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The Great Southern Trendkill
The Great Southern Trendkill
from Wikipedia

The Great Southern Trendkill
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 7, 1996 (1996-05-07)[1]
RecordedOctober 1995 – February 1996[2]
Studio
GenreGroove metal
Length53:05
Label
Producer
Pantera chronology
Far Beyond Driven
(1994)
The Great Southern Trendkill
(1996)
The Singles 1991–1996
(1996)
Pantera studio album chronology
Far Beyond Driven
(1994)
The Great Southern Trendkill
(1996)
Reinventing the Steel
(2000)
Singles from The Great Southern Trendkill
  1. "Drag the Waters"
    Released: 1996

The Great Southern Trendkill is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band Pantera, released on May 7, 1996, through Elektra Records and East West Records. It reached number 4 on the Billboard 200 chart and stayed on the chart for 16 weeks. During the album's production, Phil Anselmo recorded the vocals alone at Trent Reznor's Nothing Studios in New Orleans,[3] while Dimebag Darrell, Rex Brown, and Vinnie Paul recorded the music at Chasin Jason Studios in Dalworthington Gardens. This would be Pantera's last studio album to be produced by Terry Date, who had worked with the band since Cowboys from Hell (1990).

Content

[edit]

"Floods", the album's longest song, contains a guitar solo considered by many to be Dimebag Darrell's finest. Guitar World magazine voted it as the 32nd greatest guitar solo of all-time,[4] Darrell's highest ranking of three solos to make the list (the other two being his solos from "Cemetery Gates", ranked 35th, and "Walk", ranked 57th).

"10's" appears in the English dub of Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan.

The album is available as downloadable content for the video game Rock Band, with the exception of "Suicide Note Pt. I".

Music and lyrics

[edit]

The album features elements of thrash metal[5][6] and death metal,[7] but is mostly considered a groove metal album overall.[5][8] The Great Southern Trendkill is considered the band's heaviest release, featuring much screamed vocals,[5][9] most notably on "Suicide Note Pt. II" and the opening title track, while also featuring some of the fastest tempos and most down-tuned guitars: "The Underground in America" and "(Reprise) Sandblasted Skin", in particular, were played in A=425 Hz standard D tuning, with the sixth string tuned to a low G.[10] It also has a more experimental nature, such as the acoustic guitars[8] and ballads.[11]

Like Pantera's previous album, Far Beyond Driven, the vocals are often double-tracked and layered. An example of this can be heard in the chorus of "13 Steps to Nowhere", when Phil Anselmo's singing voice is backed up by high-pitched screaming, done by Seth Putnam of the band Anal Cunt.[12] Screams done by Anselmo on the song "The Great Southern Trendkill" were compared to Putnam.[7]

The lyrical themes on The Great Southern Trendkill include drugs, a flood that ends mankind, finding deeper meaning, anger, and the media.[8][11][13][14][15][16]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStar[11]
ArtistdirectStarStarStarStarStar[8]
BBC Musicfavorable[6]
Chronicles of Chaos9/10[7]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal9/10[17]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[18]
Los Angeles TimesStarStar[19]
Rolling StoneStarStar[16]
Pitchfork7.7/10[20]

The Great Southern Trendkill received mixed to positive reviews from music critics upon release and was more polarizing than Pantera's previous albums. Steve Huey of AllMusic gave it a score of 3 out of 5 stars and stated, "Longtime Pantera fans will find plenty to enjoy here, and the band's expanding range bodes well, but overall, Trendkill is an inconsistent outing."[11]

In retrospective analysis, the album has often been looked on more favorably, being noted as their heaviest and most aggressive work. In a retrospective review for Pitchfork, Saby Reyes-Kulkarni awarded it a score of 7.7/10 and summarized their review by saying "Intended as a rallying cry against shifting trends, Pantera's most abrasive album comes off more like a cry for help that reveals the turmoil eating the band from within. It's also thrilling."[21] In 2024, Jon Wiederhorn of Loudwire stated "The Great Southern Trendkill writhes and rails with desperation and self-loathing and roars with a new reservoir of aggression and intensity, making it the heaviest album Pantera ever released."[22] In 2019, Kerrang! ranked it as the best Pantera album.[23]

Reissue

[edit]

On August 12, 2016, Pantera announced the release of a 20th anniversary edition of The Great Southern Trendkill for October 21.[24] The reissue features two discs, including a remastered version of the original album as well as 12 unreleased tracks (these include instrumentals, as well as alternative mixes and live recordings from the Dynamo Festival in 1998).[25] In addition, a separate LP named The Great Southern Outtakes was released. It consists of songs also released on disc 2 of Trendkill's reissue except for the intro and early mix of "Suicide Note Part l".[26]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Pantera.

