Pantera - 3 Vulgar Videos From Hell DVD Review
Posted by Tim Johnson on 04.09.2006
Forever Stronger than All...
2006 marks the re-release of the Pantera DVD combo, 3 Vulgar Videos from Hell. The compilation consists of the three original Pantera home video releases; Cowboys from Hell – The Videos,Vulgar Video, and 3: Watch it Go.
The videos were initially packaged together for DVD in 1999, but technology at the time was limited. And as such, you were basically subjected to a VHS tape in DVD format. There were no menus, and you had to fast forward through each of the selections if you wanted to see something specific, like a live performance or a music video.
This problem has since been fixed. The re-release has been divided into two DVD's, with detailed scene menus and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. The videos have never looked or sounded better.
Unfortunately, these are the only new features in the 2006 release. There are no new interviews with the remaining band members, no new footage of live performances, and most surprisingly, no tribute to fallen guitarist, "Dimebag Darrell."
Having said that, it's still a refreshing look at the way the metal music scene used to be. Pantera was a revolutionary and innovative band. And they weren't afraid to document their hard drinking debauchery on camera for all to see.
Cowboys from Hell – The Videos
This release was exactly what it advertised; videos from the Cowboys from Hell album. There were a couple good "behind the scenes" moments, such as a vandalism incident with members of Alice in Chains, and a shot of someone offering donuts to a very pissed off Yngwie Malmsteen.
Other than that, there are some interviews with rather un-sober versions of Phil Anselmo and Darrell Abbott, and a couple of live songs. This video is also interesting in that the band is still trying to ease completely out of the glam metal genre.
This was Pantera's first stab at it, and the off stage antics are a lot more prevalent in the subsequent releases.
Videos
Cowboys from Hell
Art of Shredding (Live)
Cemetery Gates
Heresy (Live)
Psycho Holiday
Vulgar Video
This is the quintessential Pantera home video. Tons of partying, destruction, and general heavy metal ass kicking throughout. The videos are taken from the Vulgar Display of Power album.
There are some classic moments, like Dimebag's clash with religious fanatics, the shaving of Tommy Lee's head, and the Pantera/Skid Row jam of Kiss' "Cold Gin."
Vulgar Video truly showed the world what it was like to be in a successful rock band. Groups like Metallica and Guns N' Roses experienced the same things, and probably to a higher level. But Pantera was the only band with enough balls to put it out there. This was basically the first musical "reality" show.
Furthermore, it showed that the guys in the band were just some down to earth, fun loving dudes, and the audience could relate to that.
This was Pantera's finest era. The music was aggressive and progressive, and everything from the backstage partying, to the scripted vignettes were done in the name of having a good time. Phil Anselmo was a motivated badass, and the band was tight.
Unfortunately, this trend slowly discontinued over the years.
Videos
Walk
This Love
Domination (Live)
Primal Concrete Sledge (Live)
Mouth for War
3: Watch it Go
Watch it Go covers the band from the release of their wildly successful album, Far Beyond Driven to the somewhat disappointing follow up, The Great Southern Trendkill.
The backstage stuff is par for the course. There are a lot of crazy antics from the band, the crew, and the fans. People are paid money to do things like drink bottles of salad dressing and worchestire sauce, and there is enough boozing and pot smoking to kill an elephant.
This is the longest of the home videos, and if you watch it straight through, you may find it difficult to stay interested.
This is not to say it doesn't contain some great footage. There is an excellent shot of Phil Anselmo singing the ending to "Stairway to Heaven," while a big fat guy flies through the air in an angel suit. On his descent to the ground, the fat guy knocks Phil completely offstage, and Phil gets back up and acts like it never happened.
There are also some classic moments when Pantera meets Kiss, and security guard, "Big Val," attempts to eat an entire cake by himself.
But the most interesting part of this video is what wasn't shown. The Great Southern Trendkill tour was essentially a mess. Phil Anselmo was pronounced clinically dead after an overdose of heroin, and the overall vibe from the rest of the band wasn't the same.
After Phil recovered, he spent the remainder of the tour so doped up on painkillers, he was almost unintelligible.
While Watch it Go was released in conjunction with the Trendkill album and tour, it focuses very little on that era of the band.
Videos
I'm Broken
5 Minutes Alone
Drag the Waters
Planet Caravan
Pantera: Live in Moscow Bonus Footage
Cowboys from Hell
Primal Concrete Sledge
Psycho Holiday
The 411: If you already own the original DVD version of 3 Vulgar Videos from Hell, you probably don’t need to get the re-release. The only new features are a detailed disc menu, and the option for Dolby 5.1 sound. But if you don’t have any Pantera videos in your collection, run out to the store and get it now. It explicitly documents a time when metal was dangerous, life was fun, and Pantera was Stronger than All.
