Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the first new Pantera song in 12 years.
Even though ”Piss” kinda resembles another Pantera tune, I like this little ditty all the same. “Piss” is a previously unreleased song the band put on their 20th anniversary reissue of Vulgar Display Of Power. Some bottom of the barrel scrapage is to be expected with these sorts of releases, but in this case it’s very much a welcome thing.
I always thought Vulgar Display was Pantera at their most intensely focused. The production–especially Vinnie Paul’s drums–is very crisp. The guitars are tightly dialed in; there seems to be few if any out-of-sync moments on Dimebag Darrell’s tracks. Rex’s jazzbo walking bass lines are inspired. Phil’s vocals hit the right balance between the ‘snarl’ and ‘sing’ settings. While the second half of the disc could get a bit ropey–yes I’m looking at you ”Live in a Hole” and “Rise”–for the most part the songs nail all the bases you want covered in a metal album.
So hearing an unreleased tune like “Piss” isn’t so bad after all. It may not be perfect, but it shows off Pantera’s Texas-tinged bigger-than big, badder-than-bad-ass take on heavy music. Even better, it’s a reminder of a powerful band at the peak of their creative energies.
That’s not a bad little trick for a song that never made the cut until now.
