Among the most anticipated billings of the summer season, the Heaviest Tours of the Summer delivered the mammoth one-two wallop of Texan groove metal pioneers Pantera and Sweish viking metal overlords, Amon Amarth. On paper, the tandem was colossal, but in the flesh, the spectacle proved epic on an evening that paired two of heavy music's very best in the game - at the historic rock confines of the Kia Forum in Inglewood no less. 

For Pantera, the set consisted of some of metal's most beloved and enduring anthems - a beyond greatest hits set. From "5 Minutes Alone" to "Goddamn Electric (with Zakk Wylde doing justice to the fretwork of the iconic Dimebag Darrell), to "Mouth for War" and the forever "Cowboys From Hell," the start to every single one of these songs drew a roar from the arena bigger than the previous. There were several instances where the fans on the floor joined in the chant, aiding Phil Anselmo in a metal music singalong of pure elation. 

For the band's encore, Pantera unleashed a cache of some of their hardest-hitting haymakers. Leveling the arena with "A New Level," the band would welcome openers King Parrot and Dimebag's beloved Rita Haney for the ultimate metal music ode in a rendition of "Walk" that blew the roof off of the Forum. Completing the parade of hits with the one-two knockout of "Domination/Hollow" and the turbo-charged "Fucking Hostile" - Pantera more than made good on promise of tour name.

As for Amon Amarth, there may be no bigger spectacle than that of the Norsemen. Leading a metallic pillage, the band's stage production transformed the arena into a high seas raid soundtracked by epic anthems like "Guardians of Asgaard," "The Pursuit of Vikings" and the interactive crowd favorite, "Put Your Back Into the Oar"

The band also platformed their newest single, "We Rule the Waves" and while new music live is usually ahead of the curve and more introductory, Amon Amarth seem to have an instant hit as the selection score a huge response from the fans in the arena. Closing out their time with a pairing of their most powerful entries, the anthemic "Raise Your Horns" was followed by the mammoth "Twilight of the Thunder God," making for a finale truly indicative of the Heaviest Tour of the Summer.  

See the gallery of images from Maurice Nunez below. 

PANTERA

AMON AMARTH

KING PARROT