Rain, Rage, and Remembrance: Pantera Ignites Tinley Park with Metal and Meaning

Jul 21, 2025 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

By James Currie

The skies above Tinley Park looked ominous on the morning of the Pantera show in Tinley Park, casting doubt over whether one of the summer’s heaviest tours would go off as planned. But by late afternoon, the rain had cleared, the air had thickened with humidity and anticipation, and the grounds of Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre were brimming with fans eager for war cries and riff carnage. What followed was an explosive, metal-forged triple bill that saw Housecore Records own (Anselmo’s label) SNAFU kick off the night followed by Sweden’s viking metal kings Amon Amarth opening the gates of Valhalla before Pantera delivered a furious set that scorched the stage like a Texas wildfire.

Amon Amarth wasted no time transforming the amphitheatre into a Nordic battlefield. Their stage setup was an epic sight: two towering inflatable Viking guards flanked the band, looming like mythic sentinels. Drummer Jocke Wallgren sat perched atop a drum riser built into an enormous Viking helmet, pounding with the precision of a berserker keeping pace on a longship. Behind them, a giant LED wall displayed cinematic visuals of raging seas, longboats and bloodied battlefields, effectively immersing the crowd in their mythic narrative.

Opening with the thunderous “Guardians of Asgaard,” the band had fists in the air and heads banging by the first chorus. They followed with fan-favorite “Shield Wall” and the ferocious “Deceiver of the Gods,” both delivered with battlefield fervor. Frontman Johan Hegg, with his signature growl and massive presence, commanded the crowd like a general rallying troops. “Raise your horns!” he shouted before launching into, of course, “Raise Your Horns,” prompting hundreds of beer cups and a few viking drinking horns to lift skyward in salute. Their set ended with “Twilight of the Thunder God,” a fitting climax as lightning crackled faintly in the distance, remnants of the storm that had passed.

After a quick change over, a giant banner wall displaying Pantera’s name covered the stage and amps buzzing behind it, the tension reached a fever pitch. Then, with a flash of fire and the unmistakable riff of “Cowboys From Hell,” (intro on tape) and retrospect video clips on the big screen, Pantera exploded onto the stage with “Hellbound” This incarnation featuring surviving members Philip Anselmo and Rex Brown, flanked by Zakk Wylde on guitar and Charlie Benante on drums, has become a fiery tribute and continuation of the band’s legacy and Saturday night’s performance was nothing short of incendiary.

The setlist was a brutal ride through their greatest hits: “Mouth for War,” “5 Minutes Alone,” and “Strength Beyond Strength” pounded through the humid night air with vicious clarity. Wylde’s guitar work paid homage to Dimebag Darrell without imitation as his solos were wild, emotional, and reverent. Anselmo, grizzled and gruff, seemed in command and genuinely moved by the crowd’s roars clapping after Wylde’s solos seemingly congratulating his guitar tribute work.

Side note, Anselmo looked and sounded better than he has been in the past decade by far as he was slimed down and vocal range on point.

Throughout the night, Anselmo was visibly emotional and deeply grateful, constantly thanking the fans for continuing to support the Pantera name. “It means the world that you still care,” he told the roaring audience, his voice raw with sincerity. He also spoke at length about the importance of honoring the band’s fallen brothers, Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul, and how much it meant to him and Rex and a nod to Wylde and Benante for helping to keep their legacy alive. The crowd responded with massive cheers and chants of “Dimebag! Dimebag!” that echoed across the amphitheater.

Continuing, a huge circle pit opened early with fans chanting along with chorus’ loud enough to shake the venue’s concrete. But the most emotional moment came during “10’s” Video projections of Dimebag and Vinnie glowed on the screens and a sea of devil horns rose in tribute as Anselmo and Wylde pushed the song into a transcendent guitar-vocal exchange.

Behind the kit, Benante delivered a thunderous performance that honored Vinnie Paul’s signature style while adding his own flair. His drums sounded absolutely massive, particularly the kick drums, which seemed to use triggers just like Vinnie once did, giving them that unmistakable punch and clarity in the mix. The kit itself was a heartfelt tribute: emblazoned on the kick drum heads were images of Dimebag and Vinnie, a visual reminder that their spirits were right there on stage with the band.

By the time “Cowboys from Hell” tore through the amphitheatre, the crowd was drenched, not in rain, but sweat and adrenaline. But Pantera wasn’t finished yet. They closed the night with their furious anthem “Fucking Hostile,” sending the front-of-stage mosh pit into complete chaos. Joining the band on stage were opening act members from SNAFU and Amon Armarth calling out, “Re – Spect – Walk” with the rest of the house. Bodies in the pit flew over each other, fists pumped and became a swirling vortex of aggression and catharsis, exactly the kind of release the crowd had come for.

What began as a day soaked in storms ended with fire, fury, and heart. It was more than a concert, it was a celebration, a tribute, and a resurrection. Tinley Park got a night of metal history, forged in loss, carried by legacy and delivered with unrelenting power.