10 Bands That Actually Got Better After Losing Members

Pantera probably hold the distinction as the one metal act that has scared the most parents in their day. Instead of using the pure visual horror of something like Marilyn Manson or Alice Cooper, this demonic music coming out of Texas struck fear in the hearts of elders and excitement in every adolescent's mind. Though these guys could have readily delivered thrash metal cocktails at the drop of a hat, they had to make a crucial decision before going forward.

Long before the Cowboys From Hell became what we know them as today, their first handful of albums were far different, with Dimebag Darrell leading the group as a glam rock act. Very much in the style of Van Halen, albums like Projects in the Jungle and Metal Magic are a far cry from what these guys would become, with Terry Glaze out front trying on his best impression of a hair metal vocalist.

However, things started to turn a corner once Dime and his brother Vinnie Paul started to sink their teeth into Metallica and Slayer. Quickly dropping Glaze, the Abbott Brothers eventually landed on Phil Anselmo, whose definitive growl and muscly delivery fit right in when playing off of Dime's heavier riffs. Though Glaze might have been able to take Pantera far in the early days, it only took one singer out of New Orleans to make this band the face of '90s metal.