Never got into Pantera, Metallica had some good tunes but I am more of classic rock so not my cup of tea..........
Though metal is my favorite type of music, I don't love either of these bands. That's not to say they don't have some great songs, just that I never got a "holy ****" feeling while listening to them. For several years I hated Metallica because I thought they were sellouts or something like that. I was too young to realize that people grow and change as they age and become essentially different people, and this is probably why most bands sound very different from when they first made it big. So I'm over that now. I don't hate Metallica or any band whose style changes over time. Even if it's just for money, that's fine, get that bag. Metallica probably has 5 songs I really like. Pantera probably has 3. So I guess I'll pick Metallica, even if I don't feel good about doing so. Anyway, I'll use this as another opportunity to plug Meshuggah, my favorite metal band. Here's an instrumental that had at least 3 "holy ****" moments the first time I listened to it. Warning: it's long and top-notch headphones are required (and really, a non-Youtube, higher-quality source should be used, but this is what we've got).
Pantera's Cowboys from Hell and Vulgar display of Power tours are responsible for my hearing loss I suffer from to this day. I'm 100% not interested in Pantera without Dimebag and Vinny. Metallica lost me at the black album and when they went to the sing along medleys at their concerts. Super lame. I'm not much of a metal head anymore. Most metal bands can't seem to find a groove like both Pantera and Metallica did back in the day. Now GWAR isn't the same since Oderous passed away but I have fond memories of all their tours starting with scumdogs until Oderous' passing.
Interesting question - I would probably lean towards Metallica simply because of the 4 album run of Kill ‘Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, and Justice for All. Hell, the Black Album isn’t bad, just overplayed. After it, though, Metallica really lost the plot. Pantera, on the other hand, didn’t have the very best beginning with their early albums (the group pretty much disowns them) but it all changed with Cowboys From Hell. That album and Vulgar Display of Power are absolute beasts of albums. The albums after those aren’t quite as good, but still solid. So, I think Pantera was more consistent but Metallica had the greatest album in Master of Puppets (a perfect album). How about Slayer vs Bathory?
I'm gonna go with Pantera because...duh...they're from Texas. Also, I like Metallica but I can't listen to them live. Lars's time is just all over the place and I can't handle it. I don't know how the other guys can even play along with him. How can he play so brilliantly on And Justice for All? Dude...you're not selling out by using a click live. Give it a try. Please.
I dont think Pantera was ever a big enough deal to be covered by the great Pat Boone. METALLICA wins. Flawless victory.
They aren't really in the same ballpark. Metallica is much more successful and better overall. I like Pantera, though. A better poll might be Metallica vs. Megadeth.
Easily Metallica. They're my alltime favorite band. I'm even a fan of their stuff after the Black album, though admittedly it is not as good as their earlier output. Death Magnetik was a pretty incredible comeback, however. Pantera is great at what they do, but they were (I don't really even think of them as a band anymore after Dimebag's murder) much more limited musically. But I'll always be thankful to Dimebag for basically perfecting the idea of the slow headbang riff. No one could get me slow headbanging like that dude could.