The Great Southern Trendkill [Explicit Lyrics]

The Great Southern Trendkill [Explicit Lyrics]

Track Listings

1. Great Southern Trendkill

2. War Nerve

3. Drag the Waters

4. 10's

5. 13 Steps to Nowhere

6. Suicide Note, Pt. 1

7. Suicide Note, Pt. 2

8. Living Through Me (Hell's Wrath)

9. Floods

10. Underground in America

11. Sandblasted Skin (Reprise)

Tracks:

The Great Southern Trend Kill
War Nerve
Drag The Waters
10's
13 Steps To Nowhere
Suicide Note Part 1
Suicide Note Part 2
Living Through Me (Hell's Wrath)
Floods
The Underground In America
(Reprise) Sandblasted Skin

Customer Reviews:

Criminally underrated Pantera excellence.......2007-07-26

The Great Southern Trendkill (1996.), Pantera's fourth recognised studio album (their eigth if you count their four album releases during the 1980's which the band now totally disregards)

Three amazing major label studio albums and an ever growing fanbase, Pantera had proven themselves to be amongst the greats of heavy metal by the mid `90s. Their third album `Far Beyond Driven' became perhaps the heaviest album to hit number 1 in the Billboard 200 album chart. Pantera were indeed emerging into widespread fame, however the latter half of the `90s was to mark a turning point in heavy metal with the emergence of nu metal. However, Pantera have never been a band to be deterred away from their artistic vision. `The Great Southern Trendkill' was released in 1996 and has gone on to be the forgotten/divided opinion Pantera album since its release. Does the album however deserve this unfortunate tag?

There are often albums where I feel I have to make a case against the grain of opinion and this is one such album, so here goes. `The Great Southern Trendkill' is very much an expansion of Pantera's groove metal style that they pioneered in their earlier work. To all intensive purposes, this is the bands experimental work as they throw in some deep, semi-acoustic work into the mix. The band also have a much more threatening feel to their sound which is most greatly seen with Phil Anselmo's often layered, `demonic' sounding, vocals. The band also are much more faster in general on this album than in previous releases. Furthermore, this is perhaps Pantera's heaviest album - every aspect to the band is at its greatest power. [...] The bottom line is that `The Great Southern Trendkill' is a top effort from Pantera that has become sadly underrated. The songwriting across the album is very strong and all of the tracks stand proud in their own right. The band are again in fine form and the production is excellent, combining a heavy yet often mellow feel. Dimebag Darrell plays many a fantastic riff and some awesome lead lines (just listen to the outro of `Floods') and Phil Anselmo still barks out his vocals with pure aggression. He also again shows he can sing really well cleanly and has an excellent baritone sounding voice. This very dark Pantera album is one excellent work!

The opening track `The Great Southern Trendkill' fires off with a huge scream before the song forms into an aggressive opener. The second half of the track is the best part where Dime plays out some awesome melodies and impressive riffs. `War Nerve' is next, one of the finest tracks on the album. The track has a foreboding and grinding feel to it at the start before it gathers speed and energy. Phil spits venom for most of the track which is Pantera at their heaviest. `Drag The Waters' has plenty of downbeat and mellow riffs with a powerful, sludgy chorus. `10s' is one of Pantera's darkest songs with lots of atmosphere. Dimebag plays some gripping melodies towards the end of the track. '13 Steps To Nowhere' has a fantastic Vinnie Paul drum intro. The band's sound on this track is very intense; a solid unit indeed.

