CLASSIC ALBUM: Pantera – Far Beyond Driven

For Far Beyond Driven, their seventh album, Pantera once again teamed up with renowned producer Terry Date and recorded what was their most aggressive and heavy album to date (later surpassed by The Great Southern Trendkill). More down-tuned than their previous album, that had still featured traces of their hair metal origins, Far Beyond Driven was a critical and commercial success upon release and, along with Sepultura‘s Chaos A.D., was one of the landmark’s of 1990′s metal. Whilst the album may have lacked iconic tracks like Walk and This Love, which had caused its predecessor, A Vulgar Display of Power, to climb high in the charts it demonstrated that the group were developing as songwriters.

At just over three minutes Becoming is one of Pantera‘s most accessible tracks and, despite its heavy riff, had all the makings of a hit single. Dimebag Darrell demonstrated what unique sounds he could pull from his guitar, whilst frontman Phil Anselmo employed both a rough and deep drawl and aggressive screaming on the chorus. 5 Minutes Alone features the same kind of riff that had made Walk a hit and is one of the stand out tracks on the album. Good Friends and a Bottle of Pills is a change of pace, boasting a sleazy bassline and even sleazier lyrics. One of the most recognised songs on Far Beyond Driven is their cover of the Black Sabbath classic Planet Caravan which remains faithful to the original and, whilst somewhat out of place alongside the likes of I’m Broken and Shedding Skin, seems the perfect closing track to the album.