When I'm asked about one of my favourite bands of all time, I usually put Pantera into that list. My sister bought my Vulgar Display of Power for my 14 or 15 birthday and from then out, I was a freakin' major Pantera fan. Hell, most of my yearbook or pics from high school show me wearing Pantera shirts. This week's classic album is:

Pantera
Vulgar Display of Power (1992)

Just as the title suggests, “Vulgar Display of Power” is one hell of a musical thrashing. When the cover highlights someone getting punched in the face, you know what you are in for.

Pantera showed the world that they had the attitude, song writing capability and musical talent on this release and it wasn't long after that Pantera became a household name (well, to those of us who are into metal, anyway).

The disc kicks off with “Mouth for War,” an audio assault that will have you groovin' and bashing your head at the same time. Even if the first part of the song doesn't catch you, the ending will sure kick you in the ass.

From there, Pantera's two great masterpieces, “New Level” and “Walk,” are presented to the listener. I have no idea how anyone who loves hard rock and metal can't like these songs. They're hard, they're angry and they rock!

Other gems on this disc are “Rise,” “By Demons Be Driven,” and the amazing CD closer, “Hollow.” Now, by highlighting these songs, that's not saying that the rest of the disc sucks. Every song on this one is killer, but those are just some of my preferences.

You can tell that lead vocalist Phil Anselmo put thought into every word he wrote on the album, and because he has a message that he wants to get across, it was reflected in his vocal delivery. Even on the live album, 101 Proof, you can hear 110 per cent of his emotion in his performance.

Pantera also introduced the world to the amazing guitar playing of now deceased Dimebag Darrell. Guitar magazines around the world wanted him on their covers and to comment on his guitar playing. He was that damn good! If you're a guitarist and have never listened to this band, make sure you sample some of their songs immediately.

If you don't own this disc, shame on you. Go buy it now as well as their back catalogue. If you love metal and band DVDs, their DVD that features all three Pantera home videos were, and still are, notorious for showing bands having the most fun they can on the road. Give the artist their dues and don't download.