Changes

In 1986, vocalist Terry Glaze left the band. He left due to a dispute with how the band wanted to go in their musical direction. Terry Glaze wanted to stay in the glam/commercial sound, while Rex, Darrell and Vinnie wanted to go heavier in the musical direction. In 1986, Phil Anselmo joined.<ref>https://archive.today/20131108211013/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2010-02-18/news/36844101_1_pantera-vinnie-paul-abbott-vulgar-display</ref> Two years later their fourth album ''Power Metal'', released on June 24th, 1988, which was the first album to have Phil Anselmo on vocals. It was a different approach compared to the three previous albums. It had elements of speed metal<ref>https://www.laweekly.com/unpopular-opinion-its-time-to-talk-about-how-terrible-pantera-are/</ref>.

In 1986, vocalist Terry Glaze left the band. He left due to a dispute with how the band wanted to go in their musical direction. Terry Glaze wanted to stay in the glam/commercial sound, while Rex, Darrell and Vinnie wanted to go heavier in the musical direction. In 1986, Phil Anselmo joined.<ref>https://archive.today/20131108211013/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2010-02-18/news/36844101_1_pantera-vinnie-paul-abbott-vulgar-display</ref> Two years later their fourth album ''Power Metal'', released on June 24th, 1988, which was the first album to have Phil Anselmo on vocals. It was a different approach compared to the three previous albums. It had elements of speed metal<ref>https://www.laweekly.com/unpopular-opinion-its-time-to-talk-about-how-terrible-pantera-are/</ref>.

Shortly after ''Power Metal'' got released, the thrash metal band [[Megadeth]] needed a new guitarist and phoned Darrell "Dimebag" Abbott, to join the band. Darrell insisted that his brother, Vinnie Paul, be included. However, Megadeth had already hired Nick Menza as their drummer so Darrell declined the offer, and [[Dave Mustaine]] instead decided on Marty Friedman.<ref>https://metalinjection.net/latest-news/dave-mustaine-recalls-almost-hiring-dimebag-vinnie-paul-for-megadeth-in-1988</ref>

Shortly after ''Power Metal'' got released, the thrash metal band [[Megadeth]] needed a new guitarist and phoned Darrell "Dimebag" Abbott, to join the band. Darrell insisted that his brother, Vinnie Paul, be included. However, Megadeth had already hired Nick Menza as their drummer so Darrell declined the offer, and [[Dave Mustaine]] instead decided on Marty Friedman.<ref>https://metalinjection.net/latest-news/dave-mustaine-recalls-almost-hiring-dimebag-vinnie-paul-for-megadeth-in-1988</ref>

Pantera's breakthrough album, ''Cowboys from Hell'', is largely driven by the band's powerful rhythm section and guitarist Diamond Darrell's unbelievably forceful riffing, which skittered around the downbeats to produce unexpected rhythmic phrases and accents, as well as his inventive soloing.

Pantera's breakthrough album, ''Cowboys from Hell'', is largely driven by the band's powerful rhythm section and guitarist Diamond Darrell's unbelievably forceful riffing, which skittered around the downbeats to produce unexpected rhythmic phrases and accents, as well as his inventive soloing.

To promote their latest album, Pantera began the ''Cowboys from Hell'' tour alongside thrash metal acts [[Exodus (band)|Exodus]] and [[Suicidal Tendencies]]. In 1991, Pantera performed onstage with fellow heavy metal band [[Judas Priest]]. Pantera also opened for other bands like [[Sepultura]], [[Fates Warning]], [[Prong]], [[Mind Over Four]], and [[Morbid Angel]], and co-headlined a North American tour with Wrathchild America.<ref>http://metallipromo.com/pantera.html</ref> The band eventually landed a billing for "Monsters in Moscow" with [[AC/DC]] and [[Metallica]] in September 1991, where they played to a crowd of over 500,000 in attendance to celebrate the new freedom of performing Western music in the Soviet Union shortly before its downfall three months later.

To promote their latest album, Pantera began the ''Cowboys from Hell'' tour alongside thrash metal acts [[Exodus (band)|Exodus]] and [[Suicidal Tendencies]]. In 1991, Pantera performed onstage with fellow heavy metal band [[Judas Priest]]. Pantera also opened for other bands like [[Sepultura]], [[Fates Warning]], [[Prong]], [[Mind Over Four]], and [[Morbid Angel]], and co-headlined a North American tour with Wrathchild America.<ref>http://metallipromo.com/pantera.html</ref> The band eventually landed a billing for "Monsters in Moscow" with [[AC/DC]] and [[Metallica]] in September 1991, where they played to a crowd of over 500,000 in attendance to celebrate the new freedom of performing Western music in the Soviet Union shortly before its downfall three months later.