Editing Reinventing the Steel

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Reinventing the Steel
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Pantera]]
| cover      = Pantera Reinventing the Steel.jpg
| alt        = A shirtless man jumping through fire while holding a bottle of whiskey.
| released   = {{Start date|2000|3|21}}
| recorded   = 1999–2000
| studio     = Chasin Jason Studios, Arlington, Texas
| genre      = [[Groove metal]]
| length     = {{Duration|m=43|s=53}}
| label      =
* [[Elektra Records|Elektra]]
* [[East West Records|East West]]
| producer   =
* [[Dimebag Darrell]]
* [[Vinnie Paul]]
* [[Sterling Winfield]]
| prev_title = [[Official Live: 101 Proof]]
| prev_year  = 1997
| next_title = [[The Best of Pantera: Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboys' Vulgar Hits!]]
| next_year  = 2003
| misc       = {{Extra chronology
 | artist     = [[Pantera]] studio album
 | type       = studio
 | prev_title = [[The Great Southern Trendkill]]
 | prev_year  = 1996
 | title      = Reinventing the Steel
 | year       = 2000
 | next_title = 
 | next_year  = 
}}{{Singles
 | name        = Reinventing the Steel
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[Revolution Is My Name]]
 | single1date = January 23, 2000
 | single2     = [[Hole in the Sky (song)|Hole in the Sky]]
 | single2date = November 21, 2000 (Japan)
}}
}}

'''''Reinventing the Steel''''' is the ninth and final studio album by American [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Pantera]], released on March 21, 2000,<ref>{{cite web|title=pantera.com|url=http://pantera.com/reinventingthesteel/|access-date=March 16, 2015}}</ref> March 27 in the UK<ref>{{cite web |title=Album Releases: Week Starting March 27, 2000 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2000/Music-Week-2000-03-25.pdf |website=Music Week |access-date=May 9, 2025 |pages=34 |date=March 25, 2000}}</ref> and April 5 in Japan,<ref>{{cite web |title=激鉄 {{!}} パンテラ |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/131346/products/39540/1/ |website=Oricon |access-date=May 23, 2025}}</ref> through [[Elektra Records]] and [[East West Records]].

==Background==
''Reinventing the Steel'' was produced by the Abbott brothers in addition to [[Sterling Winfield]], making it Pantera's first studio album since 1988's ''[[Power Metal (album)|Power Metal]]'' not to be produced by [[Terry Date]].

In Australia, a two-disc "Tour Edition" of the album was released. The first disc consists of the album proper while the second is an unofficial hits compilation.

The album was reissued in October 20, 2020 with extra discs including a new mix by Date and unreleased tracks to honor the album's 20th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/pantera-reinventing-the-steel-expanded-20th-anniversary-reissue-details-revealed/|title = PANTERA: 'Reinventing the Steel' Expanded 20th-Anniversary Reissue Details Revealed|date = September 10, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pantera Official Store |url=https://panterastore.com/ |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=Pantera Official Store |language=en}}</ref>

Unlike other Pantera releases, two [[A-side and B-side|B-sides]] were recorded during the ''Reinventing the Steel'' sessions, those being "Avoid the Light" and "Immortally Insane", found on the ''[[Dracula 2000 (soundtrack)|Dracula 2000]]'' and ''[[Heavy Metal 2000]]'', and the ''[[The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003 film)|Texas Chainsaw Massacre]]'' soundtracks, respectively.

Singer [[Phil Anselmo]] named ''Reinventing the Steel'' as his favorite Pantera album.<ref>{{Cite web |last=[[Revolver Magazine]] |date=April 27, 2021 |title=Philip Anselmo Ranks Pantera Albums: Best to Worst |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DebriGPJMqg |access-date=22 June 2024 |publisher=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

