There’s something about the open air at Jones Beach Theater that always make shows seem so damn huge. Pantera brought their summer tour to Long Island with support from Amon Amarth and Shock Narcotic. The night had a sense of sadness as the metal community was collectively mourning, following the death of Ozzy Osbourne, who was honored throughout the show.
Shock Narcotic opened with a short but punishing set that peeled the paint off the venue’s concrete walls. Featuring Shawn Knight (Child Bite) on vocals, Jeff Tuttle (ex-The Dillinger Escape Plan) on guitars, Don Slater (Battlecross) on bass, and Adam Jarvis (Misery Index, Pig Destroyer, Scour) on drums, the band was volatile and unforgiving. From Don’s frantic basslines and Shawn Knight’s erratic vocal presence that felt like an assault on calm itself on songs like “Trash for the Pile,” and “A Mass Suicide in Progress” blurred the lines between Grindcore and Hardcore with little time to breathe between songs.
Next up, the theatrical Amon Amarth gave the crowd a Viking helmet-sized dose of melodic death metal and statues. Spearheading their set with “Guardians of Asgaard.” On that crammed stage they still had room to bring our inner heathens on “The Pursuit of Vikings” and have the crowd sit down and row along to “Put Your Back Into the Oar.” They dedicated “Raise Your Horns” to Ozzy, turning the venue into a sea of fists and plastic beer cups. With the battle cry of “Twilight of the Thunder God,” vocalist Johan Hegg reminded us why they’re one of the most consistent and completely locked-in live bands in metal today.
But this night belonged to Pantera. This was also my first time seeing them since 2001 on the Extreme Steel tour. When they rolled out the intro and banner dropped, the place ignited into a fire-filled stage of “Hellbound.”. Phil Anselmo commanded the stage with raw presence, Rex was Rex, it felt solid. From there, it was a brutal, precision-delivered setlist that stomped through the classics: “Goddamn Electric,” with a surprise on the ending solo, Phil joined on guitar to take it home! Hearing Charlie Benante (Anthrax, The Violent Hour) and Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society/Zakk Sabbath) play “Becoming,” and “I’m Broken,” made it click in my head why they were chosen. Before ending the main set with “Cowboys From Hell.”
Before they started the encore, Phil stopped to acknowledge Ozzy; “We lost a giant,” he said before launching into “Electric Funeral” making its US debut, paying direct homage to Ozzy and Black Sabbath. With a wonderful video wall of photos with Ozzy. The rest of the encore was a full-force exorcism, with “Walk” and guest gang vocals from Charlie’s fellow Anthrax bassist Frank Bello and members of both openers. This was followed by “Domination/Hollow.”
And just when it felt like the crowd had nothing left, Anselmo snarled into “Fucking Hostile” and capped the night with an A cappella nod to “Stairway to Heaven” before a mic drop and band bow.
Pantera may be a touring tribute now. It may have been heavier and a little slower, but what they’re delivering live is more than nostalgia. It’s legacy in motion.
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Shock Narcotic photos courtesy of Rich Zoeller Photography
OMAR CORDY
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