Strength Beyond Strength
When Pantera released Far Beyond Driven 20 Years Ago it reached number 3 in the UK chart and hit number 1 in the US. To this day many tout the record as the heaviest album ever to top the American Album Chart. The influence this band had at the time in 1994 had become worldwide, they were changing Metal forever and Far Beyond Driven proved to be the culmination of everything this band had strived towards. It certainly stands alongside Cowboys From Hell and Vulgar Display Of Power. Put it simply, it's an absolute classic, one that every fan of heavy music should own, and with this newly released 20th Anniversary version this will become easier, whilst also introducing a whole new generation of fans to its brilliance. Far Beyond Driven features the likes of 5 Minutes Alone, I'm Broken and the cover of Black Sabbath's Planet Caravan to name a few so when you throw this on you'll definitely be head banging like its 1994.
Reissues of classics are always a difficult thing to approach. Writing this review solely on what the reissue offers, there is definitely a case and point of not much at all. Often the devil is in the detail with releases like this, there will of course be fans out there who will closely examine the re-mastered version of each track against the original, but being truthful this wasn't an album that sounded at all "bad" in the first place. For most of the tracks on here you'd be hard pressed at being able to identify what at all is different which inevitably will lead to the cynic voice in your head telling you this is a bit of a money making exercise. Often with anniversary editions of albums the major selling point is in the extras, and it is here where Far Beyond Drivens 20th Anniversary hits the spot. Disc number two houses the entire set from Pantera's performance at Donington in 1994. Pantera's Official Live: 101 Proof is considered by many to be one of the best live albums in Metal, and it doesn't possibly compare, but hearing the band at the peak of their powers during such a legendary set is absolutely excellent. A quick search online shows that most of the coverage from this show in 1994 are dodgy sounding video clips, so to have the sound mixed to perfection is first-rate with Mouth For War and This Love sounding particularly brutal. It would have been cool to have demos or long lost tracks from the recordings around Far Beyond Driven but after listening to brilliantly named Far Beyond Bootleg – Live From Donington 1994 you'll be left more than satisfied.
So of course this is an absolute classic, and an album which again needs to be part of your collection, but as far as reissues go you can't help but be slightly disappointed. The best thing about it? Being re-introduced to the phenomenal Pantera, and hearing those live tracks from Donington 1994, those alone justify the high scoring.