==Lyrics and style==
''Reinventing the Steel'' contains lyrics mostly about the band itself, as on "We'll Grind that Axe for a Long Time" (where the band members tell about how they have kept it "true" throughout the years, while many of their peers "sucked up for the fame") and "[[I'll Cast a Shadow]]" (about Pantera's influence on the genre). There are also songs about their fans, like "Goddamn Electric" and "You've Got to Belong to It". "Goddamn Electric" mentions [[Black Sabbath]] and [[Slayer]], two of Pantera's main influences. The solo for "Goddamn Electric" was recorded by [[Kerry King]] in a bathroom after [[Slayer]] performed at [[Ozzfest]] in Dallas on July 13, 1999.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-panteras-reinventing-steel | title=5 Things You Didn't Know About Pantera's 'Reinventing the Steel' | date=March 21, 2018 }}</ref> The band members dedicated ''Reinventing the Steel'' to their fans who they viewed as their "brothers and sisters".

==Artwork==
The cover art is by Scott Caliva (1967–2003), a friend of Pantera lead singer [[Phil Anselmo]]. Caliva took the photo of a partygoer at Anselmo's house jumping through a bonfire clutching a bottle of [[Wild Turkey (bourbon)|Wild Turkey bourbon whiskey]]. The bottle is [[Pixelization|pixelated]] on the cover so the label would not be visible, to avoid trademark infringement.

The 20th Anniversary Edition cover art was only made with the steel marking background, along with the logo and the album name similar to their 1990 album, ''[[Cowboys from Hell]]''.

==Release==
===Commercial performance===
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/reinventing-the-steel-mw0000053175|title=Reinventing the Steel – Pantera|website=[[AllMusic]]|first=Steve|last=Huey|access-date=February 28, 2012}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Alternative Press (music magazine)|Alternative Press]]''
| rev2Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="cduniverse" />
| rev3 = ''[[The Austin Chronicle]]''
| rev3Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="austin">{{cite news|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2000-05-05/77098/|title=Review: Pantera Reinventing the Steel (EastWest) – Music|newspaper=[[The Austin Chronicle]]|first=Jerry|last=Renshaw|date=May 5, 2000|access-date=December 24, 2012}}</ref>
| rev4 = [[Blabbermouth.net]]
| rev4Score = 8/10<ref name="blabber">{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/showreview.aspx?reviewID=9|title=Pantera – Reinventing the Steel|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|first=Borivoj|last=Krgin|access-date=May 24, 2012}}</ref>
| rev5 = [[Chronicles of Chaos (webzine)|Chronicles of Chaos]]
| rev5Score = 7/10<ref name="coc">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/reviews/albums/2-1657_pantera_reinventing_the_steel.aspx|title=Pantera – Reinventing the Steel : Review|magazine=[[Chronicles of Chaos (webzine)|Chronicles of Chaos]]|first=Paul|last=Schwarz|date=August 12, 2000|access-date=December 24, 2012}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev6Score = B+<ref name="ew" />
| rev7 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev7Score = 6/10<ref name="cduniverse" />
| rev8 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev8Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="cduniverse" />
| rev9 = [[Robert Christgau]]
| rev9Score = {{Rating-Christgau|dud}}<ref name="christgau">{{cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=pantera|title=CG: Pantera|publisher=RobertChristgau.com|first=Robert|last=Christgau|author-link=Robert Christgau|access-date=December 24, 2012}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev10Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="rs" />
}}

''Reinventing the Steel'' debuted at number four on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and number five on the Top Internet Albums, selling 161,105 copies in its first week of release according to [[Luminate (company)|Nielsen Soundscan]]. On its second week, it fell to number 24, selling only 59,962 copies, a 62.8% drop in sales. In total, the album only appeared on that chart for twelve weeks. On May 2, the album was certified gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA), denoting 500,000 units sold.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120913111030/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=pantera&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25 Pantera at the RIAA's Gold & Platinum Program database]</ref> However, it has yet to reach platinum status, making it Pantera's only major-label studio album not to reach sales of 1,000,000. According to [[Luminate (company)|Nielsen SoundScan]], the album has sold 593,000 copies domestically as of October 2003. It also debuted at number eight on the Top Canadian Albums chart.

