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"A New Level" is a song by the American heavy metal band Pantera. It was released in 1992 on their album Vulgar Display of Power, and is considered by many to be among the band's best songs. Spin writer Mike Gitter described the song as "anthemic".

Background

The song is in the key of A major. "A New Level" was demoed before producer Terry Date came in to work on the album. Pantera's vocalist Phil Anselmo said that "A New Level" "was the ultimate chip-on-your-shoulder-type song at the time for me."

Reception

Metal Hammer ranked "A New Level" #11 on their list of the 50 best Pantera songs. They wrote: "A series of visceral, fidgeting riffs gives way to that immortal chorus: 'A new level of confidence and power…' It pretty much summed up the whole Vulgar Display… album."

Guitar World considered "A New Level" to be the 3rd best Pantera song, writing that it is "arguably as well known as any of the Vulgar Display of Power cuts that were." They also wrote: "Its intro riff, built on a slowly ascending barrage of crushing chromatics, is as iconic as the opening of 'Walk' or 'Mouth for War'".

Odyssey also considered "A New Level" to be the 3rd best Pantera song, rating it 5/5 and wrote that the purpose of the song "was to demonstrate that Pantera was on a new level above everyone else in metal".

Legacy

Pop singer Madonna performed a riff from "A New Level" on her Sticky & Sweet Tour. It was her long-time guitarist, Monte Pittman, who taught her the riff. She performed it during a medley version of her song "Hung Up". Anselmo considered this to be strange, and said: "She's never reached out to any of us, so I appreciate her homage, but I just don't understand it. But props to her for doing it."

Personnel

• Phil Anselmo – vocals
• Dimebag Darrell – guitar
• Rex Brown – bass
• Vinnie Paul – drums

References

1. "How Pantera's Vulgar Display Of Power Saved American Metal". Kerrang!. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
2. "27 Years Ago, Pantera Take Metal to a New Level with Vulgar Display of Power". February 25, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
3. Hart, Josh (May 15, 2012). "GW Blog: Pantera Release 'Vulgar Display of Power' 20th Anniversary Edition Today". Guitar World. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
4. Hammer, Dom Lawson2016-08-16T13:00:00Z Metal. "Every song Pantera's Vulgar Display Of Power ranked from worst to best". Metal Hammer Magazine.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
5. https://books.google.se/books?id=_hQxGHrtDC0C&pg=PT23&dq=pantera+a+new+level&hl=sv&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiM4qr7lKPlAhUEwMQBHaRbDrMQ6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&q=pantera%20a%20new%20level&f=false
6. https://inwhatkey.com/song/a-new-level-by-pantera
7. https://web.archive.org/web/20120509233242/http://pantera.com/images/media/mags/revolver2010/3.jpg
8. https://archive.blabbermouth.net/news/philip-anselmo-panteras-a-new-level-was-the-ultimate-chip-on-your-shoulder-type-song/
9. https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-50-greatest-pantera-songs-ever/4
10. https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/25-greatest-pantera-songs
11. https://www.theodysseyonline.com/top-25-pantera-songs
12. https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2014/01/20/that-time-monte-pittman-taught-madonna-a-pantera-riff/
13. https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/guitar_teacher_reveals_why_madonna_covered_pantera.html
14. https://metalinjection.net/av/madonna-covers-pantera-pantera-fans-reach-new-level-of-stupidity
15. https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/madonna-rocks-pantera-during-uk-concert/
16. https://www.billboard.com/articles/dimebag-darrell/6363743/former-pantera-frontman-phil-anselmo-on-dimebag-darrell-every-year