Track Listing

1. Strength Beyond Strength
2. Becoming
3. 5 Minutes Alone
4. I’m Broken
5. Good Friends and a Bottle of Pills
6. Hard Lines, Sunken Cheeks
7. Slaughtered
8. 25 Years
9. Shedding Skin
10. Use My Third Arm
11. Throes of Rejection
12. Planet Caravan (Black Sabbath cover)

Length: 56:19

Genre

Thrash metal, groove metal

Release Date

March 22, 1994

Record Label

• East West Records (US)
• Atco Records (Internationally)

The Lineup for the Album

• Phil Anselmo: Vocals
• Dimebag Darrell: Guitar
• Rex Brown: Bass
• Vinnie Paul: Drums

Recording Date

Late 1993

Recording Studio

Abtrax Recording Studio (Nashville, Tennessee)

Produced by

Terry Date

Album Themes/Concept

Aggression & Power: This album embodies pure aggression and intensity. Songs like “Strength Beyond Strength”, “Becoming”, and “5 Minutes Alone” channel raw anger and a relentless drive that defined Pantera’s sound.

Alienation & Frustration: Many lyrics portray feelings of alienation, disillusionment, and the struggle against societal expectations. Songs like “I’m Broken” and “Good Friends and a Bottle of Pills” delve into themes of isolation and self-destructive tendencies.

Defiance & Rejection: There’s a strong undercurrent of defiance against conformity and a rejection of societal norms. The album title itself, “Far Beyond Driven,” suggests a breaking point and a desire to push beyond imposed limits.

Album Mood

Musical Elements: Dimebag Darrell’s blistering guitar riffs, Vinnie Paul’s pounding drums, and Phil Anselmo’s guttural vocals all contribute to a relentless sonic assault. The song structures are often jarring, with sudden tempo changes and abrasive breakdowns.

Lyrical Themes: The lyrics explore themes of rage, frustration, alienation, and self-destruction. There are few, if any, moments of levity or introspection.

Intensity: Even the album’s slower, more introspective moments like “Good Friends and a Bottle of Pills” are heavy with a sense of simmering tension and darkness.

Album Trivia

Debut at Number One: “Far Beyond Driven” debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, making Pantera the first extreme metal band to achieve this feat. It held the top spot for one week before being displaced by Soundgarden’s “Superunknown.”

Controversial Album Cover: The album’s cover art, created by H.R. Giger, features a drill penetrating a human skull. The graphic imagery stirred controversy and led some retailers to refuse to stock the album or to sell it with an alternate cover.

“Planet Caravan” Surprise: The mellow Black Sabbath cover, “Planet Caravan”, was a last-minute addition to the album. It was initially intended for a Black Sabbath tribute album but ended up on “Far Beyond Driven” due to label issues.

Grammy Nomination: “Far Beyond Driven” was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance for the song “I’m Broken” at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards in 1995. The nomination further cemented Pantera’s mainstream recognition and influence in the metal genre.

Listen or Pass

Good Times to Listen

• Fueling a Workout: Let this album power you through a hardcore gym session or run. The aggression will keep you amped up.
• Pre-Show Hype: Blast this before a metal concert to get yourself pumped for the moshpit.
• Letting Loose: When you need to just rage and headbang like crazy, this album is your soundtrack.
• Driving with Attitude: Roll the windows down, crank this album, and add some extra menace to your road trip.

Bad Times to Listen

• During a Family Dinner: Unless everyone loves Pantera, this might kill the appetite.
• Meditation Session: Finding inner peace will be tricky with Phil Anselmo screaming in your ears.
• Job Interview: Best to save the metal for when you’ve landed the gig.
• When You Need to Focus: Crank it when the work is done, not when it needs to get done.

Release Date

March 22, 1994