Since its 1990 debut Pantera has always found something to get riled up about. On its first live offering, the Texas thrash-metal outfit which once labelled itself the Cowboys From Hell."

On its first live offering, "Official Live: 101 Proof," which hits stores Tuesday, Pantera's vehemence lands firmly on the shoulders of those who believe commercial success has leached the band's integrity.

Admittedly, the lads do an excellent job of displaying their rage with unrelenting nuclear energy; every riff and rhythm is steeped in fury. The unfortunate result is that much of "Official Live" borders on unlistenable -- especially on "Sandblasted Skin" and "Suicide Note Part II," where vulnerable lyrics like "Tortured history/Addict of miseryThis exposes me/For weakness is a magnet" are masked behind frontman Phil Anselmo's tormented growl.

The sonic churn supplied by guitarist Dimebag Darrell, bassist Rex and drummer Vinnie Paul create a disorienting and inescapable pace. Although Pantera's lyrics offer intelligent attacks on police brutality, drug criminalization and abuses of power, the band's own power-tripping casts them in a hypocritical light. Anselmo fights hatred with hatred in the lyric "What's evil is making love and making friends," from "F---ing Hostile."

The two new studio tracks tacked onto the end are indistinguishable from the live tracks' roar, indicating there's no change on Pantera's horizon. "Official Live" is one for the fans only; otherwise it's an exhausting listen.

-- Beth Winegarner

This article was originally published in the San Francisco Chronicle.