For an interesting contrast of songs, look no further than `Suicide Note Part 1 and Part 2'. The first part is an excellent acoustic based song - a great piece of experimentation from the band. Phil sings some heartfelt vocals with plenty of intent and the guitar work is fresh and crisp. Then there is a complete contrast with the second part which is pure speed, urgency and aggression. Another excellent track with plenty of shreiking riffs. `Living Through Me (Hells Wrath)' is another staple Pantera song with plenty of driving riffs. There is a gripping middle section here which has an extremely barren feel to it. `Floods', a track of self explanatory themes is another of the album's highlights. The first half of the song is very mellow, semi acoustic and expressive with some great vocals. Then some pounding guitar chords add a great contrast. Dime's exit guitar melody makes an astounding finish. `The Underground In America' is one of the album's underrated songs. Very powerful, brutal and crushing, it has all of the ingredients for a great Pantera song. The main riff to the track is really memorable - the band clearly liked it as they use it again in `Reprise - Sandblasted Skin'. This is a heavy, high energy finisher where Phil proclaims `The Trend Is Over!' More intense drumming and riffing rounds this classic album out in style!

`The Great Southern Trendkill' is an album that gets much un-needed criticism and is in fact an amazing effort from Pantera. The band have developed their style excellently here whilst still maintaining their trademark sound. The band have never sounded heavier or faster than on this album! I personally wouldn't begin listening to Pantera with this album but I would more than recommend getting this album after hearing `Cowboys From Hell' or `Vulgar Display Of Power'. This album has high replay value and shows a band pushing their boundaries. All I ask is that you look beyond all of the low rating reviews for this album - this work is worth its weight in gold!

R.I.P. Dimebag Darrell

MY RATING: 9/10

UNDERRATED . . . unnecessarily criticized.......2007-07-21

Rolling Stone gave this album a 2 star review upon it's release. Too bad. Perhaps some people were expecting another VULGAR or COWBOYS. This album is just sheer brutality. It's disturbing. It's dark. It's the first tell-tale sign that Pantera was experiencing internal problems (Phil's heroin addiction).

Admittedly, lyrics on WAR NERVE aren't very creative and DRAG THE WATERS feels like the band is looking for a song in the vein of WALK. But the title track, SUICIDE NOTE 1 & 2, and FLOODS showcase Dimebag's (R.I.P.) guitar talents. As a whole, not every track is memorable. This was more experimental and it was heavier thanks to Phil's insistence that TRENDKILL be heavier than FAR BEYOND. If you're looking for more power grooves, you won't find it on this album; you will, however, find dark, disturbing lyrics filled with rage and hate and sheer brutality.

Underrated to say the least.......2007-07-17

I bought this album the day it came out and it quickly became my favorite Pantera album. After several months, I reevaluated that opinion and I now consider it my third favorite Pantera album behind Vulgar Display and Cowboys. In a way, it's both their heaviest album and their lightest. The heavier moments are more intense than ever before, but they mix lighter moments in more often. The two least heavy songs, "Suicide Note Pt. 1" and "Floods" are actually my two favorites. The outro to "Floods" is beautiful (atypical of Pantera, eh?) and is my favorite piece of music by Pantera. I used to replay it repeatedly. Those two songs are each worth the price of the CD alone. Well, that's at least $30 worth of material for $15, so there's no need for me to continue since you have no reason to hesitate.

However, I better continue anyway. Despite what some critics say, this album contains more variety than your average Pantera album. It contains some extremely fast screamers, mixed with some very heavy mid-tempo songs and some lighter tracks that I already mentioned. Some tracks are better than others, but there are not any songs that I totally dislike. The album is not as groove-oriented as Vulgar Display, but Dimebag (RIP) still does an amazing job. He was undoubtedly one of the greatest guitarists in metal and this album further establishes that position. The lyrical style is a bit more negative than on Vulgar Display and is closer to the lyrical style of Far Beyond Driven, though with more rants against commercialism. This is my favorite album lyrically and the lyrics are very fitting given the album's very angry and aggressive musical style. It is extremely cathartic. Therapists and counselors should be handing this album out to their patients like candy instead of condemning it.

Basically, it doesn't "feel" as classic as Vulgar Display, but I catch myself listening to it just as often. Buy it.

