Pantera
Far Beyond Driven (East/West)
by Paul Lee
Pure sonically expressed fury. This is what Pantera is, and their new East/West release, Far Beyond Driven, once again shows how the crazed metal demons from Texas get it right. I heard them say they would get even heavier than Vulgar Display of Power, and I didn’t think it possible. Boy, I’m a dimwit! To say that Pantera is intense on this album is like saying a super nova is a cute little boom in space. Their title is so appropriate for their sound and attitude.
Listening to Far Beyond Driven was like an exorcism for me, at least temporarily. My energy and rage just seemed to burst out of my body making me move to a bizarre and erratic dance. There’s an energy that comes from Pantera that’s unlike any other musical energy. To think that one little CD can contain so much wrath, originality and excitement. It’s amazing! I’m still putting my room back together after the cyclone created by playing “F.B.D.”
Sometimes I wonder about my sanity when I listen to Phil spouting his enigmatic and rage saturated words while Dimebag, Rex, and Vinnie create a maelstrom of musical mayhem. I fully enjoy being assaulted by Pantera’s power, and Far Beyond Driven increases the pain/pleasure level one more notch past the point of Vulgar (Incredible, isn’t it?). This album is total obliteration. It will destroy your enemies, mutilate the annoying dog next door and waste any Jesus crispies who try to convert you.
I could go into a huge, in-depth analysis about Far Beyond Driven, but it’s not necessary. I’ll just give you a basic view of the power and the insanity that dominates Pantera’s latest. From zero seconds, the first little number “Strength Beyond Strength” is a total annihilating, speed-freaked tune. I don’t think Phil’s monster vocals have ever sounded more manic and enraged (like a werewolf on amphetamines roaring). Dimebag Darrel and Rex tear the sound barrier with their respective guitar and bass with thermal nuclear energy. And Vinnie Paul’s drumming, oy vey, it’s like a B-52 bomber dropping a payload over your head.
Believe you me, not a single song on Far Beyond Driven is unstable (though the brains of Pantera may be) or weak. There are other great tracks (and I’m not singling these out as the best ones) like “Becoming” that has Dimebag doing some weird effect mixed into his riffs, “Hard Lines, Sunken Cheeks” that starts with a surf-guitar, distortion sound and then launches into thrash space. Add to the other awesome songs Pantera’s most twisted and off-kilter song to date entitled “Good Friends and a Bottle of Pills.” It starts off with the line “Yeah, so I fucked your girlfriend…” and just imagine how screwed it gets from there.
The final song on Far… is a departure from the usual Pantera menu. It’s trippy and mellow and also a Black Sabbath cover, “Planet Caravan,” from Paranoid. According to Phil, it was his favorite Sabbath song, so you can’t call his musical tastes one-dimensional. You’ll have to hear it to believe what a cool rendition they did.
Remember, this is not a revisitation of Cowboys From Hell or Vulgar Display of Power, Pantera has stomped forward and created a new classic. You won’t mistake them with any other thrashers, and they haven’t gone the crossover route, but with Far Beyond Driven, Pantera has carved their unique crushing and grooving sound even further. They’re starting a new tour with New Orleans based thudders Crowbar (that Phil produced their latest ) and are ready to tear a trail through the world like Godzilla leaving a path of carnage behind (and they’re hitting Tokyo too!). Need I say more? Just do yourself a favor and get the album, it will leave you shattered and content.