No.TitleLength
1."The Great Southern Trendkill"3:47
2."War Nerve"4:53
3."Drag the Waters"4:55
4."10's"4:49
5."13 Steps to Nowhere"3:37
6."Suicide Note Pt. I"4:44
7."Suicide Note Pt. II"4:19
8."Living Through Me (Hells' Wrath)"4:50
9."Floods"6:59
10."The Underground in America"4:33
11."(Reprise) Sandblasted Skin"5:39
Total length:53:05
Japanese edition bonus track
No.TitleLength
12."Walk" (Live at the Hollywood Palladium, CA, June 27, 1992)5:29
Total length:59:07
Disc 2 (from The Great Southern Trendkill: 20th Anniversary Edition[26])
No.TitleLength
1."The Great Southern Trendkill" (2016 Mix)4:07
2."War Nerve" (Live at Dynamo Festival, 1998)5:21
3."Drag the Waters" (Alternative Early Mix)5:00
4."10's" (Alternative Early Mix)4:53
5."13 Steps to Nowhere" (Instrumental Version)3:40
6."Suicide Note Pt. I" (Intro)1:13
7."Suicide Note Pt. I" (Alternative Early Mix)3:53
8."Suicide Note Pt. II" (Live at Dynamo Festival, 1998)4:48
9."Living Through Me (Hells' Wrath)" (Instrumental Version)4:54
10."Floods" (Alternative Early Mix)7:19
11."The Underground in America" (Alternative Early Mix)3:56
12."(Reprise) Sandblasted Skin" (Live at Dynamo Festival, 1998)4:34
Total length:53:38

Personnel

[edit]

Pantera

Additional personnel

  • Seth Putnam – additional vocals on "The Great Southern Trendkill", "War Nerve", "13 Steps to Nowhere", and "Suicide Note Pt. II"
  • Ross Karpelman – keyboards on "Suicide Note Pt. I" and "Living Through Me (Hells' Wrath)"

Technical personnel

  • Terry Date – production, recording, mixing
  • Vinnie Paul – production, recording, mixing
  • Pantera – co-production
  • Ulrich Wild – recording

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1996) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[27] 2
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[28] 14
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[29] 22
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[30] 19
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[31] 35
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[32] 14
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[33] 61
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[34] 4
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[35] 29
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[36] 21
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[37] 43
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[38] 5
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[39] 14
Scottish Albums (OCC)[40] 61
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[41] 7
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[42] 37
UK Albums (OCC)[43] 17
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[44] 3
US Billboard 200[45] 4

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[46] Gold 35,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[48] Platinum 200,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[49] Gold 7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI)[50] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[51] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
The Great Southern Trendkill is the eighth studio album by the American heavy metal band , released on May 7, 1996, by EastWest Records. Recorded amid significant internal tensions, the album features vocals by , guitars by , drums by , and bass by , with instrumentals tracked at Chasin' Jason Studios in , , and Anselmo's vocals recorded separately at Nothing Studios in New Orleans, Louisiana. Produced by , it is widely regarded as Pantera's heaviest and most aggressive release, reflecting the band's personal struggles, including Anselmo's battle with heroin addiction, which culminated in a near-fatal overdose shortly after its release. The album debuted at number four on the chart and was certified by the RIAA on June 25, 1996, later achieving status in 2004. Its 11 tracks, including the title track, "War Nerve," "," "10's," "13 Steps to Nowhere," ", Pt. 1," ", Pt. 2," "Living Through Me (Hells' Wrath)," "Floods," "The Underground in America," and "(Reprise) Sandblasted Skin," blend riffs with experimental elements, such as acoustic passages and extreme vocal intensity, capturing a raw, chaotic energy born from the band's dysfunction. Critically, The Great Southern Trendkill has been praised for its uncompromised aggression and emotional depth, earning a 7.7 out of 10 from , which highlighted its portrayal of "seething hopelessness" and Anselmo's electrifying yet desperate performance, though some noted its abrasive production and lack of the euphoric drive found in prior works like . awarded it three out of five stars, acknowledging its intensity while critiquing occasional vocal histrionics. Among fans, it remains a polarizing yet enduring favorite, often celebrated for showcasing 's musical contrasts—from blasts to bluesy solos—and serving as a stark document of the era's "Southern trendkill" in heavy metal.

