Pantera Album: “The Great Southern Trendkill”

this is a truly amazing album,PANTERA combine everything needed in METAL.Powerful melodic chomping guitar chords,slamming stampeding drums and gut-wrenching screams.the great southern trendkill destroys everything in its path.this is an album that is the definition of pure stripped down anger.Phil Anselmos lyrics chanllenge the mind and everyday happenings in the society we live in.the music that Dimebag Darrel,Vinnie paul and Rex churn out ultimately suits Phils disgruntelled world view.Even Seth from infamous u.k noise merchants A.C introduces vocal weaponary in certain songs to enhance the absolute melodic yet unmoving fury of these tracks.great southern trendkill is a soundscape of sonic grinding swamp powered aggresion that is monumental in the respect that it is a definate legend in modern metal albums. review by asher locketz

I heard this morning about what happened to Dimebag, and found myself stifling tears. Its so appalling that someone could be hateful enough to destroy one of the greatest musicians of all time, and then, as if that wasn't enough, turn on the innocent and punish them. I'm actually glad they killed him.

Bob and Mark from the rock station here gave Dimebag a rightful farewell, playing Cemetary Gates in his honor. Then Beavis and Butt-head called in to give their condolences.

As for the album, its no Vulgar Display or Cowboys from Hell, but in no way is it a bad one. The best songs are the title track (great album opener, heavy as hell) The Underground in America (awesome riff, awesome lyrics, awesome solo) and Suicide Note Pt 1 (good acoustic song, the 2nd best ballad they ever did, Cemetary Gates obviously being the best). The only songs I don't really like are Suicide Note Pt 2 (WAY overdone) and Sandblasted Skin (too much distortion, can't hardly hear it).

My prayers go out to Vinnie Paul, the other members of Damage Plan, the Abbott family, and the families of everyone else who was hurt or worse during last night's tragedy. Dimebag, you are, were and will always be remembered as one of the rockinest guitar dudes ever... and you will be sorely missed.

RIP Dimebag Darrell, (...). Your fans love you.

So, Far Beyond Driven was heavy eh? This goes one step further. As Pantera's unstoppable force and anti-pop philosophy demanded they go even heavier, thus losing the majority of their fanbase, Phil Anselmo's extreme behaviour lead to a near fatal heroin overdose. But still, who cares about Pantera history when you can listen to their music?

This is probably their weakest major label CD. Tracks like 13 Steps To Nowhere and Living Through Me (Hell's Wrath), are so heavy it's hard to distinguish some of that vital Pantera groove and riffage. It's so heavy in places sometimes it doesn't work musically, but this was the last super-heavy Pantera album, so if you don't like this you can rest in the knowledge there are Pantera CDs more suited to your tastes, like the next one, Reinventing The Steel.

Tracklisting:

2. War Nerve. Another personal favourite, with some extreme soloing from Dimebag Darrell and even more extreme lyrics, about how people - namely the media - blast Phil for what and who he is...

3. Drag The Waters. A good single type song, the only one on the album deemed worthy of radio play, and it's still heavy. During the chorus, an excellent tempo change and syncopation comes in and surprises every listener on the planet. Very nice, one of the best.

4. 10s. About Phil's overdose. Suitably mellow, though the solos and groove still remain intact here. But this kind of thing is done better in two other songs on this album, even though the lyrics remain very touching.

5. 13 Steps To Nowhere. When this song is heavy, it's very heavy. The words are almost indistinguishable in places. Yet this track, despite that, doesn't really stand out. Shame, because the next two do, in a big way.

6. Suicide Note Pt.1. A beautiful mellow song about someone writing a suicide note, which is powerful in the sense it touches the more wussy among the Pantera fanbase. Yet if that didn't hit your button...

7. Suicide Note Pt.2. If that one was someone writing the note, this is him doing it. Like 13 Steps, this song is heavy, dark, but considerably faster and perfect moshpit material, unlike that song. The song may go on for a while, but this one has the finest Dimebag solo at 1:58. Rock.

8. Living Through Me (Hell's Wrath). Another somewhat pants track, because it goes on so long and has not so excellent lyrics. By now you may have tired of the constant shrieking from Phil, so this one may be the one to hit fast forward on. Except for the excellent break in the song, which is filled with disturbing random Phil talk before breaking back into the relentless assault again. Nearly death metal standard heavy.

9. Floods. To relieve your ears, here is the finest track on the CD. Nice and mellow, yes. Dark? Of course. With the finest singing on the CD, and some of the best soloing, you'll be humming the lead out guitar solo for weeks. I was.

10. The Underground In America. A pretty good shot at rock, which doesn't really go anywhere but does good at what it does. Kudos to the clever link from this to the next song...Phil screaming "THE TREND IS DEAD!!!!" Wow.