In a 2022 interview with ''Gibson TV'', [[Rex Brown]] blamed the album's lacklustre success compared to the band's previous albums on the dominance of the [[nu metal]] genre at the time of its release.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-18 |title=Pantera's Rex Brown Blames Nu-Metal for 'Reinventing the Steel''s Lukewarm Reception |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/panteras-rex-brown-blames-nu-metal-reinventing-steels-lukewarm-reception |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Revolver |language=en}}</ref>

=== Reception ===
The album was generally well received upon release, though reviews were less enthusiastic than on their previous albums. ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' gave the album a score of 3.5/5, and called it "Metal-revivalist....relying on the genre's primal elements of rage and analog noise...chopped up with squealing dissonance....brutal enough to please underground purists and familiar enough for weekend headbangers."<ref name="rs">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/pantera/albums/album/187575/review/6067311/reinventing_the_steel|title=Pantera: Reinventing The Steel : Music Reviews|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|first=Matt|last=Diehl|date=May 25, 2000|access-date=December 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013132509/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/pantera/albums/album/187575/review/6067311/reinventing_the_steel|archive-date=October 13, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' stated that it "...resumes their scorched-earth policy with vigor....dropping aural anvils [along] with a dash of inventiveness..."<ref name="ew">{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2000/03/24/reinventing-steel/|title=Reinventing the Steel Review|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|first=David|last=Hiltbrand|date=March 24, 2000|access-date=May 13, 2012}}</ref>

''[[Q magazine|Q]]'' magazine gave it 3 out of 5 stars and said it was "Pantera's attempt to upgrade <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Judas Priest]]'s] ''[[British Steel (album)|British Steel]]''-era pure metal spirit."<ref name="cduniverse">{{cite web|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1096301&style=music|title=Pantera – Reinventing the Steel CD Album|publisher=[[CD Universe]]|access-date=December 24, 2012}}</ref> ''[[Alternative Press (music magazine)|Alternative Press]]'' echoed this sentiment, calling it "An undiluted, unvarnished slab of riffs paying distinct homage to Judas Priest's ''British Steel'', and not just in a titular sense, but in basic song construction."<ref name="cduniverse" /> [[AllMusic]] reviewer Steve Huey gave the album 3 out of 5 stars, and stated "''Reinventing the Steel'' is a nonstop assault on the senses, offering no respite from the intensity until the album has stopped playing. Yet somehow, it comes off as a cut below their best albums; perhaps it's that the band's sound lacks the sense of freshness that sparked ''Cowboys from Hell'', ''Vulgar Display of Power'', and ''Far Beyond Driven''."<ref>{{Citation |title=Reinventing the Steel - Pantera {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/reinventing-the-steel-mw0000053175 |access-date=2024-09-11 |language=en}}</ref>

===Accolades===
In the 2000 ''[[Metal Edge]]'' Readers' Choice Awards, the album was voted "Album of the Year" and "Album Cover of the Year" (tying with [[Iron Maiden]]'s ''[[Brave New World (Iron Maiden album)|Brave New World]]'' for the latter), while the single "[[Revolution Is My Name]]" won "Song of the Year".<ref>Metal Edge, June 2001</ref>

"Revolution Is My Name" was nominated for a [[Grammy Award]] for [[Best Metal Performance]] in 2001, but lost to [[Deftones]]' "Elite".

The album was ranked at No. 2 on ''[[Guitar World]]'''s Readers Poll for "The Top 10 Guitar Albums of 2000".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guitarworld.com/readers-poll-results-top-10-guitar-albums-2000#slide-8 |title=Readers Poll Results: The Top 10 Guitar Albums of 2000 {{!}} Guitar World |website=www.guitarworld.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103230850/http://www.guitarworld.com/readers-poll-results-top-10-guitar-albums-2000 |archive-date=2012-01-03}}</ref>

A section of "Death Rattle" was rerecorded and renamed to “Pre-Hibernation” for the [[SpongeBob SquarePants (season 2)|2001]] episode of ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]'' called "Pre-Hibernation Week".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/remember_when_pantera_were_featured_on_that_episode_of_spongebob/|title=Remember when Pantera were featured on that episode of Spongebob?|date=March 30, 2015|publisher=Alternative Press|access-date=April 26, 2021}}</ref> The song appears in the SpongeBob Original Theme Highlights album.

