Pantera
Reinventing The Steel

THE REVIEW

Phil Anselmo likes Black Sabbath. What can you do, I like them too, but the man of a thousand and more bands today really likes the Sabs. By his own admission, he did nothing but listen to them for ten years straight (I believe corresponding to the Pantera's career given the metamorphosis) and this would explain the album in question.
A tribute to the Gods Iommi and Ozzy and the doom sounds that characterized the early works of the English band. I can't otherwise explain such a work, permeated with episodes that are subpar and banal (Uplift, You've got to belong to it, It makes it disappear) and others that are sublime (the opener "Hellbound", "Goddam Electric" with a guitar contribution from Mr. Kerry King, I'll cast a shadow). The album moves under the shadow of the heavier Sabbath, highlighted by Phil's vocal timbre (increasingly torn due to the frontman's excesses).
Every time I put on "Reinventing The Steel," I think of the early albums, of Anselmo with his shaved head jumping from one side of the stage to the other, of the legendary GOM 1998 scene (where Pantera were opening for the Sabs) where he repeatedly planted the microphone into his forehead during "Walk," ending the concert with his face covered in blood and alcohol. I avoid the recent dreadful bearded Pantera that melted in front of the last on-stage performances of the tour supporting this album.
Since Phil began with the countless side projects (Down first, then Viking Crown, Superjoint Ritual, and collaborations with the "close friend" Killjoy), the Texan band has truly collapsed.
It was precisely because of this album that chaos erupted within the band and the consequent split, with the Abbott brothers (generally leaning towards Thrash and Heavy in general) on one side and Phil (dominated by doom demons and grimier sounds) on the other.

Pantera couldn't have ended their career worse, with an album excellently played and technically outstanding, but lacking the imprint that had always been present in their works until that point. I say: "What a shame, damn..."