PacManY2J's Full Review: New Found Power [Clean] [Edited] by Damageplan
Three years after the release of what would Pantera's final album, Reinventing the Steel, the Abbott brothers got sick of waiting. While Pantera vocalist Phil Anselmo was recording with his side projects Down and Superjoint Ritual, guitarist Dimebag Darrell Abbott and drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott were sitting around waiting for their singer's call. Finally, in 2003, they realized that call wasn't coming, so they formed a new band called Damageplan and had an album out in February of 2004. Once again, two of heavy metal's hardest hitters were back at it.
The Abbott's recruited Halford guitarist Paul Lachman to handle vocals and their tattoo artist Bob Zilla for bass. Damageplan's sound bears many similarities to Pantera's: the songs are loud, fast, and heavy, the vocals are often deep and grating, and Dime's solos are unmistakable (though I don't think he got the chance to shine as much as he should have on this album). However, Damageplan does not take their metal to the extremes that Pantera did, instead aiming for a slightly more mainstream metal sound rather than a hardcore one. Though Damageplan is certainly no Pantera, they're good enough to be enjoyed by fans of the Abbotts' old band.
Their album New Found Power was a lyrical collaboration between Lachman, Dimebag, and Vinnie Paul. You can feel the brothers' sense of rejuvenation after the crumbling of Pantera on uplifting, high-energy tracks like "Reborn," "Breathing New Life," and the title track. They carry on their "groove-metal" legacy with these and other tracks that maintain some semblance of catchiness amidst the sheer volume and brutality. The album's heaviest is "F_ck You," which features a guest spot from Corey Taylor and therefore sounds just like Slipknot. It's a brainless fit of rage, but it still makes for fun catharsis. More original-sounding heaviness takes shape in tracks like "Blunt Force Trauma," "Wake Up," and the blood-curdling "Cold Blooded," which has Lachman convincingly proclaiming that he has "ice in (his) veins."
Plenty of tracks have a bit more radio friendliness within them, even if those bits are contained in an unfriendly shell. First single "Save Me" has a huge, catchy chorus that fits easily on hard rock radio. The same can be said for "Blink of an Eye" and "Pride" two more tracks that will have you growling along. The final track "Soul Bleed" is a stark contrast to the rest of the album. Featuring Black Label Society's Zakk Wylde, "Soul Bleed" is a softer song that still manages to remain metal despite the mellowness.
Sadly, Damageplan came to a tragic end less than a year after New Found Power's release. A psychotic fan jumped onstage during one of their shows in December of '04 and opened fire, killing Dimebag Darrell and others who tried to stop the gunman. Despite their abrupt end, I'm certain that Damageplan could have had a successful future, as they were capable hitmakers who didn't surrender their heaviness. It's been rumored that we will see another Damageplan album featuring recordings done before Dime's death. That would be great, but regardless, metal fans can still enjoy New Found Power.
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