Background and recording

Band context

, originally formed in 1981 in , by brothers Abbott (drums) and 'Diamond' Darrell Abbott (guitar), with guitarist (who later switched to vocals), bassist Tommy Bradford, and vocalist Donnie Hart, began their career in the scene typical of the 1980s. Bassist joined in 1982. The band's early albums, such as (1983) and (1988), reflected this style with melodic hooks and image-focused aesthetics. However, following Glaze's departure in 1986 and the recruitment of vocalist in 1987, underwent a significant transformation, abandoning glam influences for a heavier, riff-driven sound that helped pioneer —a subgenre characterized by mid-tempo grooves, aggressive breakdowns, and intense vocal delivery. This evolution was solidified with their major-label debut (1990) and subsequent releases like (1992), establishing as a dominant force in heavy metal. By the mid-1990s, had achieved substantial commercial success, exemplified by their 1994 album , which debuted at number one on the chart and was certified platinum by the RIAA later that year. This success came amid an exhaustive touring schedule supporting the album, which wrapped up in early 1995 after international dates, leaving the band eager to deliver even more aggressive material to meet fan expectations for unrelenting heaviness. Yet, this period was marred by growing internal strife, particularly surrounding Anselmo's escalating personal struggles. A back injury sustained in the early 1990s from stage antics and physical exertion led to , initially managed with painkillers, but by 1995, Anselmo had developed a severe addiction that strained his relationships with , , and Brown, fostering resentment and isolation within the group. As nu-metal began emerging in the mid-1990s with bands like Korn blending hip-hop and metal elements, Pantera faced external pressures to evolve but instead doubled down on their raw, groove-oriented aggression to differentiate themselves from the shifting landscape. This resolve influenced their decision to collaborate once more with longtime producer , who had shaped their sound since and would helm his final Pantera project. The album's conception thus emerged directly from the post-Far Beyond Driven tour momentum in 1995, as the band sought to channel their intensifying dynamics into a record that reaffirmed their commitment to uncompromised heaviness.

Recording process

The recording of The Great Southern Trendkill was divided between instrumental and vocal sessions due to escalating band tensions and frontman Phil Anselmo's personal isolation in New Orleans. The core band members—guitarist , drummer , and bassist —tracked the instrumental parts at Chasin Jason Studios in Dalworthington Gardens, , a facility owned by . Anselmo, living separately amid his deepening addiction, recorded his vocals remotely at Nothing Studios in New Orleans, , a space owned by of . The sessions unfolded over late 1995 into early 1996, marking a chaotic and unorganized process driven by the band's internal struggles and substance issues. Co-produced by longtime collaborator , , and the band itself, the production aimed for a deliberately raw and abrasive edge to counter the more refined sound of prior albums like . Techniques included heavy use of down-tuned guitars for added aggression, while Anselmo's vocal delivery incorporated layered screams, including high-pitched contributions from guest vocalist of on "13 Steps to Nowhere" to achieve the desired intensity. These challenges, including Anselmo's —which culminated in a near-fatal overdose shortly after recording—underscored the album's turbulent creation, with Date later describing his role as a stabilizing "dad figure" amid the separation. involved mixing at Larrabee Sound Studios in by Date and , preserving the unpolished ferocity that defined the final product.

Composition

Musical style

The Great Southern Trendkill represents Pantera's evolution within groove metal, incorporating thrash metal's speed, death metal's aggression, and industrial influences, while featuring faster tempos and down-tuned riffs that surpass the intensity of their prior release, Far Beyond Driven. The album's core sound builds on the band's signature groove-oriented heaviness but pushes boundaries with chaotic, high-velocity structures that prioritize raw aggression over polished melodies. This blend is evident in tracks like the title song, which merges near-grindcore ferocity with bluesy rock elements, and "War Nerve," where rapid thrash-inspired pacing amplifies the overall brutality. Instrumentation plays a pivotal role in the album's visceral impact, highlighted by Dimebag Darrell's guitar work, which employs signature pinch harmonics and effects for searing solos. His improvised solo in "Floods," ranked 32nd among the greatest guitar solos by , exemplifies this with harmonic-drenched riffs and emotive leads that transition seamlessly into the track's outro. Vinnie Paul's drumming contributes thunderous double-bass patterns, delivering brutal intensity on cuts like the title track and ", Pt. 2," while Rex Brown's sludgy bass lines provide a gritty foundation, often recorded spontaneously without overdubs to capture the band's raw energy. Experimental elements add depth to the album's palette, such as the intro in ", Pt. 1," which contrasts sharply with the ensuing heavy distortion and fragile vocal delivery. Tempos vary dynamically, from the blast-beat-like double-bass assaults in "War Nerve" to the mid-paced, sludgy grooves in "," showcasing the band's versatility within frameworks. Overall, The Great Southern Trendkill stands as Pantera's heaviest album, characterized by Phil Anselmo's screamed vocals and unstructured chaos that emphasize unrelenting power and internal turmoil over melodic accessibility. The spontaneous recording approach, driven by tapes and minimal revisions, infuses with an abrasive, desperate edge reflective of the band's tensions during production.

