The Album Reader Reviews:

	Title: Reinventing the Steel Artist: Pantera Label: Elektra Release Date: 3/14/00	There are currently 10 Reader Reviews of this album. Average Rating: 3 Go to Judgment Committee Reviews of this Album
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Submitted by deadhammer on 10/24/02:
Sorry. This is not a great album. Better listen to their live album, Official 101 Proof. More satisfaction.

Submitted by mike chinn on 8/3/00:
Shit, I was hoping they would continue the trend but I guess not. Great Southern Trendkill is by far their best album. They took a step down on this one. It's definatly more "vulgarish." Which means it's more catchy and he is singing more. Which sucks. Cuase his vokills on songs like "The Great Southern Trendkill" and "Suicide Note part 2" are where he shines the best. Oh well, overall it's a decent release, just hope the next one is more extreme.

Submitted by Kenny Levenson on 6/9/00:
Don't pay any attention to the reviews that claim that Pantera has sold out or "hasn't reinvented the steel." Those claims are completely unjustified. The album is by no means a metal classic, but it is damn good. To the reviewer who said that Phil is singing about stuff that shouldn't be sang angrily, he failed to realize that Pantera isn't just an angry band (check out their home videos!!!) with angry songs, they are a bunch of BADASSES with Bad Ass songs. Watch a Pantera video (especially Watch it Go or Vulger Video) and you will instantly love these guys. Listen to "Goddamn Electric," "Yesterday Don't Mean Shit," or "Death Rattle." The other songs are also good. Get this album, it deserves a listen.

Submitted by gibby Stipe on 6/7/00
Four years since the last album of new material (including a one year delay) raised expectations for Pantera to be the saviors of metal. And this album proves... they aren't. That honor goes to Iron Maiden. But you're saying "Hey at least its a solid album right?" Wrong.
Although the songs aren't as bad as the festering mucus (I mean new songs) offered on Official Live:101 Proof, they aren't... well... they just sit there and kind of exist.
After the Trendkill rip-off "Hellbound", the band settles into the Walk-ish groove of "Godamn Electric" (which features THE WORLD'S WORST SOLO courtesy of that guitar great (sarcasm intended) Kerry King!). Finally, with "Yesterday...", the album kicks into high gear. And that's... pretty much it. Tracks 5 through 7 generate excitement, then Uplift (a "Regular People knock-off) kills the album dead in its tracks. "It makes them Disappear" generates some atmosphere, but "I'll Cast a Shadow" does absolutely nothing.
Unlike Trendkill (which is my second favorite) this album generates no intensity and the production (courtesy of the Abbot Bros.) is mostly flat compared to Date's work. The leads are ridiculously simple and Phil's lyrics are basically drunken rambling set to music. They don't even have the honesty and fear of addiction that made parts of Trendkill so poignant. This album gets 2 skulls since that is the total number of times I've played it. Better luck next time, guys.

Submitted by Demonic on 6/3/00
To borrow some lyrics from Phil and the boys, "I tell you it's goddamn electric..."
What a way to return. Many of the metal faith were waiting with bated breath for this album's debut. After all, it was not too long ago that another certain Elektra artist put out a heaping, uh, Load as the next album after its live release.
All that aside, the Cowboys From Hell do not disappoint. This album is solid from start to finish. It seems as if Pantera went back and listened to albums they knew and loved (say, Reign in Blood, British Steel, Paranoid, etc.) and decided to put out a record of absolutely solid material.
This album reaches that goal easily. Sonically the brutality is off-scale for the entirety of the record. There is no relent for the abuse your ears will sustain. Further, just go listen to the damned thing.
If you have ever considered yourself a metal fan, a real metal fan, you will not be let down. It's like they said: "Your choices are whiskey and weed and Slayer..."

