12 Greatest Hard Rock Riffs Of The 1990s

There was no real set plan for Pantera growing as large as they did. While the band were paying their dues on the club circuit in their native Texas, the sheer power behind their riffs was enough for any metalhead to stand at attention on songs like "Cowboys From Hell" or "Cemetery Gates." However, if you need all of the allure of Pantera summed up in a single lick, it has to be "Walk."

It's almost crazy to think that a riff like this blew up the way that it did, considering it's nothing more than just one bend. The riff itself isn't anything too special, but it becomes a bit of a different beast once placed in the hands of Dimebag Darrell. Knowing the intrinsic catchiness of the riff, Darrell put every bit of groove into that bend, which turned it from a decent effect to one of the most headbang inducing sounds of all time.

Once Vinnie Paul kicks in with his drums in the intro, it's almost as if you involuntarily have to headbang, not so much out of desire but as a physical manifestation of respect for everything great about hard rock. Pantera may have a ton of great riffs in their catalog, but "Walk" is the pure embodiment of sonic muscle in just a few seconds.