Cemetery Gates

Infobox Single
Name = Cemetery Gates


Artist = Pantera
from Album = Cowboys from Hell
Released = July 24, 1990
Recorded = 1989-1990
Genre = Heavy metal
Power ballad
Length = 7:03
Writer =
Composer =
Label = Atlantic Records
Producer = Terry Date
Chart position =
Last single = "Cowboys from Hell" (1990)
This single = "Cemetery Gates" (1990)
Next single = "Psycho Holiday" (1990)
Misc = Extra track listing
Album = Cowboys from Hell
Type = studio
prev_track = "Heresy"
prev_no = 4
this_track = "Cemetery Gates"
track_no = 5
next_track = "Domination"
next_no = 6

:"For the Smiths song "Cemetry Gates", see the album "The Queen Is Dead"'

"Cemetery Gates" is a seven minute song by heavy metal band Pantera. The song is the fifth track from "Cowboys from Hell", the band's fifth album and second with lead singer Phil Anselmo (though the band considers it their first "true" album, officially ignoring their earlier independent releases). "Cemetery Gates" showcases Anselmo's vocal ability and range, concluding with screaming high notes answered by Dimebag Darrell on guitar. The lyrics lament the death of a female relative or friend and the prospect of dying or committing suicide and rejoining her in the afterlife. Presumably, the song is fictitious and not based on any real acquaintance of the band.

"Cemetery Gates" received a large amount of air-play by rock stations, and has become one of Pantera's most popular songs. "Guitar World" magazine readers voted the song's solo the 35th greatest of all-time. [ [http://guitar.about.com/library/bl100greatesta.htm 100 Greatest Guitar Solos - Tablature for solos 11 - 20 ] ]

A shorter version of "Cemetery Gates", without its acoustic beginning, was released into a music video. A shortened, five minute and forty-seven second version without the conclusion was included on the soundtrack of the 1995 film "Tales from the Crypt Presents Demon Knight". Pantera's live album, "", includes a six and a half minute rendition of the song.

After Dimebag's death, the song was performed by Dream Theater as a tribute during Gigantour. The band was joined on stage by Russell Allen of Symphony X for the first verse, Burton C. Bell of Fear Factory for the second verse and Dave Mustaine of Megadeth for the ending solo.

The song was covered by Between the Buried and Me on their album "The Anatomy Of".

References