==Track listing==
All credits adapted from the original CD issue.<ref name=LinerNotes>{{cite AV media notes |title=Reinventing the Steel |others= [[Pantera]] |type= CD booklet|year=2000|publisher=[[Warner Music Group]]|page=2|id=7559-62451-2}}</ref>
{{Track listing
| all_writing = Pantera
| title1 = Hellbound
| length1 = 2:41
| title2 = Goddamn Electric
| note2 = featuring [[Kerry King]]
| length2 = 4:56
| title3 = Yesterday Don't Mean Shit
| length3 = 4:19
| title4 = You've Got to Belong to It
| length4 = 4:13
| title5 = [[Revolution Is My Name]]
| length5 = 5:15
| title6 = Death Rattle
| length6 = 3:17
| title7 = We'll Grind That Axe for a Long Time
| length7 = 3:44
| title8 = Uplift
| length8 = 3:45
| title9 = It Makes Them Disappear
| length9 = 6:21
| title10 = [[I'll Cast a Shadow]]
| length10 = 5:22
|total_length = 43:53
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Japanese edition bonus track
| title11 = [[Hole in the Sky (song)|Hole in the Sky]]
| note11  = [[Black Sabbath]] cover
| length11 = 4:17
| total_length = 48:10
}}

===20th Anniversary Edition===
Released in October 20, 2020, ''The 20th Anniversary Edition of Reinventing the Steel'' includes re-mixes of the tracklist done by longtime Pantera producer [[Terry Date]], as well as singles that were previously not released on any studio albums also remixed by Terry Date, radio edits of album tracks, and instrumental rough mixes of the album's original tracks. 
{{Track listing
| all_writing = Pantera (except where noted)
| headline = Disc one
| title1 = Hellbound (2020 Terry Date mix)
| length1 = 2:41
| title2 = Goddamn Electric (2020 Terry Date mix)
| length2 = 4:56
| title3 = Yesterday Don't Mean Shit (2020 Terry Date mix)
| length3 = 4:19
| title4 = You've Got to Belong to It (2020 Terry Date mix)
| length4 = 4:13
| title5 = Revolution Is My Name (2020 Terry Date mix)
| length5 = 5:15
| title6 = Death Rattle (2020 Terry Date mix)
| length6 = 3:17
| title7 = We'll Grind That Axe for a Long Time (2020 Terry Date mix)
| length7 = 3:44
| title8 = Uplift (2020 Terry Date mix)
| length8 = 3:45
| title9 = It Makes Them Disappear (2020 Terry Date mix)
| length9 = 6:21
| title10 = I'll Cast a Shadow (2020 Terry Date mix)
| length10 = 5:22
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Disc two
| title1 = Hellbound (2020 Remaster)
| length1 = 2:41
| title2 = Goddamn Electric (2020 Remaster)
| length2 = 4:56
| title3 = Yesterday Don't Mean Shit (2020 Remaster)
| length3 = 4:19
| title4 = You've Got to Belong to It (2020 Remaster)
| length4 = 4:13
| title5 = Revolution Is My Name (2020 Remaster)
| length5 = 5:15
| title6 = Death Rattle (2020 Remaster)
| length6 = 3:17
| title7 = We'll Grind That Axe for a Long Time (2020 Remaster)
| length7 = 3:44
| title8 = Uplift (2020 Remaster)
| length8 = 3:45
| title9 = It Makes Them Disappear (2020 Remaster)
| length9 = 6:21
| title10 = I'll Cast a Shadow (2020 Remaster)
| length10 = 5:22
| title11 = Goddamn Electric (Radio Mix)
| length11 = 4:57
| title12 = Revolution Is My Name (Radio Edit) [2020 Remaster]
| length12 = 4:10
| title13 = I'll Cast a Shadow (Radio Edit)
| length13 = 3:55
| title14 = Goddamn Electric (Radio Edit)
| length14 = 4:14
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Disc three
| title1 = Avoid the Light
| length1 = 6:27
| title2 = Immortally Insane
| length2 = 5:11
| title3 = [[Cat Scratch Fever (song)|Cat Scratch Fever]]
| music3 = {{hlist|[[Ted Nugent]]}}
| length3 = 3:49
| title4 = Hole in the Sky
| music4 = {{hlist|Black Sabbath}}
| length4 = 4:13
| title5 = Electric Funeral
| music5 = {{hlist|[[Black Sabbath]]}}
| length5 = 5:43
| | title6 = Hellbound (Instrumental Rough Mix)
| length6 = 2:41
| title7 = Goddamn Electric (Instrumental Rough Mix)
| length7 = 4:56
| title8 = Yesterday Don't Mean Shit (Instrumental Rough Mix)
| length8 = 4:19
| title9 = You've Got to Belong to It (Instrumental Rough Mix)
| length9 = 4:13
| title10 = Revolution Is My Name (Instrumental Rough Mix)
| length10 = 5:15
| title11 = Death Rattle (Instrumental Rough Mix)
| length11 = 3:17
| title12 = We'll Grind That Axe for a Long Time (Instrumental Rough Mix)
| length12 = 3:44
| title13 = Uplift (Instrumental Rough Mix)
| length13 = 3:45
| title14 = It Makes Them Disappear (Instrumental Rough Mix)
| length14 = 6:21
| title15 = I'll Cast a Shadow (Instrumental Rough Mix)
| length15 = 5:22
|total_length = 172:56
}}

