10 Most Overrated Metal Albums Of The 90s

Previously a glam-turned-power metal act, the troupe decided to go for a full reset of their image and Digivolve into the never-before-seen snarling, middle finger-waving, rough-around-the-edges monster that is groove metal, adopting a more biker/Southern look and leaning the incredible musicianship of guitarist Dimebag Darrell.

Its standing of one of the first groove metal albums makes it deserving of a place in the history books, going on to inspire the likes of Machine Head, Sepultura, Lamb of God and the like, but its standing as one of the premier albums of heavy metal seems a bit OTT.

Pantera were never 'album band'. They're a very good greatest hits band - "Walk", "Primal Concrete Sledge", "I'm Broken", etc. - but they do not have a consistently brilliant album. 'Vulgar Display of Power' comes close, but the second half of the album does fall off a bit.

Anselmo's vocals are largely one-dimensional, and at times sound like a bad Axl Rose impression, Vinnie plays effectively, the same drum beat throughout the course of the album, but fair play to Rex Brown for playing 4th fiddle to the personalities involved and still managing to cut through and help Dimebag sound like $1m.

Drinking game: Try listening to "Message in Blood" without cringing.