The Great Southern Trendkill - 9
War Nerve - 7.5
Drag the Waters - 8.5
10's - 7.5
13 Steps (To Nowhere) - 7
Suicide Note Pt. I - 9.5
Suicide Note Pt. II - 6.5
Living Through Me (Hells' Wrath) - 7.5
Floods - 10
The Underground in America - 8
(Reprise) Sandblasted Skin - 6.5

Good with a few downfalls........2007-06-29

This is a good album. It's just not their best. The Great Southern Trendkill, War Nerve, Drag The Waters, and 1o's are my favorite songs. The songs toward the end of the album are repetitive and at some points boring. Also this isn't the Pantera that released classic albums like Cowboys From Hell and Vulgar Display of Power. This is where Pantera started to experiment to much and also began to fall apart. If it weren't for these downfalls this would be a great album.

2.5, a mixed bag. .......2007-05-01

Though Pantera is a great metal band, this album is a slight downfall. Though Drag the Watres, War Nerve, and Floods are all good, they and the whole album are just dull and repetitive. This also even lacks speed from previous efforts. Though this has some half decent tracks, this overll is a slight downslide. The best Pantera albums would be Cowboys from Hell, Vulgar Display of Power and Far Beyond Driven. Those had every bit of rage in the lyrics, heavier and speedier riffs and more diversity, this is seems like they ran out ideas. This is just had monotone chugging riffs. Comaprd to if those three, this jiust lacks the flare and energy that those all had. If you already have this, then give a small spin on occaisoion, but if you don't it's not worth picking up. This lacks. Their newest Reivventing the Steel was a great comeback though and wipes this out.

Average customer rating:

Criminally underrated Pantera excellence
Awesome!!
An Amazing Heavy Metal Record
Great album!
WOW!!

Great Southern Trendkill
Pantera
Manufacturer: Import [Generic]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Thrash & Speed Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Far Beyond Driven
Cowboys From Hell
Vulgar Display of Power
Reinventing the Steel
Official Live: 101 Proof

ASIN: B0000072RM
Release Date: 2000-05-23

Customer Reviews:

Criminally underrated Pantera excellence.......2007-07-26

The Great Southern Trendkill (1996.), Pantera's fourth recognised studio album (their eigth if you count their four album releases during the 1980's which the band now totally disregards)

Three amazing major label studio albums and an ever growing fanbase, Pantera had proven themselves to be amongst the greats of heavy metal by the mid `90s. Their third album `Far Beyond Driven' became perhaps the heaviest album to hit number 1 in the Billboard 200 album chart. Pantera were indeed emerging into widespread fame, however the latter half of the `90s was to mark a turning point in heavy metal with the emergence of nu metal. However, Pantera have never been a band to be deterred away from their artistic vision. `The Great Southern Trendkill' was released in 1996 and has gone on to be the forgotten/divided opinion Pantera album since its release. Does the album however deserve this unfortunate tag?

There are often albums where I feel I have to make a case against the grain of opinion and this is one such album, so here goes. `The Great Southern Trendkill' is very much an expansion of Pantera's groove metal style that they pioneered in their earlier work. To all intensive purposes, this is the bands experimental work as they throw in some deep, semi-acoustic work into the mix. The band also have a much more threatening feel to their sound which is most greatly seen with Phil Anselmo's often layered, `demonic' sounding, vocals. The band also are much more faster in general on this album than in previous releases. Furthermore, this is perhaps Pantera's heaviest album - every aspect to the band is at its greatest power. The groove metal is very much there right through the album yet the album somewhat distances itself from its predecessor `Far Beyond Driven' with its experimental edge. So why does this album only average 3.5 stars overall on amazon.com and why is this the Pantera album everyone forgets? Personally, I can't understand the low rating, maybe some people haven't got the patience to see a band develop its sound. Sure, they may want to play `Vulgar Display Of Power' all day and yes, I could do that as that album is a classic but this album shows excellently how there is much more to Pantera than just creating a new style. They have developed and kept the creativity high. Also, this album still has a number of big hitting tunes than are highly memorable - `War Nerve' or '13 Steps To Nowhere' anyone? The bottom line is that `The Great Southern Trendkill' is a top effort from Pantera that has become sadly underrated. The songwriting across the album is very strong and all of the tracks stand proud in their own right. The band are again in fine form and the production is excellent, combining a heavy yet often mellow feel. Dimebag Darrell plays many a fantastic riff and some awesome lead lines (just listen to the outro of `Floods') and Phil Anselmo still barks out his vocals with pure aggression. He also again shows he can sing really well cleanly and has an excellent baritone sounding voice. This very dark Pantera album is one excellent work!

