All Hail Metal: On This Day, 26 Years Ago, PANTERA Released Cowboys From Hell

Sunday, July 24, 2016

On This Day, 26 Years Ago, PANTERA Released Cowboys From Hell

On this day, 26 years ago, PANTERA released their 5th studio album Cowboy From Hell via Atco Records.

Recorded in 1989 at Pantego Sound Studio in Pantego, Texas, the album has been considered by most critics as one of the most influential albums in the metal scene in the 1990s and of all time, and would inspire a generation of musicians, particularly guitarists.

Critical Reception:

IGN says:

"Along with Vulgar Display of Power, Pantera's fifth album is not only considered one of the band's best, but is also one of the defining albums of early '90s metal. The band's chemistry really begins to gel with collective symmetry here, as a pre-Dimebag Darrell (he was known as Diamond Darrell back then) rips the strings of his axe like a rabid weasel, frontman Phil Anselmo following in kind with chaotic vocal utterances, and the rhythm section of Vinnie Paul and Rex Brown keeping the rhythms in check and the whole mess glued together with low end prowess."

AllMusic says about the album:

"Pantera's breakthrough album, Cowboys from Hell, is largely driven by the band's powerful rhythm section and guitarist Diamond Darrell(s) unbelievably forceful riffing, which skittered around the downbeats to produce unexpected rhythmic phrases and accents, as well as his inventive soloing."

Band formation at that time

Phil Anselmo – lead vocals
Dimebag Darrell – guitar, backing vocals
Rex – bass, acoustic guitar, piano (5)
Vinnie Paul – drums

Album track listing
All songs written and composed by Pantera.
1. "Cowboys from Hell"
2. "Primal Concrete Sledge"
3. "Psycho Holiday"
4. "Heresy"
5. "Cemetery Gates"
6. "Domination"
7. "Shattered"
8. "Clash with Reality"
9. "Medicine Man"
10 ."Message in Blood"
11. "The Sleep"
12. "The Art of Shredding"

Get the album
MP3 Download Cowboys From Hell