Loudwire’s March Madness: Decades of Destruction tournament has concluded with Pantera proving to be “stronger than all,” emerging victorious over Metallica.

The tournament featured 32 artists from four different decades — the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.

The Final Four consisted of Black Sabbath (1970s) vs. Metallica (1980s) and Pantera (1990s) vs. Slipknot (2000s), leading to a significant matchup between two bands that have toured together frequently in recent years!

READ MORE: <span style="text-decoration: underline">Pantera Albums Ranked</span>

While it is undeniable that Metallica is one of the biggest metal bands globally — with 24 sold-out shows at the Las Vegas Sphere scheduled for later this year and into 2027 as just one example — Pantera fans declared, “Walk on home, boys!”

The groove metal legends secured just over 61 percent of the votes, decisively defeating Metallica in the championship round.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the voting for the tournament, and congratulations to Pantera on their victory!

Below, you can view all previous matchups starting from Round One!

Pantera Wins 2026 March Madness: Decades of Destruction

Previous Matchups in Decade Divisions

Below, explore metal history and discover the best metal album of each year since 1969!