Submitted by Josh Wilson on 5/19/00
Where do I start? I love some Pantera. They are my favorite metal band... or at least were until I bought this long awaited album, Reinventing the Steel. First thing that pissed me off more than what their music used to do was the picture under the cd. They all look like they've sold out. They're smiling, laughing and having a good time, it remined me of a Bush cd! Their music seems to have softened their edge to a Metallica sound. Sure it's still fast. But the lyrics and vocals don't seem to have much meaning or feeling behind them. Phil's constant singing voice in this is a growl. (That sounds like how James Hetfield does now) What he's saying isn't even something for him to be pissed about. "You place your trust in whiskey, weed, and Black Sabbath!" Phil's lyrics used to make me feel pissed too. He had reason to be pissed. But using that growl and scream for everyday singing ruins the feeling. The one song that i find remotely heavy is "Death Rattle." Now that song sounds like Pantera. I mean, everything in it runs perfect for a true thrash, while being extremely heavy, sound. "Hellbound" sounds very Cowboys From Hell-ish (which isn't a bad thing). What the fuck does Ft. Worth have to do w/ being hellbound?! Anyway, I hate the idea they are playing Pantera on the radio now. They never did until this album. This album was a disappointment, for a Pantera album. But it's still better than a lot of awaited "metal" albums like the new Korn (which was said to be like the very first one) and the new Metallica. I give it a 3 out of 5.

Submitted by Auggs on 4/7/00
To start of with, not taking into account that they both make music and that they both play metal, how can you compare Pantera with In Flames? It is my METAL JUDGMENT that comparing Pantera to IF, is like comparing Rum to Vodka. Sure they both have an effect on you (and I know) but the the approach is entirely different. And Pantera's Vulgar Display of Power is In Flames' The Jester Race, by far their best albums and I doubt they'll match such outputs ever again, being honest that is.
Reinventing the Steel is not groundbreaking, is not a re-birth, is Pantera how we know 'em. Heavy, rough, dry, straight to the point and always vulgar. Don't go expecting many changes, for you will find none.
True, not their best output, but a solid release that will please all CFH fans without a doubt. Check out "Deathrattle," "We'll Grind that Axe for a Long Time," "Make them Disappear."
In a time where the strong ones are falling, Pantera stands stronger than all.

Submitted by Paul J on 4/5/00
Pantera has put out nothing but GARBAGE since Vulgar Display of Power! If their careers had started with Far Beyond Driven they would be working full time factory jobs during the day and playing hick town bars on weekends. WHAT HAPPENED ? Who knows. Too many Dimebags possibly???????????
Any Pantera fans that are waiting for them to come back to life check out IN FLAMES CD, The Jester Race, followed by the rest of their cds. I assure you that these guys won't forget how to write music. Also check out Iced Earth, Mercyful Fate & Nevermore.

Submitted by chris on 4/1/00
Was looking for more of a vulgar sound and get less than a Trendkill sound. Still heavy, though, and not too bad.

Submitted by gapmc on 3/31/00
Reinventing the Steel? Not quite. This seems to be an attempt to "Keep the Steel Real," which isn't necessarily a bad thing. On my first listen to the album, I was taken aback at the old school of it all - somewhere between CFH, Black Sabbath, and Down. As a vocalist of a metal/hardcore band who has to constantly remind my guitarist that complicated doesn't automatically equal great, even I balked at the simplicity of the lead work on this album.
Then we listened a couple more times, and I saw where the guys were trying to go. Being from the southern musical tradition has an undeniable effect on open-minded musicians (as I well know), and that's what Pantera demonstrates here. There's nothing surprising about this album, but there's no law that says a great band has to spawn a musical revolution on every album to still be considered a great band.
The fact that this album was self-produced is obvious from the more "natural," live feel of the recording, and again, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Just different.
None of the songs on the album really jump out at me, but it's worth a listen. If you are like me - into the whole redneck power metal sound, and you're not looking for an epiphanal experience, just some good drinkin' and smokin' music to say fuck the world by, then Pantera gives you what they always have, and probably always will. Which is not a bad thing.
gapmc, vocals - contempt

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