Tribute to Slain Guitarist Ends in Embarrassment

By Aaron Woods

Dec 8, 2009 marks the fifth anniversary of the death of guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott, famous for his work in such bands as Pantera, Damageplan, and Rebel Meets Rebel. “Metal Hammer,” one of the U.K.’s most popular metal music magazines, compiled some of metals top acts to record several Pantera covers in honor of the fallen musician.

Released exclusively with the Dec. 16, 2009 edition of “Metal Hammer Magazine,” the album itself has no title.

The album opens with Zakk Wylde, who was a close friend of Abbott’s, covering “Suicide Note Pt. 1.” Instrumentally, it’s a near perfect rendition, but vocally, it’s lacking. Zakk’s voice is almost hidden in the layers of instrumentation, and almost inaudible in some parts.

Horrible, and downright awful renditions of Pantera classics pollute the first part of the album.

Even Machine Head, who previously released a tribute, entitled “Aesthetics of Hate,” on their latest album “The Blackening,” failed to impress with their cover of “… Hostile.”

It’s not until track five, that the album gives fans a song worth listening to. Thrash metal giants, Evile remakes Pantera’s “Cemetery Gates” flawlessly. The production value is by far the best on the album. The instrumentals mix well with Matt Drake’s vocals to create a haunting representation of Pantera’s early work. In a sad turn of events, this song was bassist Mike Alexander’s last recording. He died of a pulmonary embolism while on tour with the band in Sweden.

Metalcore bands Unearth and Throwdown perform fantasti, and dead-on covers. Unearth’s version of “Sandblasted Skin,” offers a brutal rendition of a fan-favorite, while Throwdown gives fans a fresh take on Pantera’s 1994 single, “Becoming.”

Finnish thrash metal group Kiuas defiantly provides the most unique cover, with its version of “This Love,” which includes a palm-muted intro, extended solo, and alternate ending. Despite numerous changes to the original song, the cover is actually highly enjoyable because of the distinctiveness Kiuas provides.

Most of the bands featured on this album are nothing special. A different selection would have helped this album significantly.

Welsh metalcore band Bullet For My Valentine released a rare cover of “Domination” as a B-side to their single “Tears Don’t Fall” in 2006 that should have been included. Lamb of God, who performed “5 Minutes Alone” live on the three-year-anniversary of the guitarist’s death at the same venue in which he was murdered would have fit well in the album. Also, Kerry King, guitarist for the legendary thrash metal band Slayer, had a very close personal relationship with “Dime,” so the lack of Slayer paying tribute to a fallen brother is slightly disappointing.