The opening track `The Great Southern Trendkill' fires off with a huge scream before the song forms into an aggressive opener. The second half of the track is the best part where Dime plays out some awesome melodies and impressive riffs. `War Nerve' is next, one of the finest tracks on the album. The track has a foreboding and grinding feel to it at the start before it gathers speed and energy. Phil spits venom for most of the track which is Pantera at their heaviest. `Drag The Waters' has plenty of downbeat and mellow riffs with a powerful, sludgy chorus. `10s' is one of Pantera's darkest songs with lots of atmosphere. Dimebag plays some gripping melodies towards the end of the track. '13 Steps To Nowhere' has a fantastic Vinnie Paul drum intro. The band's sound on this track is very intense; a solid unit indeed.

For an interesting contrast of songs, look no further than `Suicide Note Part 1 and Part 2'. The first part is an excellent acoustic based song - a great piece of experimentation from the band. Phil sings some heartfelt vocals with plenty of intent and the guitar work is fresh and crisp. Then there is a complete contrast with the second part which is pure speed, urgency and aggression. Another excellent track with plenty of shreiking riffs. `Living Through Me (Hells Wrath)' is another staple Pantera song with plenty of driving riffs. There is a gripping middle section here which has an extremely barren feel to it. `Floods', a track of self explanatory themes is another of the album's highlights. The first half of the song is very mellow, semi acoustic and expressive with some great vocals. Then some pounding guitar chords add a great contrast. Dime's exit guitar melody makes an astounding finish. `The Underground In America' is one of the album's underrated songs. Very powerful, brutal and crushing, it has all of the ingredients for a great Pantera song. The main riff to the track is really memorable - the band clearly liked it as they use it again in `Reprise - Sandblasted Skin'. This is a heavy, high energy finisher where Phil proclaims `The Trend Is Over!' More intense drumming and riffing rounds this classic album out in style!

`The Great Southern Trendkill' is an album that gets much un-needed criticism and is in fact an amazing effort from Pantera. The band have developed their style excellently here whilst still maintaining their trademark sound. The band have never sounded heavier or faster than on this album! I personally wouldn't begin listening to Pantera with this album but I would more than recommend getting this album after hearing `Cowboys From Hell' or `Vulgar Display Of Power'. This album has high replay value and shows a band pushing their boundaries. All I ask is that you look beyond all of the low rating reviews for this album - this work is worth its weight in gold!

R.I.P. Dimebag Darrell

MY RATING: 9/10

Awesome!!.......2006-09-16

This album f*cking rules! It's without a doubt Pantera's darkest album, and maybe even their heaviest. Phil's vocals and lyrics reached a new level (no pun intended) of insanity, Vinnie's drums pummell you to the ground, Rex's basslines rule, and of course Dimebag is nothing short of amazing. Some of the highlights are:
War Nerve-This song is without a doubt the most hateful song Pantera ever wrote. If you're into any real physical sports like football, this is the song you wanna listen to before the game. I guarantee it'll get your adrenaline going.
Suicide Note Pt. 1-This is a slower one, but it's still great. Kinda haunting in a way.
Suicide Note Pt. 2-Pulverizing is the only way to describe this song. I can only imagine what the mosh pits looked like when this song was performed live.
Drag The Waters-This song, plain and simple, rules! Vocally and lyrically my favorite on the album. Has one of my favorite solos too, which is very bluesy.
Floods-Another dark, slow song and has the greatest solo Dimebag ever composed. The first time I ever heard it, I rewinded it a countless number of times because I was so captivated. It's that damn good!

These songs are just highlights, but I swear you can pop this CD in your stereo and just listen to it all the way through. A must have for any fan of heavy music!! All hail Pantera!!

