Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An underrated classic, 28 Sep 2005
Why is it that every favourite album I have is the bands (and most fans) least favourite? It always means that they devote no time to discussing it, or more importantly, to playing the songs live. Anyway, for me, this is the best Pantera work, as it encompasses every aspect of their brilliance of musicianship (Living through me), technical ability (suicide note part II), song writing (Floods), southern edge (The Underground in America) and sheer heaviness (the first three tracks!)
Written just before Phil's heroin overdose, this is probably their most darkest hour, but the music is perhaps more diverse than the previous three efforts, and since the tragic demise of Dimebag, a great testimony to the power they once possessed. A great album by the greatest metal band of their time.
|
|
|
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Their Best Album., 27 Jul 2004
Many will disagree with those words, but there is no doubt in my mind that here the boys really managed to do the imossible. To outdo both Vulgar and Far Beyond. Old school metallers like myself remember that around this albums release, the metal climate was changing,big names like Metallica and Megadeth had gone kinda "soft" and NU-Metal was beginning to rise. Again the Texans went against what other bands were doing, and became heavier than ever.This album has a feel to it that cannot be discribed.Songs like Suicide note 1 and 2, Drag the Waters, War Nerve and their best song ever, Floods make this an astounding release.Give it a few listens, then youll understand,trust me.
|
|
|
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best metal albums of the 90s, 1 Nov 2002
By A Customer
When people talk about Pantera's best work, only Vulgar Display and Cowboys From Hell (bizarrely) ever seem to be mentioned. This is really puzzling. In the ten years I've been listening to extreme music this is in my top ten of albums. The Great Southern Trendkill (1996) is dark, exciting and will probably never be bettered.
The album opens ferociously with the title track. An evil, grinding riff then gives way to some stellar riffing by Dimebag Darrell. This part of the song is just a pleasure to listen to, particularly as the end hints at even darker tunes in the rest of the album. War Nerve has a slow start, then quickly picks up into a driving, military riff. Vinnie Paul's sense of rhythm is superb. If Dimebag shone on the first track then this is Vinnie's 3 or 4 odd minutes. Drag The Waters was a single for the band but unsurprisingly didn't exactly go Top 40. This is a sort of heavy pop song with a dark message of greed and corruption. The band's Southern roots really stand out on this track.
Track 4 is 10s. Despairing, slow and a middle part that is just beautifully miserable and forlorn. 13 Steps To Nowhere is again another superb track that never seems to get much credit from Pantera fans. The riff is haunting and frantic, particularly in the middle of the song where it just slows to the sound of a bell being tolled in the distance. Suicide Notes Part 1 and 2 are excellent - SN2 is in the same vein as Hostile but much darker, whilst SN1 is the sound of someone in the throes of topping themselves.
Living Through Me is easily the weakest track on the album. Very forgettable and the only average track on the album. Floods is a 7 minute mix of bleak acoustic guitar and grinding axework. The Underground In America has yet another creepy riff whilst Sandblasted Skin is an excellent finisher. Phil Anselmo's lyrics are very well written throughout.
Not everyone seemed to like this album, but I can't understand how. Ten of the eleven tracks here are excellent. If you haven't heard this album yet, then what's stopping you?
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
