Post # 402
Pantera released Far Beyond Driven in 1994, the same year I graduated High School. It was their 3rd major-label release, and it changed the world of heavy music forever. On a personal level, it also changed my world of music appreciation. It was the first album I owned that was considered 'extreme' metal. I had mainly been into "glam" and ''hair" metal bands, like Guns 'N' Roses, Def Leppard, and Ratt, before then. I broadened my horizons and embraced the rage, aggression, and power that pulses through every measure of Far Beyond Driven. I was far from the only one to, literally, buy into this band with this specific album: it debuted at #1 on the Billboard music charts (the heaviest album to do so at the time).
With it now being 2024, I thought it fitting to commemorate this now-classic album with a fresh blog post. I did, of course, review it on this blog previously, in Post # 63-here, but this time around I'm just going to feature several links to my favorite tracks through video and streaming links. I have re-read the post, and stand by my opinions of each album as I wrote them.
This album spawned several singles, and music videos, despite its lack of radio-friendly melody. With their first 2 albums they set a tone with their following as a purely heavy, aggressive and intense band that wasn't going to bend to fit any trends in the music industry. Already established as one of the most promising new heavy bands, Far Beyond Driven doubled-down on Pantera's aggression, and it is arguably their heaviest album to this day.
Singles from Far Beyond Driven:
-Planet Caravan (Black Sabbath cover)
My other personal favorites:
-Strength Beyond Strength (the album-opener! This song hit me like a ton of bricks! If you've never heard it before, check it out and tell me it doesn't!)
Stream Far Beyond Driven on Spotify here!
Check out Pantera's Official Music Video Playlist on Youtube!
My personally curated Dimebag Darrell Playlist on Spotify (this one includes other bands he played in- including Damageplan & Anthrax!)
Happy Headbanging!
