After over 20 years, Pantera took to the stage at the Download Festival this past weekend, marking their first appearance in the UK in two decades. The band, famous for being one of the most iconic heavy metal offerings ever, performed a wide-ranging set that included classics like ‘I’m Broken’, ‘5 Minutes Alone’, and ‘This Love’ among others. Fans who missed out on the performance can catch Pantera in action in the video clips currently circulating online.
Pantera’s headlining slot at Download was announced after the band reunited for performances last year in the US. Their most recent appearance in the UK and Ireland follows the release of news that the band will tour the territories early next year for the first time in 20 years. Pantera’s 2025 UK and Ireland tour will begin on 18 February at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow and take the band to Leeds, Dublin, Birmingham, and finishing at the OVO Arena Wembley in London.
The lineup for the band has been revamped with touring drummer Charlie Benante, Black Label Society guitarist Zakk Wylde, and original members Rex Brown on bass guitar and Phil Anselmo on vocals. The band’s latest live appearances include a support slot for Metallica as part of the latter’s ‘72 Seasons’ tour in the US.
Reviewers and critics have lauded the performance at Download, with the show providing “one of its most promising editions in recent memory, and proving that it is one of the main events leading the way when it comes to creating opportunities for the next generation of headliners.”
In other parts of the world, the band has recently been watched with a critical eye, and in 2023, two top German festivals cancelled the band’s planned performances due to past controversies about alleged racism. Fans still can’t wait to catch the heavy-metal icons on the UK and Ireland stage next year
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