Anthrax and Pantera drummer Charlie Benante recently addressed speculation about new Pantera music. He clarified the current lineup’s recording plans in a statement shared on Hot Metal Mag.
Benante discussed the possibility of new material while expressing his preference for documenting the reunion lineup’s live performances.
“There was some talk. But nothing, really,” Benante said. “I would love to release a live album of this lineup so we can document what we did and just have it. I think that would be a great thing.”
The drummer also reflected on his role in Pantera’s reunion. He shared his perspective on the band’s significance.
“I feel I was put in this Pantera situation for a reason and that’s why I embraced it so much and that’s why I love it so much, because it’s something bigger than the band,” he continued.
Benante concluded his comments with a message about appreciating the present moment in music.
“And I wish people nowadays would be more caring and loving towards us all, you know? Not just musicians, but to each other. Stop being so rotten about things, because I’ll tell you this much – 10 years’ time, a lot of this stuff is gone. So if you don’t enjoy it now, that’s it, it’s done,” he said.
The statement confirms that Pantera’s current reunion lineup has no immediate plans for recording new studio material.
Benante’s comments come as the reunited Pantera continues to tour with a lineup that has garnered both praise and scrutiny from the metal community.
Metal Injection reported that the current lineup features original vocalist Phil Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown alongside Benante and Black Label Society guitarist Zakk Wylde. The reunion was made possible with approval from the estates of late Pantera members Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul, who tragically passed away in 2004 and 2018 respectively.
Benante’s performance as Pantera’s drummer has received recognition from fellow musicians in the metal community. Metal Injection noted that Meshuggah’s Tomas Haake has praised Benante for faithfully recreating Vinnie Paul’s drum sounds and samples during the ongoing tour.
“Now [Pantera is] out touring again, and [current Pantera drummer] Charlie Benante does a great job of it, and they’re using the same sounds and samples,” Haake said.
The reunion tour represents a significant moment for Pantera fans who thought they would never see the band perform again after the deaths of the Abbott brothers. Metal Injection revealed that the tour has been positioned as a celebration of Pantera’s iconic music rather than a traditional reunion. This approach acknowledges the irreplaceable loss of the original members while honoring their legacy.
The current touring arrangement allows longtime fans to experience Pantera’s catalog performed live once more. Benante and Wylde step into roles that require both technical skill and deep respect for the original material. While new studio recordings remain off the table, Benante’s suggestion of a live album would provide a permanent document of this unique chapter in Pantera’s history.
