LIVE: PANTERA – Ridgefield, WA, USA – August 23, 2025

Venue: Cascades Amphitheater

City: Ridgefield, WA

Date: August 23, 2025

Review and Photographs by: James Zambon (https://jameszambon.com)

When you see a tour billed as The Heaviest Tour of the Summer, expectations are high, and Pantera, Amon Amarth, and King Parrot did not disappoint. Cascades Amphitheater was packed, and the energy in the air was undeniable from the moment I got to the venue. King Parrot opened things up and immediately set the tone for the evening. Their chaotic, no-holds-barred energy had the early crowd fired up. Frontman Matthew “Youngy” Young kept things loose with his hilarious, unfiltered banter between songs, and you could feel the audience warming up for what was about to be a marathon night of heavy music. They’re a band that thrives on fun chaos, and honestly, the crowd ate it up.

Next up was Amon Amarth, and these guys absolutely crushed it. If you’ve ever seen them live, you know they don’t just play songs—they create an experience. Their stage setup was insane: towering Norse statues, a massive Viking ship drum riser, and warriors wielding swords and shields roaming the stage, and acting out battles. Before launching into “Put Your Back Into the Oar”, they turned the entire amphitheater into their own Viking longship (or langskip if you want to use the proper Old Norse). I’m talking enlisting the thousands of attendees, from the back of the lawn up to the VIPs at the foot of the stage, all rowing in unison. It was ridiculous, it was glorious, and it’s one of those live metal moments you never forget. The set even featured a staged sword fight, which got a massive roar from the crowd. Amon Amarth wasn’t just a metal set, it was a dammed a Norse saga.

Then came Pantera, the 30-foot-by-150-foot red and black banner covering the entire stage reading: “Pantera” may have been a bit over the top, but thats what we were there for, and it damn sure got everyone excited about what was to come. Before they took the stage they played a few minutes of old video footage featuring shenanigans of Pantera circa the 1990s featuring Diamond Darrell and Vinnie Paul (RIP, guys). When the banner dropped and Pantera took the stage, the place went absolutely ballistic. Seeing Phil Anselmo sporting a King Parrot shirt styled in King Diamond font was a killer nod to the openers. From the opening riff to the last note, the sound was heavy, tight, and everything that we crave from Pantera. The crowd participation was next level, especially when a marching drum corps snaked through the aisles of the amphitheater during “Walk”. Watching those drummers get the audience even more pumped was wild, and something you don’t see at your average metal show, or any show for that matter. It’s the kind of unexpected touch that makes live shows so damn special.

Phil also took a moment before the encores to lead the crowd in singing Happy Birthday for Vader and Vivian, the daughters of Amon Amarth’s frontman. It was one of those weirdly wholesome moments in the middle of a furious metal-fest, and honestly, it ruled. You could tell the bands on this tour have a ton of mutual respect and camaraderie, and that vibe carried through the entire evening. The encore itself was pure perfection. They tore through a medley of Domination and Hollow that hit every emotional nerve for longtime fans. For a lot of us, these songs are the soundtrack of our youth, and hearing them live in 2025, delivered with this much intensity, felt like something we weren’t sure we’d ever get to experience again. If you’ve been wondering whether Pantera’s live shows lives up to the hype, let me put it this way: “First take like a motherfucker!” This was a celebration of one of metal’s most important bands, backed by an opening lineup that brought their absolute A-game. King Parrot got us laughing and headbanging, Amon Amarth gave us a full-on Viking saga, and Pantera reminded us why they’re legends. Ridgefield, you got the real deal.

PANTERA SETLIST: Suicide Note Pt. II – Hellbound – 5 Minutes Alone – Strength Beyond Strength – Mouth for War – Goddamn Electric – Becoming – I’m Broken – 10’s – I’ll Cast a Shadow – This Love – Cowboys From Hell – A New Level – Walk – Domination / Hollow – Fucking Hostile

AMON AMARTH SETLIST: Guardians of Asgaard – Shield Wall – The Pursuit of Vikings – Deceiver of the Gods – Put Your Back Into the Oar – We Rule the Waves – The Way of Vikings – Raise Your Horns – Twilight of the Thunder God

KING PARROT SETLIST: Bozo – Shit on the Liver – Hell Comes Your Way – Fuck You and the Horse You Rode In On

[Show as slideshow]

PANTERA LINKS:

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AMON AMARTH LINKS:

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KING PARROT LINKS:

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Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries