3 of 3 thought this review was well writtenPantera – Far Beyond Driven
After the intensity of A Vulgar Display Of Power, Pantera were trying to sound totally different, a “wrong" album if you will. What Pantera came out with was raw and aggressive, it was like they played it for the first time. It was horrible but for once in a good way. What Pantera came out with was a riff-crunching piece of brilliance. The album starts with Strength Beyond Strength which is a heavy straight through song, which it’s only break is to come out with the slow haunting guitar solo. It’s a song that the first time you hear it, you’d fall in love with it the first time. Becoming is Pantera going all experimental on us. Starting with a slide riff. The double bass is pounding away but sadly is too short for Pantera’s liking. 5 Minutes Alone is 5:50 of pure dead ownage. An anthem of the nineties I would say. It has an awesome riff during half way that makes me wanting to jump around the room like mad. It has a short but sweet solo aswell. The hit single I’m Broken is also a great track, with such a tasty solo, it is an unskippable timeless track that you’ll be reaching for the repeat button all the time. The lowest point on the album is obviously the horrible immature Good Friends And A Bottle Of Pills. It’s obviously filler as it sounds like they’ve been cursed to make crappy music. But all that is forgiven with the epic (I mean epic) Hard Lines, Sunken Cheeks. Phil stretches his vocals, Rex shows off his bass skill, Vinnie has his double bass and Dimebag’s epic solo cut this off for an enjoyable 7 minute treat.
The super fast riff starts off Slaughtered, am I the only one who isn’t a big fan of this song? It feels average and sounds like any other song on the album. Next is the totally underrated 25 years which is totally golden for the whole song through. The end part is the best when Phil sings “We’re f*****g you back!!!" which is sung over a fast guitar riff and a fast drum beat. Shedding Skin is the next little number which is quite bland but it is a good song standing on it’s own. I hate this next song with a passion. Use My Third Arm is a giant noise fest. Only good bit is the fast pre-chorus. Throes Of Rejection is my favourite song on the album. I didn’t like this song at first but it definitely grow on me. The riffs are astounding, Vinnie serves some good drumming here. Phil’s vocals are good at the chorus. The solo is creamy, absolutely delicious!!! You awesome guitar players, try and figure that one out! The Black Sabbath song was covered and put on this album as the final twelve track. They do quite a good job at it too. I think Dimebag improves the solo well.
Pros :
+ Awesome Guitar work
+ Some good double bass from Vinnie
Cons :
- Some of the tracks are absolutely awful (Use My Third Arm, Good Friends And A Bottle Of Pills)
- I’m not that keen on Phil’s voice
4/5
