In a recent interview with SiriusXM’s Jose Mangin on his Metal Ambassador podcast, Metallica’s James Hetfield spoke about the musical influences that inspired their latest album, 72 Seasons. He also discussed his own vocal evolution and the meaning behind the album’s yellow cover. During the conversation, Hetfield reminisced on hanging out with Pantera in the early days and the impact the late “Dimebag” Darrell had on his music.

When told by Mangin how the late Pantera guitarist used to cover Metallica songs, Hetfield replied: 

“What a blessing to have been in his life and him in my life. And yeah, some of those early days, just traveling down there to the Dallas area and meeting with those guys and just hanging out. Yeah, Dimebag introduced me to the solid-state amp, I remember. He had this fricking amazing crunch going on. I was, like, ‘What is that?’ You know? So, uh, yeah. [We] inspired each other. He inspired me as well. No doubt.”

The Pantera reunion comes after years of tension between surviving members Philip Anselmo and Rex Brown, who reunited with Wylde and Benante for the world tour. Despite the past animosity, the band’s founders and estates have given their approval for the lineup. Fans are eagerly anticipating the upcoming concerts, including the shows where the band will support Metallica on their North American stadium tour in 2023 and 2024.

The legacy of Pantera and the impact that they had on Metallica and countless other bands cannot be overstated. The reunion of Pantera with a new lineup is sure to be an exciting event for metal fans around the world.