore and a few prods from death metal but who would have thought to throw southern rock boogie into the metal blender? Seriously, when Pantera get rocking on "A New Level" you feel like dancing. Then my favorite, the bottom heavy and groove-ladened "Walk" hits your ears. The first time I heard Anselmo grunt out "Are you talking to me?" I cowered like a baby in a corner. Again, Pantera throw you another huge twist in which Anselmo actually sings on "This Love", the darkest track on the album and the template for bands like Deftones and Sevendust. Diamond Darrell is just as important in the VDOP mix as Anselmo's awesome voice. The riffs on here are what aspiring musicians dream of writing. They are so solid and catchy that they stick in your head just as much as the powerful vocals. I remember for years after this album, all the guitar rags were trying to sell copies by putting tab and music from this album. Move out beyond the tracks that everyone knows though. These are the one's Darrell shines on just as much. "No Good (Attack The Radical)" has some of the most memorable riffs on the album (aside from "Walk"). And for anyone who still doesn't think this is heavy, listen to "By Demons Be Driven" again for the first time.

Bands like Sepultura and Biohazard let alone the like of Korn couldn't have made the music they made without the influence of Pantera and arguably Vulgar Display Of Power. And that is saying a lot. Listening to this today is still as pleasurable as it was 15 years ago. That's goes to show what a solid and heavy album this was.

Rating: 10/10

Review:

on 2007-08-17 hstisgod Said:

Deal... not sure Ill get it done in time for the newsletter. Good luck to ya..
Rating: 10/10

Review:

on 2007-08-16 dscanland Said:

Ha, you're on sucka! We'll post them in the forums and allow the users to vote on it. If you get yours done tomorrow then I'll even throw it in the newsletter. Dueling Critics! Let's raise the anti though, let's go for the editorial review. So 250 words min and under 400. Not one of your essays. Deal?
Rating: 10/10

Review:

on 2007-08-16 hstisgod Said:

Man that was bland...Battle for the editorial?

I challenge my bossman to a review battle:
Due in one week, a review of this CD in 150 words or less as a user... I suppose the community should decide whose review deserves the editorial slicing?

But yes, this record changed my life, and listening pleasures. After VDOP, I never went pop culture treading again.
Rating: 10/10

Review:

on 2007-08-16 dscanland Said:

I love this album. I love the artwork. It really represents the music.
Rating: 10/10