This is one of the most amazing albums ever made. A lot of people think that “Vulgar Display Of Power” is Pantera’s best album, and some regard this one as being their least interesting. I must disagree. In my humble opinion, this album is Pantera’s best, and no matter how much time has passed, it still remains in my Top 5 albums. Now, let’s go to the tracklisting:
1° The Great Southern Trendkill: The album starts with a brutal, fast and relentless song, so as to scare all the non-believers from the very beginning. The song is kinda odd, through; the first half of the song is the song itself and the other half is just a guitar solo.
2° War Nerve: Another thrashy song, with a call-and-response verse much in the vein of “I’m Broken”. Not as good, but it still works.
3° Drag The Waters: The lead track off the album, and an amazing song. This one is slower and groovier, and it’s probably the catchiest song in the album.
4° 10’s: A totally incredible track!!!! Very slow and gloomy. The acoustic interlude is very cute, and the guitar solo is totally fantastic.
5° 13 Steps To Nowhere: A much faster song than the previous two. In this one, Vinnie Paul shows his double-bass drum abilities, while Dimebag and Rex play some really good riffs.
6° Suicide Note Part I: This is the most quiet song off the album. An moody, acoustic track with some keyboards to make it even moodier, and Phil Anselmo singing like a drunk country singer.
7° Suicide Note Part II: The total antithesis of Part I. This fast, violent, almost-grindcore song is easily the heaviest track of the album. In this one we have Phil screaming at the top of his lungs, while Dimebag shows no mercy in shredding with his guitar. The problem is: those who play guitar will find it great; those who don’t will think is just noise.
8° Living Through Me (Hell’s Wrath): This one is more thrash-metal Pantera. It has a weird industrial-like interlude with Phil whispering something. It works, but it would have been better to put a guitar solo. Nevertheless, it still is a great heavy song.
9° Floods: Totally astonishing!!!!! The heavy riffs are great, the acoustic parts are awesome, the guitar solos are absolutely breathtaking, and the riff at the end of the song is beautiful. This song is a true gem.
10° The Underground In America: More thrash-metal for us. Again, Vinnie shows us how great he is when it comes to drumming, while Dimebag and Rex still give us great riffs. At the end, Phil starts screaming “the trend is dead”. Sadly, punk-pop didn’t die, it just got worse.
11° Sandblasted Skin (Reprise): One more song of good riffs and good drumming (no guitar solo, sadly). A good closer for the album.
