Pantera // Power Trip // King Parrot // Live Review // The 3Arena // Dublin
When I saw this gig announced I could not believe my eyes, Pantera was the soundtrack to my youth, the heavier side of my youth.
A lot of what I listened to was not really on the radar of a lot of, say, my peers today. Everyone did the obvious when it came to the main bands back in the day: Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Lamb Of God, Sepultura, and I dabbled but never really got invested in many of them. But Pantera, sweet baby Jesus, when I heard ‘Vulgar Display Of Power’ for the first time and Dimebag’s guitar work, I was floored.
I can remember as a geeky teen walking the streets of Belfast with my mates singing the lyrics of that album as we dreamed of one day seeing a band of this stature live, and thankfully, we got to see the original iteration live in my home town of Belfast when they supported Megadeth at The Ulster Hall back in 1992. Not only did I see the guys live, but I actually ran into Dime and Vinnie on the streets of Belfast (Blackstaff Square) as they walked from their Hotel to the venue, and I captured a few dodgy photos of them on my old 35mm film camera, as at the time I was studying photography at college not far from the spot we met. The lads then went on to do a signing session at the old Making Tracks record store, and it was fucking rammed! I don’t think they knew what they were in for, with one young chancer ripping the cap off Phil’s head and legging it out the door! the craic was 90’ as we say, and it set up what was to be one of my favourite live shows ever. So, after all these years, the breakup of the band and the subsequent tragedy that followed, I never saw this day coming. So for me, this will be a very special night indeed.
Dimebag + Phil captured in Belfast @ Blackstaff Square + Makin Track’s signing session 1992.
Now, many moons later, not only will I be here to document their return to Ireland, but I will be in the pit shooting the band, too, that kinda blows my mind. Now, we also have the majestic Zakk Wylde on guitar, stepping in for Dime, a deserving and equally crazy character; I am certainly looking forward to seeing how it all will unfold.
In support, we have the Aussie Grindcore band King Parrot, I have never experienced them in the flesh but I have no doubt it will be part beautiful, part chaos! Alongside King Parrot we have the mighty Power Trip, all the way from Dallas, Texas, USA these guys pack a serious punch and will be a welcome appetiser for Pantera.
So a long road trip from North to South and around 6pm ish I land at my destination and park up, about a 5 min walk from the venue, I can see it lit up against the dark Dublin skyline, I top up on munchies and head across to the venue for 7pm as the excitement levels build! The venue is relatively quiet when King Parrot hit the stage, a combination of tea time Dublin City centre traffic and the locals out enjoying the city’s hospitality before the Headliners light up the stage. But it doesn’t stop the guys delivering blistering set, angst-ridden and a ballsy performance these guys are up there just living their lives the only way they know how, fuckin pedal to the metal! the crowd respond in kind giving it all back 100%, regardless or genre if you can deliver a performance of the intensity of King Parrot, any metal crowd will have your back.
The security staff were handing out ear plugs in advance, and I can understand why, the noise levels up front are thunderous, the guitars slamming, drums crashing, and the vocals bellowing out over the top of us in the pit as we clamber to capture the energy of the set in one shot, but thankfully King Parrot deliver in presence and sonically as Dublin I can’t take their eyes off them, these old school rockers know how to deliver, school bands know how to do it! Their energy is off the charts; the stage presence is exactly what you want to see from a band with a sound like this. These guys are no spring chickens, but that means nothing when passion is flowing through your veins, everything they do live encapsulates who they are as a band, pay attention, young padowans, you can learn a lot here. King Parrot kicked off a great night of music making a big impression and announcing that they’re just not here to make up the numbers.
