Pantera’s breakout fifth studio album, Cowboys From Hell, turned 30 on Friday (24). To celebrate the milestone, the band has released a 30th anniversary capsule merch collection.
The band announced the collection with a video on Instagram. The collection includes sweatshirts, t-shirts, keychains, hats and pint glasses, as well as a personalized RIAA platinum plaque. All designs can be found in the band’s online merch store.
Pantera formed in 1981 and would independently release four albums before finally breaking through in 1990 with major label debut Cowboys From Hell. The album debuted a new, heavier sound for the band which metal fans gravitated towards. It became the band’s first album to chart in countries around the world and, in 1997, would be certified platinum in the US.
Cowboys From Hell is generally regarded as one of the most influential metal albums of the 1990s. In 2007, IGN even called it their 19th most influential metal album of all time.
“This album opened up a lot of doors,” bassist Rex Brown told Revolver about ‘Cowboys From Hell’ in a recent interview. “When I look back on it now, it was a really solid stepping stone for what was fixing to come. The camaraderie back in those days, we were all for one. There wasn’t a tighter band on the goddamn planet. I can’t believe it’s been 30 years. It’s like this dream from a long time ago.”
Earlier this month, Pantera released a couple of commemorative posters through Iconic by Collectionzz. The first features a wild west layout with headshots of all four band members taking up the foreground and action shots similar to the one’s on the ‘Cowboys From Hell’ cover as insets. The other is a show poster from the ‘Cowboys From Hell’ record release party featuring elements from the original poster designed by “Dimebag” Darrell. Many of the variations are sold out, but the ones that are still available can be found here.
Pantera was drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott, singer Philip Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown.