11. Sandblasted Skin. Using one of the riffs from the last tune to really kick ass. Good speed and drumming from Vinnie Paul, and though, like the previous one, it doesn't go anywhere fast, it's still quite a good shot at the genre. Not the best two parter I've ever heard, that's got to go to Parabol/Parabola by Tool off their latest, Lateralus. But a good enough leadout.

Overall, Far Beyond Driven got 8 because it had some great tunes punctuated by some really bad ones. This one gets a 7 because the quality of songs here is much more erratic...ranging from the great (Floods), the pretty damn good (the title track), the good, War Nerve), the not so good (Living Through Me), and the rather bad (13 Steps).

The second number 1 album from Pantera was a welcome return to form from the band after the patchy 'Far Beyond Driven', and even so still managed to get roundly abused from many corners. Perhaps because it sold in such great numbers probably contributed to the flak it received from the 'metal' elitists. There is an issue that needs to be addressed first of all. None of the lyrics in this album are either racist, homophobic or macho. The band are not a talentless bunch of southern KKK members. Granted, the lyrics could have been better, but they most certainly are not derogatory to minorities in society. The general mood of the album is far more upbeat than its predecessor, which had a tendency to get intensely cathartic at times. Dimebag has developed a unique style of guitar playing here, which incorporates an insane amount of artificial harmonics with smooth bends and a general feeling of Texan groove. Also, the leads now sound far more thought-out and generally cohesive, as opposed to some of the wild-widdling present on previous albums. Phil's voice has been corrupted still further by the excesses of whiskey, beer and cigarettes, but fair play to the man, he can still hold a note without any trouble. I'm not too sure about Rex's bass skills, as I can't really hear the bass through the mix. Vincent is his usual steady and difficult-to-copy self, laying down rhythms which are perfect foil to Dimebag. Another criticism I have heard is about the abject simplicity of the riffs. So? Complexity means little unless it sounds good, and clearly Pantera have discovered that the key to classic rock/metal is simplicity. Their riffs on this album may have little more than three chords, but when they sound as cool as they do here, it matters little. Overall, the album is generally good, save for the poor '13 steps to nowhere' (good intro though) and 'the underground in America'. The hyper fast moments are well-provided for with the opening title track (which segues into one of Dimes blindingly excellent leads) and the unmissable Suicide Note ptII, which features quite possibly one of the most killer chorus riffs ever laid down by the band. Although the verses may be off-putting at first, it grows on you, as do many Pantera songs. 'Drag the waters' is the obvious single, possibly because it is the least profane song on the album. I was a little thrown by the out-there strangeness of '10s', but after I got acquainted with it, it stood out as one of the best tracks on the album, showcasing a rarely seen subtlety which is displayed far too rarely. 'Suicide Note pt1' is an acoustic straight out of the Alice In Chains back-catalogue, and is in direct contrast to the track which follows. Album standout, 'Floods' features a solo voted as one of the top 100 by the eminent guitar site www.guitar.com. Again, the subtlety employed takes time to get used to, and the outro is second only to 'Domination' from CFH. In 'Living Through Me (Hell's Wrath)', Pantera demonstrate their impeccable sense of groove, and although the middle breakdown manages to destroy the atmosphere it builds somewhat, the song is nevertheless forgiven for being so bloody cool. Yes, the lyrics on this album are profane, maybe not as good as they should have been, but by no measurement have Pantera descended into 'brawn rock' territory. They have displayed great compositional skills together with an ear for a good riff, and for that I raise my spectacles to them.

In 1996, when "The Great Southern Trendkill" was released, alternative ruled rock radio and MTV. The professional music critic community was overcome with joy when heavy metal disappeared from the mainstream and they hoped it would disappear all together, which is exactly what makes this album so appealing.

Phil Anselmo knew the critics were reveling in the fact. Anselmo would be the leading force in the spearhead to bring an end the rock critic's dreams. He stuffed metal right back down the music communities' pretentious throats.

Like the previous Pantera albums, they come out blasting with one of the fastest, hardest tracks as the opener. It lays to waste everything in its path just to lay to rest any doubts about whom they are. "War Nerve" marches forward pumping up the head to the maximum levels of adrenaline and aggression possible. Lyrically, it is a nihilistic rant sure to suck any hope for the future right out of you. "Drag the Water" continues on the same with a malevolent feeling only they can pull off. The riff is so heavy it could break backs.

From that point on Pantera the songs are almost reminiscent of "Cowboys From Hell". On "Sanblasted Skin", Phil wants to make sure to reenforce his message he began with. Absolutely defiant and unbreakable to those he despises the most.

For those who understand Pantera and those who dislike them, this album is an emotional overload. Defiance and hatred so refined it to the point of mania. The band's greatness in heavy metal was etched in stone after this album was released. It will forever echo into the future "THE TREND IS DEAD! THE TREND IS DEAD!"