On a whim, I dug out my old copy of Pantera’s Vulgar Display Of Power album a few weeks back. Admittedly, I was much fonder of Cowboys From Hell, but I decided to take the less worn-out disc for a spin.

Vulgar Display Of Power features a load of well-known Pantera tunes, such as Walk, This Love and A New Level. But the song which struck me most was the album closer, Hollow.

Hollow begins with chorus-drenched arpeggios and a dreamy harmonized guitar intro. Phil Anselmo is in sensitive mode as he tells the story of a friend in a coma. The first two verses are given to describing their closeness, their plans for the future and finally the effect of the coma on those left behind:

I’m close with his mother
And she cries endlessly
Lord how we miss him
At least what’s remembered

In my humble opinion, these are some of the most sensitive lyrics you could find in a metal song. Bet you didn’t think the two could go together?

If the first part of the song is contemplation and remorse, the second (heavier) part is anger and frustration. Anselmo spits and snarls his way through this section and the extremely profound lyrics:

He as hollow as I alone
A shell of my friend just flesh and bone
There’s no soul, he sees no love
I shake my fist at skies above
Mad at God

Truly excellent. There’s a violence and ferocity in this song that you can totally feel deep down. Just a stunning song, and I thought you all should know that…..