Photo – tnddrummer_Photography for www.overdrive.ie
The band’s feral energy was felt from the get-go, as frontman Matt Young’s deranged stage presence fueled the chaos. Tracks like the grotesque anthem “Shit on the Liver” and their latest incendiary single, “Fuck You and the Horse You Rode in On,” turned the floor into a swirling pit of madness. If the crowd wasn’t fully awake at the start, they were certainly battered into alertness by the time King Parrot left the stage.
Photo – tnddrummer_Photography for www.overdrive.ie
Next up was Power Trip, making their long-awaited return to Irish soil since their infamous 2016 basement show at Fibber Magees. Their performance carried a bittersweet edge, as it marked the band’s first time in Dublin since the tragic passing of their beloved frontman, Riley Gale. With a new vocalist at the helm, Power Trip delivered a devastatingly tight set, tearing through bone-crushing renditions of “Executioner’s Tax (Swing of the Axe)” and “Nightmare Logic.” The crowd, many of whom had seen them years ago in far more intimate confines, responded with an outpouring of energy and appreciation, sending bodies flying across the pit in tribute to Gale’s legacy.
By the time Pantera took the stage, the atmosphere in the 3Arena was electric. Dublin had been the first city on the tour to sell out, and it was clear from the first roar of the crowd that this was going to be a special night. As the opening chords of “A New Level” rang out, the entire venue erupted, a sea of fists pumping in unison as Phil Anselmo, Rex Brown, Zakk Wylde, and Charlie Benante delivered a masterclass in groove-laden brutality. Anselmo, clearly moved by the deafening reception, acknowledged Dublin’s unwavering loyalty. It’s hard to comprehend that the band’s last performance in the city was at the long-gone SFX in February 1993, as they decided to pull out of Tattoo the Planet show back in 2001.
Photo – tnddrummer_Photography for www.overdrive.ie
What followed was an onslaught of metal anthems that had the crowd in the palm of Pantera’s hands. “Mouth for War” and “This Love” saw fans screaming every word with almost religious fervor, while “Five Minutes Alone” turned the pit into a warzone of flailing bodies and crashing bodies. A particularly emotional moment came during “Floods,” as home footage of the late, great Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul played on the screens, bringing a hush of reverence over the 3Arena.
But Pantera wasn’t done yet. As the opening riff of “Walk” hit, the floor shook with the stomping of thousands, the entire venue chanting along in unison, reaffirming the track’s legendary status. The set’s climactic finale saw “Cowboys from Hell” ignite one final explosion of chaos before “Fucking Hostile” sealed the night in a maelstrom of adrenaline and aggression.
With an unrelenting display of power and passion, Pantera’s return to Dublin was nothing short of monumental. King Parrot’s visceral grind, Power Trip’s triumphant return, and Pantera’s sheer dominance combined for an evening that will be etched into the minds of Irish metal-heads for years to come. If this show was anything to go by, heavy metal in Dublin is alive and well—louder, wilder, and more unforgiving than ever.
Words – Oran O’Beirne
Photos – tnddrummer_photography for www.overdrive.ie 2025
