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Rating: 1996. One of the peak years of success for Pantera. Putting aside their self-produced discography, in a few short years, the Texan combo churned out three total masterpieces such as “Cowboys From Hell”, “Vulgar Display Of Power”, and “Far Beyond Driven”.
A source of inspiration for any future thrash, post-thrash, thrashcore, metalcore, but also nu-metal (yes, nu-metal) group, the band is tasked with continuing the positive streak of record releases. And here emerges “The Great Southern Trendkill.” Success or failure? It depends on personal taste. There are not a few who consider it the weak link in their production up to '96, making, in my opinion, a big mistake.
Yes, because aside from logical differences from the past (clearly Phil Anselmo’s voice is no longer what it once was, given the abuses of all kinds), you are dealing with the classic Pantera trademark, fresh, direct, compact, varied, but above all violent, catchy, with that damn groove that only they can create. But the new feature of this album compared to the others is that it is certainly more southern. You can tell already from the title, the sounds become more muddy, almost sludge and it's not outrageous to say that in a couple of songs the sound becomes almost doom. All this makes the work more varied and enjoyable from the first to the last note. Now, let's move on to the song-by-song report.
THE GREAT SOUTHERN TRENDKILL The album starts with a frontal attack, with a devastating scream from Anselmo out of nowhere, which, if you are listening to the CD at full volume, is likely to make you jump out of your chair. The song is classic, a fantastic fast piece in pure Pantera style.
WAR NERVE The journey continues with “War Nerve”, now a classic, so much so that you can also find it in the live album released after the tour of “The Great Southern Trendkill”. It's slower than the previous one, yet it remains engaging thanks to the fantastic guitar work of the late Darrell.
DRAG THE WATERS Fantastic. Certainly one of the album’s highlights; comparable, albeit only partially, to “Walk”, as it is repetitive and hammering, in a positive sense, though even slower than the song from “Vulgar Display Of Power.” Beautiful is the sound of Vinnie Paul's drums, enriched by a “cowbell” that makes the whole thing more “southern oriented”.
10'S The first piece where differences from the other albums are noticeable. This song is calmer than the others, slower and more measured. The sludge influence is felt and the similarities with Crowbar’s doom, a group dearly loved by Phil Anselmo, can be heard. Really an excellent song. Anthological is Dimebag’s riff towards the end of the track.
13 STEPS TO NOWHERE A drum rhythm introduces the fifth song that returns to the more classic Pantera sound. There isn't much to say, a good track with an interesting doomy twist towards the end.
SUICIDE NOTE PT. 1 And here comes the beauty. A completely acoustic song. A magnificent guitar producing exceptionally relaxing and evocative riffs, accompanied by Anselmo's clean vocals inspired by some ideas presented the previous year with Down, showing he is comfortable even with slower pieces without extreme vocals. The most southern song on the album, especially thanks to the voice. It’s something never heard from Pantera before, but the track turns out perfect.
SUICIDE NOTE PT. 2 The “evil sister” of the previous one. Similar to the title track in power and violence, it is exactly the opposite of what was done in the first part. Very fast, this song will also be included in the ensuing live album. Again, Darrell’s splendid guitar work is noteworthy.
LIVING THROUGH ME (HELLS’ WRATH) Once more with the usual classic Pantera’s Sound in a great song that finds its strength in the refrain with the guitar sound in the foreground marked by precise drum rhythms.
FLOODS Another highlight. Very similar in sounds and structure to “10’S”, somewhat doomey and rather tranquil. But the strong point comes toward the end, where, after a dramatic slowdown, the song seems to end. Instead, a splendid evocative melody starts with the sound of pouring rain in the background. Truly exceptional.
THE UNDERGROUND IN AMERICA Linkable to the next song as it features the same riff. Very beautiful, classic, violently adequate, with a really fantastic, very varied, and well-structured ending. Again Darrell’s work is crazy.
(REPRISE) SANDBLASTED SKIN Anselmo’s scream “The Trend Is Dead!!!” (spot-on!) introduces the last song, also featured in the live album; the final slowdown after a marked dose of violence concludes the song and the album.
In short, a great work, great synergy, and, above all, a great band. Of which I still haven’t managed to decide which album is the best… The perfect evolution of Pantera’s sound, a huge sonic shift, the endpoint to which “Reinventing The Steel” will follow, an attempt to return to the origins that will eventually lead to their breakup. “The Great Southern Trendkill” is a risk, a real unknown that has turned out to be really positive in more or less clearly detaching from previous schemes. The four could have rested on the laurels brought by the past and perhaps rewritten the same album endlessly, selling copies upon copies… But no, the desire to push further, to do what they prefer, breaking the mold, sometimes pays off. As in this case.
Buy it, listen to it, enjoy every note because it’s really worth it! The trend is dead!!! Semenz
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 The Great Southern Trendkill (03:46)
It's wearing on my mind,
I'm speaking all my doubts aloud
You rob a dead mans grave,
Then flaunt it like you did create
If I hit bottom and everythings gone
In the great Mississippi, please drown me and run
It's digging time again,
You're nurturing the weakest trend
Those with the heart and the brain to get past this
Can spot a pathetic without even asking
Fuck your magazine,
and fuck the long dead plastic scene
Pierce a new hole,
if Hell was "in" you'd give your soul to
THE GREAT SOUTHERN TRENDKILL
That's right,
THE GREAT SOUTHERN TRENDKILL
Fuck yeah.
