In a recent interview with Star Tribune, Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett shared his perspective on the current Pantera lineup, expressing that while he appreciates the effort to keep the band’s legacy alive, he hesitates to call it “Pantera” since it no longer includes the two founding members.

“I think it’s a great thing. It’s a tribute -band- to the brothers keeping their legacy alive,” Hammett stated. “And it’s a great thing for Pantera fans. Even though it’s not the original Pantera, you still get to see Phil and Rex, and Zakk and Charlie are doing a damn good job.”

Pantera’s return to the stage was first announced in July 2022, featuring Zakk Wylde, Phil Anselmo, Rex Brown, and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante. Zakk Wylde, one of the new members, echoed Hammett’s sentiment in a recent interview on The Mistress Carrie Podcast.

“Well, [it’s] the Pantera celebration,” Wylde remarked. “It’s not Pantera. Pantera is Dime, Vinnie, Phil, and Rex. So that’s Pantera. But no, it’s a beautiful thing honoring the guys every night. Everybody’s having a blast. Everyone that comes down to the shows either — you have the Pantera faithful taking a trip down memory lane, and you’ve got all the younger, like Phil always calls it, the new blood.”

Wylde further reflected on the impact the band continues to have: “And it’s amazing every night how many… It’s just a testament to what the fellas created. Because we’ve got so many young people that have never seen Pantera before.”

Contrary to Hammett and Wylde’s views, Rex Brown believes that the band still embodies Pantera, even without its original lineup. In a recent interview, Brown dismissed the notion of the band being a tribute, attributing their continued presence to fate, rather than mere nostalgia.