==Personnel==
'''Pantera'''
*[[Phil Anselmo]] – vocals
*[[Dimebag Darrell]] – guitars
*[[Rex Brown]] – bass
*[[Vinnie Paul]] – drums

'''Additional personnel'''
*[[Kerry King]] – outro guitar on "Goddamn Electric"

'''Technical personnel'''
*[[Sterling Winfield]] – production, engineering, mixing
*Vinnie Paul – production, engineering, mixing
*Dimebag Darrell – production
*[[Howie Weinberg]] – mastering at [[Masterdisk]], New York
*Recorded at Chasin Jason Studios, Arlington, Texas<ref name=LinerNotes/>

== Charts ==
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
!Chart (2000)
!Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Australia|2|artist=Pantera |album=Reinventing The Steel|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Austria|26|artist=Pantera |album=Reinventing The Steel|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardCanada|8|artist=Pantera|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Netherlands|55|artist=Pantera |album=Reinventing The Steel|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Finland|3|artist=Pantera|album=Reinventing The Steel|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|France|21|artist=Pantera |album=Reinventing The Steel|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Germany4|18|artist=Pantera|album=Reinventing The Steel|id=3255|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Hungary|12|year=2000|week=15|rowheader=true|access-date=June 20, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Ireland2|31|artist=Pantera|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|-
! scope="row"|Italian Albums (''[[Musica e Dischi]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|title=Classifiche|work=[[Musica e Dischi]]|language=it|access-date=June 20, 2024}} Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Pantera".</ref>
|align="center"|33
|-
!scope="row"|Japanese Albums ([[Oricon]])<ref name="JPN">{{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005|publisher=[[Oricon|Oricon Entertainment]]|location=Roppongi, Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9|language=ja}}</ref>
| align="center"| 40
|-
{{album chart|New Zealand|10|artist=Pantera |album=Reinventing The Steel|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Norway|14|artist=Pantera |album=Reinventing The Steel|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Scotland|43|date=20000402|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|27|artist=Pantera|album=Reinventing The Steel|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|84|artist=Pantera|album=Reinventing The Steel|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|UK2|33|date=20000402|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|UKRock|1|date=20000402|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|4|artist=Pantera|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
|}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Pantera|award=Gold|title=Reinventing The Steel|salesamount=593,000|relyear=2000|certyear=2000|salesref=<ref>{{Cite magazine |author=Billboard Staff |date=2003-10-31 |title=Pantera Members Form Damageplan |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/pantera-members-form-damageplan-68370/ |access-date=2023-03-31 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>}}
{{end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Pantera}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2000 albums]]
[[Category:Pantera albums]]
[[Category:East West Records albums]]