Lyrics and themes

The lyrics of The Great Southern Trendkill were penned by vocalist during a period of intense personal turmoil, marked by chronic and escalating that led to isolation from the band. Anselmo described himself as being in a "superbly dark spot," resulting in "devastating" delivered through stream-of-consciousness rants filled with and raw emotion, often screamed to convey rage against societal norms and media . This writing style drew directly from his struggles and disdain for industry trends, positioning the album as a defiant rejection of mainstream metal's shift toward rap-infused sounds. Central themes revolve around personal , isolation, and self-destruction, exemplified by the paired tracks "Suicide Note Pt. I" and "Suicide Note Pt. II," which form a suicidal duo exploring despair and inner torment amid Anselmo's . Societal permeates the content, with the title track "The Great Southern Trendkill" critiquing the "southern trendkill" of inauthentic cultural fads and media-driven that Anselmo viewed as eroding genuine heavy metal integrity. Songs like "13 Steps to Nowhere" delve into self-destructive cycles, reflecting Anselmo's isolation and self-loathing during his painkiller and dependency. Further emphasizing anti-establishment motifs, "The Underground in America" lashes out at mainstream culture's erosion of underground authenticity, aligning with Anselmo's broader contempt for commercial . In contrast, "Floods" employs an apocalyptic of and flooding catastrophe to symbolize overwhelming personal and existential chaos, blending themes of unrequited with religious . These , amplified by the album's aggressive musical style, underscore a of defiance born from personal and cultural alienation. Anselmo's vocal delivery employed double-tracking for heightened intensity, layering his screams to intensify the profane rants, while guest screams from of added extreme ferocity, particularly on "13 Steps to Nowhere" and " Pt. II."

Release and promotion

Album release

The Great Southern Trendkill was released on May 7, 1996, through Records in the United States, with international distribution handled by EastWest, a label under . The album was issued in standard formats, including , cassette, and vinyl LP. Its original packaging featured artwork with art direction by "Wild" Jim deBarros. The record spans 53:05 across 11 tracks. Building on the platinum-certified success of Pantera's prior releases (double platinum) and (platinum), the album was positioned as the band's most aggressive statement yet. A promotional single, "Floods," was issued shortly after to highlight the release.

Singles and videos

The album produced no major commercial singles, though "Floods" was issued as a promotional radio and video single on May 22, 1996. was created for "," showcasing gritty, performance-based visuals that highlighted the band's raw intensity and stage aggression. This video aired frequently on , aiding the album's exposure despite the lack of formal commercial singles. Promotion centered on the Great Southern Trendkill Tour, which launched in July 1996 with initial U.S. dates alongside White Zombie and , building momentum through high-energy shows amid internal band strains from recording conflicts and substance issues. The tour expanded to European and Japanese legs later that year, then resumed in 1997 with support from and Coal Chamber, including appearances at that amplified the album's reach. Tracks from the album saw media tie-ins, such as "10's" featuring in Funimation's 2003 English dub of the film - The Legendary Super Saiyan during key transformation sequences, and "Floods" becoming available as downloadable content in the Rock Band video game series in 2010 as part of a full-album pack.

Reception and legacy

Critical reception

Upon its release in 1996, The Great Southern Trendkill received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its raw aggression while noting inconsistencies in its execution. AllMusic's awarded it three out of five stars, describing it as Pantera's most aggressive album to date but also one of their most uneven efforts, highlighting the band's expanding range yet overall inconsistency. gave it a C+ grade, with Devon Jackson calling it a "grim, but sometimes wickedly satisfying, ride" that offered enjoyment for longtime fans amid its chaotic energy. Retrospective assessments have been far more positive, often positioning the album as Pantera's heaviest and most intense work, reflective of the band's internal turmoil during recording. In a 2016 review of the 20th anniversary edition, assigned it 7.7 out of 10, lauding its thrilling depiction of personal implosion and musical contrasts, though noting the lack of euphoric release in its unrelenting negativity and Phil Anselmo's increasingly strained vocals that bordered on parody. Kerrang! ranked it as Pantera's top album in , emphasizing its unbridled rage against authority, media, and the band itself, which lent it a defiant power that made it stand out as their rawest statement. Common themes in criticism include acclaim for Dimebag Darrell's searing guitar solos—particularly on "Floods"—and the album's gritty, raw production that amplified its chaotic intensity, contrasted with detractors pointing to Anselmo's screamed vocals as overly abrasive and lacking melodic depth. A 2023 Loudwire retrospective underscored this aggression as a bold to the emerging nu-metal scene, capturing the band's desperation and experimentation amid Anselmo's struggles, solidifying its status as a pivotal, if polarizing, high point in their catalog. Predating , the album lacked a formal aggregate score at launch, but modern consensus has elevated it above many contemporaries for its uncompromised extremity.

