337. Pantera / Cowboys From Hell. 1990. 3.5/5

I’ve never been a huge Pantera fan. This probably comes from not having been exposed to them when they were emerging than anything untoward in their style. Because of this I tend to be a bit more critical of their music than I may otherwise have been.
Cowboys From Hell is probably the band's final transitional stage from hair metal band with little to go for them, into a metal band of some substance. On this album they have begun to discover the style that not only suits them but brought them their fan base.

"Cowboys From Hell" almost sounds like a Skid Row song, and while it is a good song, it is more of their earlier style than the one they are striving for. "Primal Concrete Sledge" and "Psycho Holiday" do nothing alleviate this nor advance the album in ones thoughts.
Songs like "Heresy" are where this album really cooks. This is in the style of thrash greats like early Exodus and Mortal Sin. It has a great riff all the way through and the drumming is superb. Realistically, this is the direction Pantera had to go, to get away from those early hair metal disaasters. this is followed by the groovy "Cemetery Gates", which works on some levels and not others. When it moves along at pace, with Dimebag's guitar and Anselmo trying to sing with a bit of grunt, it does work. But the song is so two-paced in this regard you just can't get into it. Potential wasted.
"Domination" is perhaps the best song on the album, combining great drumming with a rollicking riff and solo, and vocals that are now showing power and anthemic qualities. This is followed by "Shattered" which continues the good of the album, although Anselmo trying to do a Rob Halford on vocals is a little amusing. Vinnie Paul's drumwork is outstanding though. Similar comments for "Clash With Reality", on which I think Anselmo is at his best.
"Medicine Man", "Message in Blood" and "The Sleep" don't quite meet this standard. Anselmo changes up his vocals again, and not for the better. There is nothing special here, nothing outstanding, and perhaps one or even two of them could have been left off. More is not necessarily better.
The closer "The Art of Shredding" restores some order, as Dimebag showcases his wares in a fitting finale to Pantera's best album to this point of their career.

The summary here is that half the album is outstanding stuff, with great metal songs and superb work by everyone in the band. The other half needed some work, or some revising or reworking. It doesn't quite hold up all the way through. The guts of the album is its strength, while the two ends probably let it down.
Vinnie Paul on drums and Rex Brown on bass are terrific, forming a great rhythm section. Dimebag's guitaring in places is just blistering and worth every cent it cost to buy this album. Phil Anselmo gives a mixed performance, but again, when he's giving it some, such as on "Domination" and "Clash With Reality" he is at the top of his game.
Fix those opening three songs, and the three close to the end of the album. Then this really could have been a classic.