Pantera Live at Sporthalle Hamburg 2025 – Concert Review
- L7
- Feb 7
- 5 min read
Seeing Pantera Live for the First Time – My Expectations
I headed to Hamburg with high expectations, eager to see how this new version of Pantera would hold up live. Can Phil Anselmo still deliver? How do Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante fit into the legacy of Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul? And of course—what’s the energy like in the venue?
Arrival & Entry – Metalheads in Hamburg
The trip by subway was smooth, with the station conveniently close to the Sporthalle. It was cold outside, but the excitement was everywhere—people enjoying their beers, killer battle vests covered in classic band patches, and that unmistakable pre-show buzz.
Then came the line: long. Really long. It stretched around the entire block. At first, it moved slowly, but eventually, more entrances were opened, speeding things up a bit.
Merch Check: Shirts, Posters, and a Signed Drumhead
Straight in and, of course, the first stop was the merch stand! The selection was solid—shirts in multiple colors (even for those who want something other than black), posters, hoodies, and even a signed drumhead for the hardcore fans.
My personal highlight? The tour poster. You could tell the designer was a real fan—so many details, just beautifully done. I grabbed the black shirt with the gray design. The green one seemed to be the crowd favorite, but I preferred the back print on the black one. And, of course, I had to get the poster—there’s no way that wasn’t going up on my wall!
Beer & Payment Options
San Miguel and Corona—nothing special, but solid. As long as it’s cold, that’s what matters. One big plus: card payments were accepted everywhere, even at the bar! It made the lines move faster and saved the hassle of carrying cash.
Unfortunately, for fans of tour cups, there were none—neither at the drink stands nor the merch booth. A shame, since a lot of people collect them as souvenirs.
Opening Acts: Power Trip & Child Bite – The Perfect Warm-Up for Pantera
Child Bite
Unfortunately, I missed almost their entire set since the line outside took longer than expected. I only caught the last song. Later, Phil Anselmo mentioned that this was Child Bite’s final show of the tour—and even rocked one of their shirts on stage.
Power Trip
Power Trip—the name alone perfectly matches their sound. During the first song, I thought, “Sounds solid, but would I add this to my playlists?” By the third track, the answer was clear: hell yes. The energy was contagious, my head was banging on its own, and I already knew I’d be looking up their setlist later.
Highlights for me: Nightmare Logic, Suffer No Fool, and Crossbreaker. I wasn’t too familiar with the band before, but this was a solid performance. If they ever play in my city or at a festival I’m already attending, I’d definitely check them out again.
Stage Change – Things Are Getting Serious
Then it was time for the main event. The stage was covered with a massive "Pantera" banner. The wait? Honestly, it didn’t feel long. The ads on the screens provided some distraction, and overall, it felt like no more than 30 minutes.
Pantera – The Show Begins!
If you want to avoid setlist spoilers, here’s your warning: I won’t go through every song, but I will mention some highlights.
First impression? Brutal. The band absolutely delivered—no doubt about it. Everyone played their role to perfection. Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante handled the songs with power and respect—comparing them directly to Dimebag and Vinnie would be unfair, but it wasn’t even necessary. The hits hit hard, and the entire venue was all in.
Awesome detail: The drum kit featured images of Dimebag and Vinnie—their presence was felt throughout the entire show.
The show kicked off with "A New Level," and from there, it was pure destruction. Power Trip had already warmed us up, but this took the energy to an entirely new level.
Phil Anselmo interacted a lot with the crowd—I didn’t expect that, but it amped up the atmosphere even more. The entire venue was singing along to every word, and the energy was just unreal.
Picking the first highlight isn’t easy with so many legendary tracks, but let’s start with "Suicide Note Pt. II." I was honestly surprised by how well Phil can still deliver this one. Absolutely brutal.
After "5 Minutes Alone," the first song of the set came that even people who aren’t into Pantera or metal would recognize: "This Love." Of course, the entire venue sang along, but I was a bit surprised that the slower, melodic parts seemed more challenging for Anselmo. Still, it was a powerful moment, and I always love how the whole band gets involved. Zakk Wylde and Rex Brown didn’t fade into the background—far from it. Phil made sure to give Zakk his moments, often shouting, “Zakk Wylde, give us the riff!” while Brown backed him up with harmonies.
My next goosebump moment: "Floods." The song was played as a tribute to Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell, with images and videos of them in the background. Absolutely powerful. The band keeps their legacy alive, and you could feel the deep respect in the air.
Then came the second song of the evening, which everyone knows: "Walk". When the whole hall sings along loudly to this song, you know you are at a legendary concert.
Shortly before the end there is the mixture of "Domination" and "Hollow" - Zakk Wylde fits perfectly with Pantera, and it is here that you notice how well his style harmonizes with these riffs.
And then: "Cowboys from Hell". Perfectly executed, and I was surprised again how well Anselmo sang it - almost as if it had come straight from the record. The audience went completely crazy, but it wasn't over yet...
Then the encore break - short and sweet, no endless waiting. The last song of the evening? Fucking Hostile. The concert had to end as brutally as it started.
Small fly in the ointment: Where was Cemetery Gates?
The only small downer: many fans were still waiting for Cemetery Gates after the last song - the lights came on and you could tell that some were disappointed. My guess is that the song is no longer so easy for Anselmo to sing, so it was left out. It's a shame, but you really can't complain about this setlist.
Conclusion: Pantera live? Anytime again!
An all-round great evening - even the journey there and back was relaxed. Pantera fulfilled, if not exceeded, my expectations. The support acts fit perfectly into the line-up and the atmosphere in the hall was simply fantastic. Hamburg is always worth a trip anyway - see you next time!
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