An Amazing Heavy Metal Record.......2006-06-07

Over the years, Pantera have released some great albums. In general, Pantera is best known for albums like Cowboys From Hell, Vulgar Display of Power, or their chart-topping album Far Beyond Driven, but The Great Southern Trendkill is one of those albums that was forgotten in the flow of time. Around the time of release, critics bashed the album for blatantly bashing the media and pop culture, which contributed to the album's lack of popularity in the mainstream. In addition, there were no music videos released for the album.

First, and foremost, this album is VERY aggressive! Critics had every right to be offended or take Anselmo's lyrics personally. There were many extremely metal bands around this time (Cannibal Corpse, etc.) but Pantera's lyrics and themes are disturbingly true and apply to the world we live in today and were generally taken more seriously.

Although this might not be the best Pantera album to start out with, it doesn't fall short compared to their other works. Anselmo's vocals reach their hardcore peak, Dimebag's guitar work is still absolutely amazing, Vinnie Paul is awesome on the drums, and Rex is solid as well. Some of the better songs on this album include 'The Great Southern Trendkill', 'Drags the Waters', and 'Suicide Note Pt. 2'.

If you're a Pantera fan or a fan of heavy metal, this album is a MUST!!!!

Great album!.......2006-03-04

This disc was a great evolution for the band, with very matures songs for example the excellent ''Suicide note'' (parts 1 & 2).

WOW!!.......2005-08-17

THIS in My Opinion is the best pantera album out there. every tracks kicks total ass, and they all sound good. My Personal favorite is "The Underground in America".Simply Amazing. The whole albumm is simply amazing.

Average customer rating:

Great Southern Trendkill
Pantera
Manufacturer: Musicrama/Koch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
Similar Items:

Reinventing the Steel
Far Beyond Driven
Cowboys From Hell
Vulgar Display of Power
Korn

ASIN: B0000DEMO3
Release Date: 1999-06-29

Average customer rating:

Cowboys From Hell
Pantera
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Thrash & Speed Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000KF7HVA

Product Description

1990, Warner-Pioneer Japan, AMCY-140. Superior first pressing from Japan. Out of print. 12 tracks.

Average customer rating:

Great Southern Trendkill #1
Pantera
Manufacturer: Phantom Sound & Visi
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000BRAGZG
Release Date: 1996-11-21

Average customer rating:

No wonder they broke up
Essential.
To Pantera Hater
THEY DON'T MAKE THEM LIKE THIS ANYMORE...(just an honest review)
TREND KILL!!

The Great Southern Trendkill
Pantera
Manufacturer: Phantom Sound & Visi
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Thrash & Speed Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock & Metal | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Reinventing the Steel
Cowboys From Hell
Vulgar Display of Power
Far Beyond Driven
Official Live: 101 Proof

ASIN: B0000072RL
Release Date: 2000-07-12

Tracks:

Great Southern Trendkill
War Nerve
Drag the Waters
10's
13 Steps to Nowhere
Suicide Note, Pt. 1
Suicide Note, Pt. 2
Living Through Me (Hell's Wrath)
Floods
Underground in America
Sandblasted Skin (Reprise)

Album Description

Japanese edition of their new album features alive version of 'Walk' as a bonus track. Standard 11 tracks.

Customer Reviews:

No wonder they broke up.......2007-01-27

I've been a big Pantera fan since Vulgar Display of Power was released but this album is pretty lame, especially when one looks at the quality of their material on CfH, VDoP, and FBD. There is a difference between noise and music and a couple of these tracks cross that line. Sure, there's the small universe of ultra-hardcore fans who love anything Pantera records ("best album ever"? Give me a break), but anyone else can hear that this is pretty weak material for the most part.

It's sad to see a band that was so good implode on itself. Pantera went downhill fast after Vulgar Display of Power. No wonder they broke up. Like another reviewer said: if this album was by anyone other than Pantera, it would be getting trashed left and right.

