aeblog

fucking hostile

I used to have a clip from Pantera's 'Walk' that would play every time I received an email. It had Philip Anselmo screaming something like 'Are you talking to me, punk?' with Dimebag Darrell's power guitar riffs underneath. It drove my co-workers crazy, which was part of the fun, but the other part was the raw energy of this music. It's exciting.
Pantera broke up a few years ago and apparently it upset one person in particular more than anyone might be able to imagine. I always think of music as some sort of sanctuary which, though sometimes violent in itself, was really more of a non-harmful way of releasing this prevalent and vital emotion. It hits me hard when something like what happened in Ohio two nights ago happens.

Motive Still Unclear in Nightclub Massacre

Pantera has never been a favorite band of mine (though 'Vulgar Display of Power' is an album everyone should listen to at least once), but there was no disputing the sheer talent of Dimebag and his brother, Vinnie Paul, on drums. Almost unfathomable speed and precision. Yes, it is heavy music - very heavy music, in fact - and is understandably only appealing to a small set of listeners, but these guys did something for those listeners (including me) that was deeply meaningful in its own way.
Vinnie, please don't let your brother's spirit die too.