Pantera and Lamb of God deliver crushing one-two punch on historic North American tour

Posted by Ramon Gonzales in Culture on August 3, 2023

See the gallery of images from rock photographer Justin Nuoffer.

Undoubtedly one of the most anticipated tours of the season saw the legendary pairing of the reconfigured Pantera along with American metal heavyweights Lamb of God. With both bands boasting the kind of catalog that has had an enduring impact on the greater culture of heavy music, the tandem sharing the same stage had the makings of a generational kind of night.

The first week into the tour has clearly delivered on the heightened expectations and then some.

For the July 31st stop in Milwaukee, the union of original members Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown along with lifers Charlie Benante and Zakk Wylde executed a greatest hits collection of essentials that incited amphitheater-sized mayhem. From the opener of “A New Level” and “Mouth for War” to the sonic sledgehammer of staples like “5 Minutes Alone” and timeless Sabbath cover in “Planet Caravan,” Pantera stood triumphant as metal’s still undisputed greats.

If there was any disputing that fact, the trifecta of “Walk” into “Domination” and rounded out with “Cowboys From Hell” functioned like a well-time knockout punch – and that was before the band returned for a two-track encore.

As if Pantera wasn’t enough, Lamb of God proved nothing short of colossal during their stage time. Working within the constraints of a truncated set, the band covered their substantial catalog, touching on their two-decades of dominance ranging from the seminal Ashes of the Wake to their most recent coup in Omens.

The band even took time to tip their hat to Paul Ruebens, the iconic actor that reached generations of fans as Pee-Wee Herman. The band would go onto unload a passionate rendition of “Ruin” dedicated to Ruebens’ memory – a gracious move and show highlight from the very first note.

Punctuating their set with mandatory cuts like “Laid to Rest” and “Redneck” – the enormity of Lamb of God is the kind of spectacle that defies description.

The remaining dates of the Pantera/Lamb of God run can be found below. See the exclusive gallery of images from the July 31st date from photographer Justin Nuoffer.

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