Slayer’s Kerry King Inspired Dimebag Darrell to Thrash — Video Interview

It's no secret that Texas legends Pantera started out as a good time glam metal band and self-released four albums -- 1983's 'Metal Magic,' 1984's 'Projects in the Jungle,' 1985's 'I am the Night' and 1988's 'Power Metal' -- before finding their power groove and becoming the skullcrushing Southern thrash outfit with which they'd make metal history.

The band's first album with vocalist Phil Anselmo wasn't even 1990's 'Cowboys From Hell' as some fans believe it to be; it was 'Power Metal.' And while that record was far heavier than the three discs that featured the band's former vocalist Terry Glaze, it was largely inspired by Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and other new wave of British heavy metal bands. Even the vocals lacked Anselmo's later snarl and bite. It wasn't until the band members absorbed the music of Slayer and Metallica that their music would become far more menacing and aggressive.

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According to Anselmo, a pivotal moment for Pantera came in the late '80s when Anselmo befriended Slayer guitarist Kerry King and scheduled a jam session with him.

"I think that moment in time was an absolute turning point, especially for [guitarist 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott]," Anselmo told Noisecreep during last week's ''Creep Show' podcast. "Just jamming with Kerry King, I believe it gave Dimebag new respect for what was going on in extreme music. Slayer had just recorded 1988's 'South of Heaven.' They were the epitome of the extreme band. So that was a [big] development right there, but a natural one."

Pantera will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of 'Cowboys in Hell' later this year with a special re-release of the album.