Pantera released their final record Reinventing The Steel in March 2000, right as nü-metal was hitting its peak. The record is currently Pantera's only record (from Cowboys From Hell onward) not to sell 1 million copies in the United States, and received mixed reviews upon its release.
In an interview with Gibson, Pantera bassist Rex Brown said he feels the record may have simply suffered from being released at the wrong time and that it never got its fair shake.
"When that record came out it was the start of all these nü-metal bands coming on the scene," said Brown. "Sometimes it's all about timing. Did it come out at the right time? Did it get the push it needed? I think this one didn't get a fair shake."
Brown also added that he couldn't listen to the album for a long time considering it was Pantera's final album, but notes he'd still put it up there with Vulgar Display Of Power in terms of quality.
"I couldn't listen to it for a long time, because that was the last thing we did. So it was rough. Going back and listening to that record man, Goddamn…it's a sledgehammer, man. Some people call it our weakest record. I disagree, I put it up there with Vulgar any day."
Reinventing The Steel was also the only post-Cowboys From Hell record to be produced by Sterling Winfield, and not Terry Date. Though a 2020 reissue of the record featured a disc entirely remixed by Date, adding a certain continuity to the band's discography.
And perhaps more importantly was the guest solo by Kerry King on the track "Goddamn Electric," which was recorded in a bathroom during an Ozzfest show in Dallas.