Essential........2006-07-28

Having read through most of the reviews for this album I felt almost obliged to write this: If it is your inention to listen to media `approved' funneled and selected bulls##t go right ahead and take the advice of that `pantera hater' little prick, Hopefully that way we can at least keep all the stupid f##ks together in one place, lock em up nice and safe and burn the f##kers. How anybody can slander the deceased Dimebag so callously pretty much makes me want to throw up. The fact he was a guitar legend almost palls in irrelevence to the fact he died young and unneccarily to some idiot f##ker that deserved so much more suffering than the nice clean bullet he got, anyway, just for you `pantera hater' I personally aspire that you get cancer or some other sick lifewrecking disease and rot from the inside out you piece of trash.
Now as for the album...........Musically this is NOT gonna be everybody's cup of tea, it aint gonna win any prizes or any nods from the `knowledgeable' what it damn sure does is supply genuine serious heartfelt soul f##kin emotion, yes pantera have probably made `technically' better albums, definately bigger selling albums but nothing touches this, this is pantera at their peak..this is the assault that their ability promised, whether your hardcore enough to understand that really is down to you. For every mindless slipknot album laden with synthetic marketable aggression...for every fake bast##d that makes his buck feigning these emotions and translating them to a nice commercial medium (y'all know what I mean, there's f##kin thousands of em) ..this is your cure. This is ability wise one of the most talented bands at the very least of this generation probably ever, even if you dislike the medium (extreme metal) do not disrespect or fail to grasp the real meaning of this record, pure unadulterated anguish, violence, self hate and f##kin rebellion, the feelings are almost palpable here, you can feel the pain of someone really suffering, not another band pumping out some fake indirect record nicely covering the generalties of a theme so it's nice and accessible making for a nice high sales count, f''k that, this wasnt to go platinum.
The true sign of this band's brilliance may not even be the music, consider the fact that inspite of what almost every other band around has done pantera actually got closer and closer to their music as they got famous, the exact antithesis of almost all other bands who get weaker and weaker and every single release.

This, as an example of the frighteningly effective execution of the medium serves as brillitanly as the downward spiral did, as effective at delivering it's own message as the wall was and even more vicious and scathing than even the brilliant ministry. If this review just guides on person to the understanding and appreciation of this record it was worth the time of writing it.

F##k buying this record straight away...Respect it first.

To Pantera Hater.......2006-03-17

for someone who Hates Pantera you sure are fixated on them, especially dime

Do us a favor...Post a link to a recording of you playing guitar so we can see how better you are than Dime...who knows, you might be, but i doubt it.

THEY DON'T MAKE THEM LIKE THIS ANYMORE...(just an honest review).......2006-03-11

If you ask for my opinion, "The Great Southern Trendkill" is THE Pantera release. This cd is one crushing song after another. The strength of Pantera (an overwhelmingly powerful live band) had always been the music and it's clear just how much force they had in the combined sound of Dimebag Darrell, Vinnie and Rex. Metal fans, the music on this cd is so powerful that on several songs all vocalist Phil Anselmo can do (literally) is scream. He's a pretty effective screamer but the music is so overwhelming in intensity that he's easily overshadowed. There's really no need to point out any songs in particular because there's not one single dud on the entire entree. However, the title track starts things off with a bang. It's amazing how clear they sound while playing at such a fast pace. The 2 main riffs are such pulverizes that the change of pace at the end is almost a welcome relief. Excellent start. "War Never", "Drag The Waters" and "10's 5" are all crushers in their own right. Just listen to "13 Steps To Nowhere". A slow, brutal, crushing, stomper of a song. It's one of those songs that will have you distorting your face trying to match its beautiful ugliness. While Phil Anselmo isn't a hindrance to the cd's effectiveness, he really doesn't get to shine until "Suicide Note Pt 1" and he makes good use of the slow, sparseness of the song. Not a ballad by any stretch of the imagination, the song is a good prelude to the return to form pile driving sound of "Suicide Note Pt 2". Dimebag has a way with squawks and squeals that makes the main riffs sound that much more explosive. "Living Through Me (Hell's Wrath)" and "Floods" are both mindnumbingly excellent. These two will have you banging your head so hard (yes, any good metal cd still causes the much used but completely appropriate "head banging"), you just might loose it. "The Underground In America" and "Sandblasted Skin" both have teeth rattling riffs. "Sandblasted Skin" in particular is like having a building fall on you. It's that heavy. Turn the volume up and you'll be convinced. How they achieve such memorable hooks while playing with such violent intensity really is a marvel. Each one of these songs has something memorable that stuck with me long after I gave them a listen. I'm not ready to proclaim "The Great Southern Trendkill" as the greatest metal release of all time but after listening to it (again and again and again...), I can't think of anything else that's better.

