Pantera - Far Beyond Driven (1994) [Reissue] (2010)

 

 Far Beyond Driven is the seventh studio album by American groove metal band Pantera, released on March 22, 1994, by Elektra Records and East West Records. Pantera's fastest-selling album, it peaked at number 1 on the Billboard 200 and was certified Platinum by the RIAA. The album was also certified Platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association. Far Beyond Driven is the first album by Pantera where the band's guitarist Darrell Abbott is credited as "Dimebag Darrell", having changed his nickname from "Diamond Darrell" soon after Vulgar Display of Power was released. The Japanese and the Driven Downunder Tour '94 Souvenir Collection editions contain a bonus thirteenth track, "The Badge", a Poison Idea cover. This cover was also featured on The Crow soundtrack.

The original album cover shows a drill going into someone's anus, but the record label rejected it, worrying it would harm sales and would be rejected by stores like Walmart and Target. The band then changed it to a drill put in the frontal lobe of a human skull.

This album has a darker, heavier sound than its predecessors, mainly because guitarist and songwriter Dimebag Darrell lowered the guitar's tuning by one tone. The themes of the songs on this album are more personal than in previous works, as can be seen in songs like "25 Years" or "Becoming", which relate personal experiences of vocalist Phil Anselmo.

At the time of its release, Pantera's vocalist Phil Anselmo was injured with ruptured discs in his back and was suffering from chronic pain from degenerative disc disease. Anselmo began drinking heavily, abusing painkillers and muscle relaxants, and using heroin to alleviate the pain.

 

 

 

 

 -Tracklist:

Disc 1:

Side A
1. Strength Beyond Strength    03:38
2. Becoming     03:05
3. 5 Minutes Alone    05:48

Side B
4. I'm Broken     04:25
5. Good Friends and a Bottle of Pills     02:52
6. Hard Lines, Sunken Cheeks    07:02 

26:50

Disc 2:

Side A
1. Slaughtered   03:57
2. 25 Years    06:05
3. Shedding Skin    05:37

Side B
4. Use My Third Arm      04:52
5. Throes of Rejection     05:02
6. Planet Caravan (Black Sabbath cover)     04:03

29:36

 

-Lineup: 

• Philip Anselmo : Vocals
• Vinnie Paul (R.I.P. 2018) : Drums
• Dimebag Darrell (R.I.P. 2004) : Guitars
• Rex : Bass

 

 

 

 Label: Rhino Records.

 2 x 12" vinyls (33⅓ RPM)

 Collector's Edition
Reissued for Record Store Day April 17th 2010.
Gatefold sleeve with lyrics & credits. 180g vinyl.
With hype sticker stating: "Limited edition double-vinyl album with exclusive artwork & gatefold sleeve; Direct-Metal-Mastered to cause maximum damage". Comes with two black, semi-glossy inner sleeves.
Limited to: 3000 black vinyl
Cut from the original high definition masters.

Embossed Warner "W" logo on back sleeve, right lower corner.

"Planet Caravan" is a Black Sabbath song off the Paranoid album.

The original cover artwork featured a far more explicit image of a drill going up a person's anus and was banned since the label refused to print it on the regular CD. This cover artwork was used on the version included in the Driven Downunder box-set.

Mixed at Dallas Sound Labs, Dallas, Texas.
Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York City, New York.
Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee.
Co-produced by Pantera.