Far Beyond Driven

Infobox Album | Name = Far Beyond Driven
Type = studio
Artist = Pantera


Released = March 15, 1994
Recorded = 1993 - 1994
Genre = Groove metal
Length = 56:15
Label = East West
Producer = Terry Date
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDMISS70405182320011793&sql=Ab22m964odep7 link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/pantera/albums/album/205134/review/5943057/far_beyond_driven link]
Last album = "Vulgar Display of Power"
(1992)
This album = "Far Beyond Driven"
(1994)
Next album = "The Great Southern Trendkill"
(1996)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Original Cover
Type = studio


Lower caption = The original "uncensored" cover that was banned

"Far Beyond Driven" is an album by heavy metal band Pantera. The album was released on March 15, 1994 through East West Records. It is considered one of the most extreme albums ever to debut at #1 in the US. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Ab22m964odep7 allmusic ((( Far Beyond Driven > Overview ))) ] ]

The albums original artwork (a drill bit impaling an anus) (seen below) was banned due to censorship laws so it was re-released with the now legendary skull impaled with a drill bit. Copies of the original version with the banned artwork are now quite rare and fetch high prices on online auction sites.

The Japanese and Driven Downunder Tour '94 Souvenir Collection editions both contain a bonus 13th track. The track ,'The Badge' is a 'Poison Idea' cover.

It was available on LP, double LP, tape, and CD.

Album information

Musically, "Far Beyond Driven" was devoid of nearly all the Thrash Metal influences Pantera had on their previous three albums, settling for a continuous, slow chugging mid tempo groove throughout the album. Much of the shift was due to Dimebag Darrell's more down-tuned and heavier sludgy playing styles. Anselmo's lyrics on the album were far more personal than on the previous albums, his lyrics of "You'll never be the father I am" may shed some light on his personal life.

In the liner notes of the album, all the song's lyrics are printed beside the cover of "Planet Caravan". The somewhat defensive liner note reads:

"This is a Black Sabbath song off of the "Paranoid" album. So don't freak out on us. We did the song because we wanted to. It has nothing to do with the integrity of our direction. It's a tripped out song. We think you'll dig it. If you don't, don't fucking listen to it. Thanks. On behalf of the rest of Pantera, Phil Anselmo '94".

This was the first Pantera album with Darrell being called "Dimebag Darrell" and not "Diamond Darrell," although in "Vulgar Video" he is referred to as "Dimebag".

Songs such as 'Becoming' and '25 Years' appear to be about Philip Anselmo's early life.

The album is referenced in the Machine Head song "Aesthetics of Hate", the third track from the 2007 album "The Blackening".

The track 'Good Friends and a Bottle of Pills' is a reference to the song 'Good Friends and a Bottle of Wine' on Ted Nugent's album Weekend Warriors.

Reception

The album features a cover version of Black Sabbath's "Planet Caravan" as the closing track, which reached #21 on "Billboard"'s Mainstream Rock Tracks and #26 on the UK Singles Chart. The album's fourth track and first single, "I'm Broken", reached #19 on the UK Singles Chart.

"Professional reviews":

*Rolling Stone (5/19/94, p.103) - 4 Stars - "...a kind of aesthetics of thud...the real art smolders in the noise itself..."

*Entertainment Weekly (4/1/94, p.54) - "If you're burned out on raging young men spewing aggression atop jackhammering drums and grinding guitars, then pass on Pantera. But if you've still got a yen for that sort of fare, than you can't do much better than this slab of metallic mayhem." - Rating: B+

*Melody Maker (4/2/94, p.35) - "Like great techno, it's utterly flawless music, free of any error, minimal and animal enough to make a screaming bloody mess of the head."

Album Notes

"The Pantera Crew From Hell:"

* Guy Sykes: Tour Manager
* Aaron Barnes: Sound Engineer
* Sonny Satterfield: Lighting Director
* Grady Champion: Guitar Tech
* John Brooks: Drum Tech
* Heger Levine: Monitor Engineer
* Val Bichekas: Security
* Daryl Arnberger: Band Assistant
* Sterling Winfield: Bass Tech

All songs written by Pantera except 'Planet Caravan', written by 'Frank Iommi, John Osbourne, William Ward, and Terrence Butler.

* Produced, engineered and mixed by Terry Date and Vinnie Paul.
* Co-produced by Pantera.
* A&R coordination: Derek Oliver.
* Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee.
* Mixed at 'Dallas Sound Labs', Dallas, Texas.
* Assistant Mmix engineers: Tim Kimsey, Sterling Winfield.
* Mastered by Ted Jensen at 'Sterling Sound', NYC.
* Live photos: Joe Giron.

Pantera uses and abuses Ampeg Amps, Dean Guitars, Dunlop Picks, DW Pedals, Fernandez Basses, Guild Acoustic Guitars, LaBella Strings, Nady Wireless Systems, Neuman Tackified Gloves, R&R Road Cases, Randall Amps, Remo Heads & Hardware,, Sabian Cymbals, Spector Basses, Vic Firth Drum Sticks.

* Worldwide Representation: Concrete Management Inc, Walter O'Brien, Andy Gould.
* Legal Representation: Codikow & Carroll - David Codikow & Rosemary Carroll.
* Agency: Pinnacle Entertainment - John Dittmar.
* Merchandising: Winterland Productions, San Francisco, CA.
* Art direction: Richard Bates.
* Design: Richard Bates, Donald May, Eric Attenburger.
* Conceptual Photography: Dean Karr.

We want to thank all of our friends, families, everyone at EastWest America, WEA Distribution, Warner Music Worldwide and Warner-Chappell Music Publishing.

Most of all, we want to thank all of our fans all over the world!! You know who you are, and we know who you are! You fuckin' rule!!!

Track listing

*All tracks by Pantera unless noted otherwise.

#"Strength Beyond Strength" – 3:38
#"Becoming" – 3:05
#"5 Minutes Alone" – 5:47
#"I'm Broken" – 4:24
#"Good Friends and a Bottle of Pills" – 2:53
#"Hard Lines, Sunken Cheeks" – 7:01
#"Slaughtered" – 3:56
#"25 Years" – 6:05
#"Shedding Skin" – 5:36
#"Use My Third Arm" – 4:51
#"Throes of Rejection" – 5:01
#"Planet Caravan" (Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward) – 4:03

Credits

*Pantera – Arranger, producer
*Terry Date – Producer, engineer, mixing
*Phil Anselmo – Vocals
*Dimebag Darrell – Guitar
*Rex Brown – Bass Guitar
*Vinnie Paul – drums

Charting positions

Album

Singles

References

succession box
before = "The Sign" by Ace of Base
title = "Billboard" 200 number-one album
years = April 9 - April 15 1994
after = "Longing in Their Hearts" by Bonnie Raittsuccession box
before = "Music Box" by Mariah Carey
title = Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album
years = April 3 - April 9, 1994
after = "The Division Bell" by Pink Floyd