Atco Records accepted but the band had to wait a six month period before they commenced recording at Pantego Sound Studio in Pantego, Texas. Accounts vary as to how long the recording sessions of "Cowboys from Hell" lasted; bassist Rex Brown claimed in a 2010 interview with "Metal Hammer" that the recording sessions took place from February to April 1990, however vocalist Phil Anselmo has claimed that the album was recorded in 1989. Pantera's initial choice as the producer for "Cowboys from Hell" was Max Norman based on his work with Ozzy Osbourne. Norman, who flew to Houston to watch the band perform, initially agreed to work on the album but right before the recording sessions started, he was offered to produce Lynch Mob's debut album "Wicked Sensation" instead. Pantera then proposed Terry Date to produce the album because guitarist Dimebag Darrell liked his work on Overkill's then-recent album "The Years of Decay" (1989) as well as guitarist Bobby Gustafson's guitar tone, which had primarily influenced him.