Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante has shared a reflection of playing his first Pantera show.

The “Walk” metallers returned to the stage last Friday in Mexico for the first time since 2001, featuring a reformed lineup of classic members Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown, along with Black Label Society‘s Zakk Wylde and Benante in place of the late Abbott brothers, “Dimebag” Darrell and Vinnie Paul, respectively.

In an Instagram post following the performance, Benante writes, “If I say I wasn’t nervous I’d be lying.”

“The excitement, the fear, the emotions, the love and the work that went into doing this all played a part of what was in my head,” Benante shares. “When I got up there it had all seemed to disappear…I looked at [Anselmo, Brown and Wylde] and felt the connection, Bam!!!!”

For the show, Benante wore a wristband that had belonged to Dime and brought a pair of gloves that had belonged to Vinnie.

“I had some moments up there like I felt I wasn’t there, I went to some other place,” Benante muses. “I think I was Metal meditating, don’t laugh…I’m serious.”

Pantera’s tour continues with another show in Mexico on Tuesday, followed by a trip to South America. They’ll launch a European tour in 2023, followed by a U.S. run opening for Metallica.

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