Pantera, Amon Amarth & King Parrot Kick Kia Forum into High Gear! [Photos]

The reformation of Pantera in 2022 has been fortuitous for fans as well as the band’s musical legacy. After guitarist Dimebag Darrell’s tragic death in 2004, Pantera disbanded, and the remaining members, singer Phil Anselmo, bassist Rex Brown, and drummer Vinnie Paul (Dimebag’s brother), went on to do other musical projects. Even after Vinnie’s death in 2018, Pantera’s popularity never waned, yet the likelihood of the band’s survival, formed by the Abbott brothers (Dime and Vinnie) 44 years ago in Arlington, Texas, was slim, almost nil.

Yet, Pantera is back in a big way. After co-headlining Mexico’s Monterrey Metal Fest with Judas Priest and performing dates at Knotfest in Chile, Brazil, and Colombia in 2022, the revamped heavy metal quartet went on to play North American dates on Metallica’s “M72 World Tour” in 2023-2024.

Pantera’s recent L.A. stop on “The Heaviest Tour of the Summer” at Kia Forum brought the band back to the storied venue where they had opened for a newly reunited Black Sabbath that featured original members Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward in 1999.

The hot August evening kicked off with a half-hour set from Australia’s King Parrot, a five-piece grindcore band that entertained the early crowd. King Parrot played with the kind of power and aggression you’d expect from being on a bill with Pantera.

Swedish melodic death metal veterans Amon Amarth drew a lot of excitement from the crowd. Led by vocalist Johan Hegg, Amon Amarth sported a more elaborate stage production than the previous band—one that would accommodate their trademark Viking shtick.

In the dimly-lit Forum, with the stage curtain down, the eerie Pantera lament “Suicide Note, Pt.1” played, a lull before the ensuing onslaught of lights and amps, and ambient arena aroma.

Zakk Wylde, a close friend of Dimebag Darrell’s up until his death, played the guitar parts with uncontainable fury. Whipping his mane of long hair while his guitar screamed and growled, it was manifestly obvious that Wylde was loving every second on that stage, respecting Dime, Pantera, and their fans.

Charlie Benante proved it all night that he is the apt successor to Vinnie Paul. The Anthrax drummer blasted away behind the kit, syncing up with bassist Rex Brown in a way that was sublime.

“Thank you…I just sounded like Peter Frampton from the ‘Frampton Comes Alive’ album.” singer Phil Anselmo, looking happy and fit, in a humorous break between songs.

It was evident who the die-hard Pantera fans were in the audience. From the circle pits on the floor up to the not-so-cheap seating above, there was a lot of movement. “I wanna see you motherfuckers levitate, and I wanna hear everyone’s fuckin’ voices,” Anselmo exclaimed. A moment later, the band commenced to destroy with a Pantera set list staple, “Becoming.”

Along with the amazing light show and stage production, pictures and video clips of Dime and Vinnie flew on the giant screens that backed the stage. The vibe and emotion those pictures evoked was indescribable. It’s hard to imagine what it must be like for the band to look behind them while performing; they move Dime and Vinnie’s legacy forward respectfully.

The musical cohesion of ‘this’ Pantera is a must-experience event for heavy music lovers, no matter what age.

Pantera (w/ King Parrot & Amon Amarth) @ Kia Forum (Los Angeles, CA) on August 30th, 2025

36 photos