TREND KILL!!.......2006-01-04

NOTHING has ever quite compared to witnessing the power, beauty and brutality of Pantera live. Touring to the furthermost reaches of the arid planes of Western Australia, Pantera arrived after the release of their Far Beyond Driven assault and shook the town to its sweltering core. Stage front stood the cowboys from hell ready to hurl their assortment of musical abuse on a mosh-pit audience who seemed to salivate at the mere thought of the sinewy figure of Philip Anselmo spitting venomously while his motley co-conspirators hammered and thrashed out their fire and brimstone sonic rhetoric.

No one was disappointed that evening, in fact Pantera seemed to redefine hardcore with riffs that were melodic and with a rage that was contemptuously levelled at the hypocritical and weak-willed. The thought of anything rivalling that moment in time was almost inconceivable until the arrival of Pantera's savage, crunchy, searing and soulful fourth album The Great Southern Trendkill.

The cover resplendent with its forked tongue hissing from the mouth of a deadly snake is a precursor to the venom contained between its swollen and chilling grooves of devastation and lyricism that is caustic and dark. From the bowels of Pantera hell comes the first song and grindcore title track that rises from purgatory. Razor-blade vocals and speed-core drum and riffs are a perfect introduction for what is to follow. The pungent whiff of War Nerve bludgeons and debilitates with each vowel movement.

The fury of Drag The Waters resonates with vocals so gutteral and so primal that they bleed from amid squalls of guitar pyromancy. A sudden change of mood is heralded by the swirling, atmospheric, epic urgency of 10's, a haunting ballad that soars with lyrical pain and desolate anguish. 13 Steps To Nowhere is the stain of Satan's breath upon your cheek that disturbs and jars with pure malevolency while Anselmo's whole being racks with pain and rage. The sparse poignancy and dark gothic, gospellic overtones of The Suicide Note Part 1 & 2 has the stench of death and a life slowly seeping away. But before death comes the victim's final breaths that are shrieked in cacophonies fury.

Slabs of reality are dissected through the gentle and hoary strains of Floods as Anselmo prays for Armageddon and "extinguishing the sun. Wash away man, take him with the floods ..." he pleads. Dimebag Darrell, Vinnie Paul and Rex hypnotise with their sinister and mesmerising accompaniments.

The Great Southern Trendkill is Pantera broadcasting a pre-apocalyptic warning. This is the cowboys from hell at their most primal. It's stark, desolate, ravaged and raw and brings back memories of one of the most inspiring mosh-pit concerts ever staged on this side of the continent.

R.I.P. Dimebag Darrell

Music Info:

Music Info

music info

Recommended Music:

Elvis for Everyone [Import]

Liszt: Consolations; Fantasia & Fugue

La Musica nei Teatri de '700 Napoletano

Entertainer: Classic Ragtime from Rare Piano Rolls [Original recording remastered]

Until He Finds Us [Explicit Lyrics]

Life [Import]

Peter Cincotti

Lebendige Vergangenheit: Karin Branzell

Modern Day Drifter [Enhanced] [Limited Edition]

Jazz Cafe: Between the Lines

Mirage [Extra tracks] [Original recording remastered]

Le Cours Des Jours [Import]

Lost Funk [Import]

Best of Kicking Mule, Vol. 1

The Remains of Tom Lehrer