Riff Police! Pull Over! #102: HellgardeN Vs Pantera!

There are bands that influence a generation of musicians or create a new subgenre of music… and then there is Pantera. One of the most influential Metal albums of 90’s and arguably their best record, “Vulgar Display Of Power” remains exactly that to this day. 28 years after it first appeared, it still sounds as good now as it did then. Pantera created the Groove Metal sound with cuts like “Walk“, “A Mouth For War” and “This Love” each being instantly recognisable and everyone from Lamb Of God to Despised Icon and from Upon A Burning Body to Throwdown citing them as an influence.

One of the songs on “Vulgar Display Of Power” that is seriously loved is of course “A New Level“. A track covered by many, including Obey The Brave, Throwdown and Five Finger Death Punch, it’s one that has that instant riff hook and is a drinking song if ever there was one. So in step Brazilian Metallers HellgardeN with their album “Making Noise, Living Fast“. Very much a tribute to Southern Hostility and capturing not only the mentality of the Arlington Texas heavy hitters but also having a modern twist on Dimebag Darrell’s signature guitar tone, it’s opening track “Spit On Hypocrisy” owes a lot to “A New Level“. But don’t take our word for it. Check it out and see what you think…