A short break and a little bit of time to catch our breaths as Power Trip land on stage at 8:20 and have around 40 minutes to erase King Parrot’s performance from our minds, Unfortunately for some reason the lads are camera shy tonight, so no photos were allowed of the band, disappointing but alas as The Mandalorian says “This is the way”, Power Trip a highly intensive crossover Thrash band, have been sprinkling their own brand of delirious Thrash since 2008. The line-up now has Seth Gilmore, who replaced the original vocalist Riley Gale in 2023, who sadly passed. For some fans, these decisions for a band to continue can be a contentious issue, but as a passionate music fan, the music is everything and to have a band that you love doing what they do once again is everything. So I applaud that decision and it seems the 13,000 capacity crowd agrees. We may still be waiting for new music from the band as their last studio release was ‘Nightmare Logic’ back in 2017, but that does not stop these guys from delivering a powerhouse performance that has Dublin engrossed.
Power Trip was one of the biggest Thrash bands back in the day, with an army of fans far and wide they helped shape modern thrash as it is today, bringing new elements to the genre and pushing boundaries every chance they could and even though we are in a new evolution of the band, Power Trip are still majestic in 2025. Break-neck intensity, cutting riffage and still masters of their art. A killer set reminds me just how good they are, all the ingredients required to drive home a live performance and make you want to see them live again. Well played lads.
Cometh the hour, cometh the band. I still can’t quite wrap my head around the fact that in a few minutes, I am going to be in the pit in front of Pantera, as we make our way to the stage the room is rammed, the bars are in full flow and the atmosphere is electric, legacy videos of the band are playing on the large screens by the side of the stage which is now covered by a gargantuan Pantera curtain. The videos show the lads living their best lives, on and off the stage, young Pantera in full flow as my mind’s eye still sees them today. Security takes us across the pit to stage left where the roadies are working furiously getting gear in and out and while we are standing awaiting the green light, one Zakk Wylde comes down to the pit and makes his way across the audience shaking hands, dishing out high fives and whipping up the crowd into a frenzy, I can see Phil Anselmo up on stage as he himself watches the old videos of the band, quite a moment. Just before Zakk takes to the stage he takes the time to hug members of the entourage side stage and then takes his place as the countdown begins. As the curtain drops the guys open with ‘New Level’ and Dublin loses its mind.
The pit is chaotic, there are around 6 or 7 of us fighting for space, multiple arena security and Pantera’s own security guys also, Camera guys providing video for the crowd and us lunatics trying to capture the band live, some craic. There are flames going off behind the stage as the band slays their way through the opening number, next up is my all-time favourite metal track! ‘Mouth For War’ the riff is just majestic, the balance between Dime’s guitar work, Vinnie Paul’s drums and Phil’s vocals just blows my mind every time I hear it, in the pit as the song is bellowed out over me it’s a serious pinch yourself moment right there.
‘Im Broken’ and ‘Five Minutes Alone’ hit home also, two massive tracks that have those glorious Dimebag signature sounds driving through them, Zakk nails the angst and intensity of Dime’s delivery live, ‘This Love’ awww man what a tune!!! Hearing that once again in the flesh sends shivers up my spine, it is a crazy-beautiful song that every metal-head can relate to, the bitter-sweet experience of falling in and out of love #tresromantic
‘Walk’, ‘Hollow’ and of course ‘Cowboys From Hell’ just put the cherry on top of a fantastic nights music that walks you down memory lane like you’ve just received a beating in said lane, but thanking the guy who delivered it so well. How do you wrap up a set packed with some of the most iconic metal tunes of the early 90’s? ‘Fucking Hostile’ of course! Dublin by this stage was more than Fucking Hostile, it was on fire! 13,000 sweaty bodies of all ages, colours and creeds all in it together just caught up in the euphoria that you experience once in a lifetime. 32 years in the making, Pantera’s return to Ireland was an absolute triumph. Phil talked about a potential return, I only hope he’s good to his word. As the huddled masses stream out onto the Dublin streets and head for their coaches, cars and closest bars, all is good in the world and once again we are reminded that good things do indeed come to those who wait. Just not 32 years lads, you’re taking the piss.
Till next time.
Photography: Mark McGrogan
@flashartmark #flashartmark
