Editing Pantera (section)

===1986–1989: Anselmo's introduction and ''Power Metal''===
Pantera began a search for Glaze's replacement and initially auditioned Matt L'Amour, a [[David Coverdale]] lookalike. He sang a number of shows with the band in Los Angeles during the winter of 1986, but it became somewhat apparent that L'Amour could not hit the high notes Glaze was capable of. Together with his lack of stage presence, this meant that Pantera could only play cover songs, leading to L'Amour's departure.<ref>Daniels, Neil; ''Reinventing Metal: The True Story of Pantera and the Tragically Short Life of Dimebag Darrell'' pp. 42–43 {{ISBN|9781480341036}}</ref> Pantera next auditioned [[El Paso, Texas|El Paso]] native Rick Mythiasin, later to sing for [[Steel Prophet]] and [[Agent Steel]]; however, cultural and image differences – Mythiasin failed to adapt to the [[Southern United States|Southern]] culture of the other members – meant his tenure was even shorter than that of L'Amour.<ref>Daniels; ''Reinventing Metal''; pp. 44–45</ref> A former schoolmate of the Abbott brothers, David Peacock of the band Forced Entry (who had supported [[Warlock (band)|Warlock]]),<ref>Daniels, ''Reinventing Metal'', pp. 46–47</ref> joined the band as lead vocalist in the spring of 1986, but despite Pantera doing most of the work for their fourth album during the summer with Peacock, Rex and the Abbotts found Peacock's voice to be unsuited to the musical direction Pantera wished for.<ref>Daniels; ''Reinventing Metal'', p. 48</ref> By the end of the year, Pantera even revisited original frontman Donny Hart, but Hart himself knew that he was not the right frontman Pantera were seeking and Jerry Abbott was going to fire him.

[[File:Phil anselmo hellfest 2013 (cropped).JPG|thumb|left|upright|Phil Anselmo's (pictured in 2013) raspy vocals gave a heavier sound to Pantera's music.]]
Also in 1986, [[New Orleans, Louisiana|New Orleans]] native and then-eighteen year old [[Phil Anselmo]] had heard Pantera were looking for a singer.<ref>Daniels; ''Reinventing Metal'', p. 54</ref> At the end of the year, they invited him to audition, and the eighteen-year old Anselmo was hired as the new vocalist on the spot.<ref name="jwlw">{{cite web|last=Wiederhorn|first=Jon|title=28 Years Ago: Pantera Release 'Power Metal'|url=http://loudwire.com/pantera-power-metal-album-anniversary/|website=Loudwire|access-date=January 24, 2017|date=June 24, 2016}}</ref> Anselmo had previously been the vocalist for the bands Samhain<ref name="MusicMight" /> (not to be confused with [[Glenn Danzig]]'s [[Samhain (band)|band of the same name]]) and Razor White.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/phil_anselmo-far_beyond_driven|title=Phil Anselmo Far Beyond Driven|last=Carman|first=Keith|date=November 29, 2010|work=Exclaim!|access-date=February 4, 2019}}</ref> Upon playing with Pantera, Anselmo immediately clicked with the other three members.<ref name="jwlw" /> The years 1986 and 1987 saw the release of several landmark [[thrash metal]] albums that would prove influential to Pantera's developing musical style. Among the most prominent of these were [[Metallica]]'s ''[[Master of Puppets]]'', [[Slayer]]'s ''[[Reign in Blood]]'', [[Anthrax (American band)|Anthrax]]'s ''[[Among the Living]],'' and [[Megadeth]]'s ''[[Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?]]''.<ref name="btm">{{cite video |people=[[VH1]] |date=2006 |title=[[Behind the Music]] |medium=TV series}}</ref> When Anselmo joined the band, he would bring his mixtapes with him and play bands such as [[Exhorder]], [[Slayer]], and [[Rigor Mortis (band)|Rigor Mortis]] to the other band members.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ4hUHqUXc4&list=PL_HIIWP6T_gt-eTMDCJcly1dWORIH8aLX| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/XJ4hUHqUXc4| archive-date=2021-10-30|title=ニューオリンズ ヘヴィロック狂想曲（１）| date=April 30, 2015|access-date=July 20, 2021|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 1988, with Anselmo as the new vocalist, Pantera released their fourth studio album, titled ''[[Power Metal (album)|Power Metal]]''.<ref name="upr" /> ''Power Metal'', like Pantera's previous three albums, was released by Metal Magic Records, but showcased a change in their sound.<ref name="jwlw" /> By far the band's heaviest album at this point, ''Power Metal'' had little resemblance to the [[power metal]] subgenre, but was a mix of 1980s glam metal and thrash metal, sometimes blending both styles in a single song.<ref name="jwlw"/> Complementing the band's new sonic approach were Anselmo's harder-edged vocals compared to those of Terry Glaze.<ref name="jwlw" /> After the release of ''Power Metal'', the band members decided to seriously reconsider their glam metal image and sound.<ref name="jwlw" /> Referring to the band's spandex appearance, Vinnie Paul remarked at a band meeting that "These magic clothes don't play music; we do. Let's just go out there and be comfortable, jeans, t-shirt, whatever, and see where it goes."<ref name="btm" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Metal Retrospective: Pantera|url=https://ametalstateofmind.com/2011/11/08/metal-retrospective-pantera/2/|website=A Metal State of Mind|access-date=January 24, 2017|date=November 8, 2011|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202123220/https://ametalstateofmind.com/2011/11/08/metal-retrospective-pantera/2/|archive-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref> The band members would later no longer acknowledge their independent releases, including ''Power Metal'', as they sculpted a new, heavier image to accompany their later [[groove metal]] sound. Their four independent albums are not listed on the band's official website and have become hard-to-find collector's items.

Shortly after ''Power Metal'' was released, [[Megadeth]] needed a guitarist and asked [[Dimebag Darrell|Diamond Darrell]] to join the band. Darrell insisted that his brother, bandmate Vinnie Paul, be included. However, Megadeth had already hired [[Nick Menza]] as their new drummer so Darrell declined the offer, and [[Dave Mustaine]] instead decided on [[Marty Friedman]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Dave Mustaine Recalls Almost Hiring Dimebag & Vinnie Paul For Megadeth in 1988 |url=https://metalinjection.net/latest-news/dave-mustaine-recalls-almost-hiring-dimebag-vinnie-paul-for-megadeth-in-1988 |website=Metal Injection|date=March 2, 2019 }}</ref>