Buy it at a store,
from MTV to on the floor
You look just like a star,
it's proof you don't know who you are
If I hit bottom and everythings gone
In the great Mississippi, please drown me and run
It's bullshit time again,
you'll save the world within your trend
Those with the heart and the brain to get past this
Can spot a pathetic without even asking
Politically relieved,
you're product sold and well received
The right words spoken gold,
if I was God you'd sell your soul to...
THE GREAT SOUTHERN TRENDKILL
That's right,
THE GREAT SOUTHERN TRENDKILL
Fuck yeah.
03 Drag the Waters (04:55)
A smack on the wrists is the words from the mouth
of the outsiders, lawyers, police
A small price to pay for the dope and the guns
And the rape, it should all be O.K.
Your father is rich, he's the judge, he's the man,
he's the God that got your sentence reduced
But in the back of his mind, he well knows what
he'd find if he looked a little deeper in you - in you
(Chorus)
Drag the waters some more
Like never before
(Chorus)
Sweet is the slice and the lips - you're gonna have
that woman - she is your favorite lay
Promised you (swore) that no one had been there,
and she was going to keep it that way
Let it move in, you got thin, and got high, and
your money went and so did your friends
But she's by your side, and her smile cannot hide
the premonition of the beckoning end - the end
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
In with it, out with it
05 13 Steps to Nowhere (03:37)
Your windows boarded up, your private lives exposed
the talk show pump it up, lab rats diseased for show
we're doomed to use the slang, outbreak of drug roulette
a church burned to the ground, not even noticed yet
13 Steps (To Nowhere)(spoken)
A backwards swastika, the black skin riddled in lead
a nazi gangster jew, it beats a dog thats dead
it's in to use the slang, outbreak of drug roulette
the cross slants to the side, will prove the damndest yet
13 Steps--Leads to Nowhere
The backlash dislcates, an untimely reign of death
the wolf poked with the stick, awaits with cancerous breath
(Leads to Nowhere)
Outsiders still suppose, there's holy streets to roam
the truth should not surprise, your homes were built on lies
09 Floods (06:59)
A dead issue
Don't wrestle with it
Deaf ears are sleeping
A guilty bliss
So inviting
(Let me in)
Nailed to the cross
I feel you
Relate to you
Accuse you
Wash away us all
Take us with the floods
Then throughout the night
They were raped and executed
(Then throughout the night
They were raped and executed)
Cold hearted world
Your language unheard of
The vast sound of tuning out
The rash of negativity
(The rash of negativity)
Is seen one sidedly
(One sidedly)
Burn away the day
The nervous
The drifting
The heaving
Wash away us all
Take us with the floods
Then throughout the day
Mankind played with grenades
(Then throughout the day
Mankind played with grenades)
Cold hearted world
And at night
They might bait the pentagram
(And at night
They might bait the pentagram)
Extinguishing the sun
Wash away man
Take him with the floods
Flood, flood, flood
Flood, flood, flood
Flood, flood, flood
Flood, flood, flood
-Awesome Guitar Solo-
Flood, flood, flood
Flood, flood, flood
Flood, flood, flood
Flood, flood, flood
10 The Underground in America (04:33)
Put in position to wage teenage mayhem
A common affair for the ones who are juiced
If it is weakness that grants us the power
We thrive on what's stronger than most of the world
Glass breaks
the dimming lights
sweat, heat and profane debate
the smart ones stay on the outside
while drunken heads and arms erupt
centered man swings a punch,
spits a tooth, postures odd
a punk rock escapade
five bucks a head to be king dick in the crowd
We are the ones who must sport the position
cheap beer
trendy clicks
lesbian love is accepted and right
shaved heads meet hair in the mix
blending the 80's and 90's with hate
Put in position to wage teenage mayhem
A common affair for the ones who are juiced
If it is weakness that grants us the power
We thrive on what's stronger than most of the world
Shows on
dates canceled
kicked out for reasons that seem so unfair
skin crusts against the cops
a foregone conclusion that's tired and beat
Ringworm,crabs and lice
V.D. ecstasy, speed and horse
a heaven of unmatched importance
an honor of sex to be stuck by the punk
Rich homes with money and food
abandoned for the bums on the street
a lifestyle that's unexplainable
don't try and save what is all meant to be
Put in position to wage teenage mayhem
A common affair for the ones who are juiced
If it is weakness that grants us the power
We thrive on what's stronger than most of the world
If it is free
from (a) family that's seen
you can just keep it
if you must beg
it's better instead
you must follow the etiquette
You know when it rains you're in your bed at home
You act so real when you are alone
You better not let the mohawked crowd see
Give it five years, you'll retire your piercings
You must admit that you mimic the weaklings
The trend is dead...
The trend is dead...
The trend is dead...
The trend is dead...
The trend is...
11 (Reprise) Sandblasted Skin (05:39)
Scrape it, grind it
Peel it, hide it
The trend is over
And gone forever
Shelf it, box it
Save it, frame it
You won't need that anymore
It's on sale at the
Fuckin dollar store
Waste of time
Pantomime
Circus doll
At the local mall
Exterminate, it's all fake!
Exterminate, it's all fake
Sandblast yourself
Sandblast yourself
Sandblast
Sandblast
It's getting old, old, old
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Other reviews
By PhilCORE
Anselmo’s most devastating screams let us know the album is truly wicked.
After listening to TGST, you immediately realize Pantera’s evolution from ‘Far Beyond Driven.’
By DeLiam
It took me a while to appreciate the album because of the Screams, but now I can say they all fit perfectly.
The Title track alone is worth the purchase, followed by one great song after another.
