Is there a better opening guitar riff than what Dimebag Darrell played on “Walk”? If there is, please let me know. While rap and hip hop owned my Walkman and CD Discman in the 90’s, I always had some Pantera on deck to get me and my homies ready to play sports or just get fired up to go do something. The Vulgar Display of Power album cover is just one of the best of all time regardless of genre. To match up album artwork with the vibe of the music on the album is an art form that I’ve always loved. With this Pantera album, you knew exactly what you were getting into from the album name, album cover, and the back album cover.

“Walk” is just one of those songs that stands out to me as one of the best heavy metal songs of all time. When people ask me what my walk up song would be for baseball it would for sure be “Walk” from Pantera. It just starts out so sick with Dimebag Darrell on guitar and then Phillip Anselmo comes in with one of the best voices you’ve ever heard on a heavy metal track. If you don’t get amped up within the first few seconds of the song I don’t know if we can be friends. And for the record, while “Walk” would be my walk up song for the San Diego Padres, it was also be the song I’d use as a closer to shut shit down for my squad.

Pantera, Metallica, and Rage Against the Machine remain some of the best hype music of all time and it all started with a strong lead singer and a great lead guitarist. I lived for Pantera, Metallica, and Rage in the 90’s and there music has aged well over the years. Just watch the official music video and tell me you ain’t ready to go do some crazy shit right after it.

If you like Pantera, you’ll probably like my heavy metal playlist on Spotfify. It’s straight up a headbanger’s ball. Throw it on the boombox and piss off all of the neighbors today. It’ll make you happy. Maybe yell a bit to see if you can hang with Phil, James, and Zach. It’s good for you…