The Great Southern Trendkill
Template:DMCA Script error: No such module "Unsubst-infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
The Great Southern Trendkill is the eighth studio album by American groove metal band Pantera, released on May 7, 1996, through Elektra Records and East West Records. During the album's production, Phil Anselmo recorded the vocals alone at Trent Reznor's Nothing Studios in New Orleans,[1] 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).
The album came at a time of heightened tension and strife within the band, especially as Anselmo's heroin addiction threatened to tear the band apart.[2] Upon release, the album peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, and charted in numerous other countries as well, later being certified platinum in the United States. The album, while receiving positive reviews, was more polarizing than the band's previous albums.
Background
Pantera's previous three albums, Cowboys from Hell, Vulgar Display of Power, and Far Beyond Driven, all received widespread acclaim and helped propel the band to the top of the metal world. However, by this point the band was beginning to experience tension between its members. According to the Abbott brothers, Anselmo began behaving strangely and distanced himself from the band after the release of Driven, which the rest of the band believed was due to fame getting to Anselmo. However, Anselmo cited back pain from years of intense performances as the reason for his erratic behavior. Anselmo attempted to alleviate his pain through alcohol, but this, as he admitted, was affecting his performances and "putting some worry into the band."[2] Doctors predicted that with surgery, Anselmo's back problem could be corrected, but with a long recovery time. Unwilling to spend so long away from the band, Anselmo refused, and began using heroin as a painkiller.
Music and lyrics
The album features elements of thrash metal[3][4] and death metal,[5] but is mostly considered a groove metal album overall.[3][6] The Great Southern Trendkill is considered the band's heaviest release, featuring much screamed vocals,[3][7] 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.[8] It also has a more experimental nature, such as the acoustic guitars[6] and ballads.[9]
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.[10] Screams done by Anselmo on the song "The Great Southern Trendkill" were compared to Putnam.[5]
The lyrical themes on The Great Southern Trendkill include drugs, a flood that ends mankind, finding deeper meaning, anger, and the media.[6][9][11][12][13][14]
"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,[15] 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).
Release
The album was released on May 7th, 1996, by Elektra Records and East West Records. The album was an immediate commercial success, though was not as successful as their previous album, peaking at number four on the Billboard 200, where it opened at 149,000 copies.[16] Although it did chart in numerous other countries such as Australia, Canada, and the UK, where it peaked within the top 20. The album would later receive multiple certifications, including a platinum certification in the United States for selling over a million copies.
The band would later tour the album with Eyehategod and White Zombie, where Anselmo would suffer a near fatal overdose that would leave him legally dead for 5 minutes before an adrenaline shot revived him.[17]Official Live: 101 Proof, released in 1997.
Critical reception
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."[9]
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."[22] 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."[23] In 2019, Kerrang! ranked it as the best Pantera album.[24]
"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".
Reissue
On August 12, 2016, Pantera announced the release of a 20th anniversary edition of The Great Southern Trendkill for October 21.[25] 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).[26] 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".[27]
Track listing
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Track listing/configuration' not found. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Track listing/configuration' not found. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Track listing/configuration' not found.
Personnel
Pantera
- Phil Anselmo – lead vocals, backing vocals
- Dimebag Darrell – guitars, backing vocals, 12-string acoustic guitar on "Suicide Note Pt. I"
- Rex Brown – bass, backing vocals
- Vinnie Paul – drums, backing vocals
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
| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[28] | 14 |
| European Albums (Music & Media)[29] | 13 |
| French Albums (SNEP)[30] | 14 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon)[31] | 43 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[32] | Gold | 35,000 |
| Japan (RIAJ)[34] | Platinum | 200,000 |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[35] | Gold | 7,500 |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[36] | Silver | 60,000 |
| United States (RIAA)[37] | Platinum | 1,000,000 |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
Page Template:Reflist/styles.css has no content.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Pantera. "It's a long way to the top, if you wanna rock and roll, you know, the AC/DC song? And that's the fuckin' truth". - Rex Brown". Eon Music. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.VH1 (2006). Behind the Music (TV series).
- ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."CD Gallery - Pantera". No Life 'til Metal.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Deller, Alex (July 27, 2012). "Review of Pantera - The Great Southern Trendkill". BBC Online. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
- ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Bromley, Adrian (June 9, 1996). "Pantera - The Great Southern Trendkill : Review". Chronicles of Chaos. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Florino, Rick (July 30, 2012). "Retrospective: Pantera "The Great Southern Trendkill" Review — 5 out of 5 stars". Artistdirect. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
- ^ "Pantera offers up easy-access disc ". The Spectator - Hamilton, Ont. Krewen, Nick. June 20, 1996 Page: 4
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Lawson, Dom (February 4, 2019). "The 50 best Pantera Songs ever". Louder Sound. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Huey, Steve. "The Great Southern Trendkill - Pantera". AllMusic. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Kaye, Don (2003). "The Best of Pantera: Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboys' Vulgar Hits!". Warner Music Group.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Floods by Pantera". Songfacts.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Drag The Waters by Pantera". Songfacts.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Strauss, Neil. "2 Bands, 2 Kinds Of Anger". The New York Times. (August 27, 1996)
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Masuo, Sandy (June 13, 1996). "Pantera: The Great Southern Trendkill : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The 50 greatest guitar solos of all time". Guitar World. February 25, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Mayfield, Geoff (May 25, 1996). "Between the Bullets" (PDF). Billboard. p. 104. Retrieved May 11, 2026 – via worldradiohistory.com.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The Heroin Experience; The Drug Has Smacked Into More Than One Generation of Musicians". The Washington Post. August 11, 1996. Archived from the original on October 11, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2008.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Popoff, Martin (2007). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 335. ISBN 978-1-894959-62-9.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Jackson, Devon (May 10, 1996). "The Great Southern Trendkill Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 9, 2008. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Appleford, Steve (June 2, 1996). "The Great Southern Trendkill". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Reyes-Kulkarni, Savy (December 22, 2016). "The Great Southern Trendkill Review". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved December 22, 2012.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Reyes-Kulkarni, Saby. "Pantera: The Great Southern Trendkill". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Wiederhorn, Jon (May 7, 2023). "28 Years Ago: Pantera Release 'The Great Southern Trendkill'". Loudwire. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Every Pantera Album Ranked From Worst To Best". Kerrang!. December 6, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Pantera - We know you have been waiting (not so) patiently... - Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."PANTERA's 'The Great Southern Trendkill: 20th Anniversary Edition' To Include Previously Unreleased Recordings". August 12, 2016.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Pantera's 'The Great Southern Trendkill' Gets 20th Anniversary Edition". Loudwire.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Listen - Danmarks Officielle Hitliste - Udarbejdet af AIM Nielsen for IFPI Danmark - Uge 19". Ekstra Bladet (in dansk). Copenhagen. May 12, 1996.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. June 1, 1996. p. 68. Retrieved May 11, 2026 – via worldradiohistory.com.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. May 25, 1996. p. 66. Retrieved May 11, 2026 – via worldradiohistory.com.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in 日本語). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
- ^ Script error: No such module "cite".
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The Rock Gods 'n Metal Monsters Auction 1125 (Japanese Platinum Award) from Pantera 'The Great Southern Trendkill'" (PDF). May 17, 2025. p. 9.
- ^ Script error: No such module "cite".
- ^ Script error: No such module "cite". Select albums in the Formats field. Type The Great Southern Trendkill Pantera in the "Search:" field.
- ^ Script error: No such module "cite".
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Navbox/configuration' not found.
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Authority control/config' not found.