Pantera unleashes fire & ferocity on St. Louis, with all-star backing

The night of Pantera in St. Louis started off with Aussie grindcore sensations King Parrot. Named after the similarly Australian bird, King Parrot were a colorful bunch. They opened the night with an aggressive, screaming, hair-flipping set that left the already sweaty crowd drenched by the end of it. Lead vocalist Matt Young — shirtless and snarling — plotted the course for the band’s set, screaming and thrashing along with his bandmates from down unda’. Known for their chaotic live shows and tongue-in-cheek stage antics, the band has been carving a cult following since their debut in 2011. Their latest single “Banished, Flawed Then Docile” is a perfect example of their raw energy and grinding, thrashy sound.

There’s no polish here — just pure Aussie power, violence, and adrenaline.

Playing second were the Swedish Viking death metal legends known as Amon Amarth. Massive Viking statues flanked either side of the stage and a colossal horned Viking helmet rose ominously from the center, glowing red and spitting fog like a portal to Valhalla itself. The band launched into a thunderous set of melodic death metal anthems, many taken from their recent album The Great Heathen Army, a record that pushed their sound into more polished, anthemic territory. Vocalist Johan Hegg led the charge as the amphitheater erupted into synchronized rowing pits. Songs of brotherhood, bloodshed, and the eternal glory of battle echoed over the lawn, as fans raised their fists and howled along. Amon Amarth have mastered the art of turning their gigs into historical reenactments of the loudest variety.

Finally, it was time for the headliners of the night. A massive curtain covered the stage, backlit with glowing silhouettes of Pantera’s members taking their positions. The crowd was electric, the anticipation boiling over into deafening roars. And then, it dropped.

Fire exploded across the stage as the opening riffs tore through the air.

The Texas groove metal titans were back — and not just back, but bigger, louder, and armed with literal firepower. The reformed Pantera lineup, led by surviving members Philip Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown, included Zakk Wylde (of Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society) on guitar and Charlie Benante (of Anthrax) on drums to pay tribute to the legacy of the late Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul. It’s a lineup built on respect and passion, and on this night, it showed.

The band blasted through a set stacked with classics like “Walk”, “Cowboys from Hell”, “This Love”, and “I’m Broken”, each track accompanied by fire cannons, synchronized pyrotechnics, and blinding lights. The heat from the flames could be felt even in the farthest corners of the lawn. Anselmo, grizzled and growling, was in top form, delivering every lyric with venom while giving nods to the Abbott brothers between songs.

The crowd was a swirling mass of fists, sweat, and raised horns.

The band’s recent return to touring has brought in a new wave of fans, many of whom never thought they’d hear these songs live again. Yet here it was Pantera in the flesh: loud and proud, and backed by a firestorm of lights and thunderous sound.

By the time the final notes rang out and the smoke cleared, there was no doubt that Pantera was back and bringing hell with them as they go city by city. Some legacies burn too hot to ever be extinguished.

Photography by Sean Rider

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