Apr 30, 2026

The Top 14 Riffs Pantera Ever Wrote

Pantera, 1995
Pantera in 1995 from Metal Edge Magazine

Pure metal riffage, thrash-rips, neck-wrecking headbanging.

14

Yesterday Don’t Mean Shit

Reinventing the Steel

They put this thing behind the chorus.

13

Living Through Me

The Great Southern Trendkill

This IS the chorus.

12

Use My Third Arm

Far Beyond Driven

11

Dom / Hollow (Live)

Official Live: Pantera 101 Proof

Even Phil knew what was up.

10

Five Minutes Alone

Far Beyond Driven

Only one of the best songs ever written, partly because…

9

Five Minutes Alone

Far Beyond Driven

We have back-to-back killers on the same track.

8

I’m Broken

Far Beyond Driven

Pick up a guitar for the first time. Play this. Pick up a guitar for sound check. Rip this. No better way to start a song other than maybe Whole Lotta Love.

7

This Love

Vulgar Display of Power

When I first joined a band in early high school, my friend and bassist David Kline swore this was one of the best riffs of all-time. Thank you, Kline, for the introduction.

6

Strength Beyond Strength

Far Beyond Driven

When I think of thrash metal or groove metal and how Pantera might have invented it but probably perfected it, this is the riff that comes to mind.

5

I’m Broken

Far Beyond Driven

No way you thought I wasn’t coming back to this song.

4

Cowboys from Hell

Cowboys from Hell

Don’t worry, we’re coming back to this song…

3

Cemetery Gates

Cowboys from Hell

Beauty and the beast.

2

Cowboys from Hell

Cowboys from Hell

No chance I’m putting down the guitar without playing this.

1

The Great Southern Trendkill

The Great Southern Trendkill

Pantera goes number 1. People worry they’re going to sell out, go soft. Instead, they open their album with this track. As brutal as you like to start with the perfect riff to close it out. It’s the entire Pantera ethos in one track with one context.