Commercial performance

The Great Southern Trendkill debuted at number 4 on the US Billboard 200 chart and remained on the chart for 16 weeks. The album was certified gold by the RIAA on June 25, 1996, for 500,000 units shipped, and later achieved platinum status on August 17, 2004, for 1,000,000 units. Internationally, the album peaked at number 2 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart, number 17 on the UK Albums Chart where it spent 4 weeks, number 5 on the New Zealand Albums Chart, number 4 on the Finnish Albums Chart, and number 14 on the Canadian Albums Chart. By 2002, US sales had reached approximately 755,000 units, contributing to the album's certified totals exceeding 1 million worldwide when including other markets. The album's commercial success was driven by Pantera's dedicated fanbase and extensive touring, including the festival circuit, which helped sustain interest amid a broader decline in physical metal album sales during the late . In the long term, catalog sales have remained steady, with renewed visibility from the band's 2022 reunion tours featuring surviving members and alongside and , performing material from the album.

Reissues and editions

Original editions

The Great Southern Trendkill was initially released on May 7, 1996, in physical formats including , audio cassette, and vinyl record, with no digital or streaming options available at the time. The standard edition came in a jewel case and featured a 16-page booklet with complete song lyrics, band photographs, production credits, and artwork reflecting the album's anti-establishment and anti-trend themes, such as imagery of and decay; no bonus tracks were included in any original pressings. Cassette editions were produced for the market in standard plastic shells with printed J-cards containing basic artwork and track information, also without bonus material. The vinyl format was a single LP pressed on black vinyl at RPM, including a insert but omitting one track to fit the runtime on one disc; a limited edition was available alongside the primary European pressing. Distribution occurred primarily through EastWest Records America, a subsidiary of , with the initial production run focused on the US and European markets. The CD audio was mastered to the industry-standard 44.1 kHz/16-bit specifications for the era. Later reissues expanded on these originals with enhanced packaging and remastered sound.

Anniversary reissues

In 2016, Rhino Records released a 20th edition of The Great Southern Trendkill as a two-disc CD set on October 21, marking two decades since the album's original issuance. The set features the original 11-track album remastered for enhanced audio clarity, paired with a second disc containing 12 previously unreleased bonus tracks, including alternate mixes, instrumentals, and live recordings such as the intro to "Suicide Note Pt. 1" and a live version of "War Nerve." Additional enhancements include rare era-specific photographs and new by Katherine Turman, which detail the album's production story and enduring legacy. Subsequent reissues have focused on vinyl formats and digital accessibility. A 2021 limited edition vinyl pressing was issued on April 23, featuring the remastered on white and sandblasted orange marbled vinyl. The 2016 remastered version also became widely available on streaming platforms like and , optimizing playback for modern digital formats and broadening access to the bonus content. These editions have contributed to renewed interest in Pantera's catalog, aligning with the band's 2022 reunion tour featuring surviving members and guitarist , which highlighted classic material from the .

Track listing

All tracks are written by Pantera.
No.TitleLength
1."The Great Southern Trendkill"3:47
2."War Nerve"4:53
3.""4:55
4."10's"4:49
5."13 Steps to Nowhere"3:37
6."Suicide Note, Pt. 1"4:44
7."Suicide Note, Pt. 2"4:19
8."Living Through Me (Hell's Wrath)"4:50
9."Floods"6:59
10."The Underground in America"4:33
11."(Reprise) Sandblasted Skin"5:39
Total length: 53:05

Personnel

Pantera

  • Phil Anselmo – vocals
  • Dimebag Darrell – guitars
  • Rex Brown – bass
  • Vinnie Paul – drums

Additional personnel

  • Seth Putnam – additional vocals (tracks 1, 2, 7)
  • Ross Karpelman – keyboards (tracks 6, 8)

Production

References

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