Floods (Pantera song)

Last updated

"Floods"
Floods (song).jpg
Single by Pantera
from the album The Great Southern Trendkill
ReleasedMay 22, 1996
Recorded1995–1996
Length7:00
Label East West
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Terry Date
Pantera singles chronology
"Suicide Note Pt. I"
(1996)
"Floods"
(1996)
"Where You Come From"
(1997)

"Floods" is a song by American heavy metal band Pantera from their 1996 album The Great Southern Trendkill . A ballad, it is the longest song on the album and the third-longest song the band has recorded, after "Cemetery Gates" (7:03) and "Hard Lines, Sunken Cheeks" (7:01). An early mix of the song was released on the 20th anniversary edition of The Great Southern Trendkill. [1]

Contents

Background

Pantera bassist Rex Brown said about "Floods":

That was one of my favorite bass lines on that song. We'd rehearsed it a couple of times and Dime and I sat down for quite a while with that. It was more of trying to get yourself in a mellow mood. It's a blazing solo with a really cool rhythm section underneath it - I'm really proud of the bass line. I think that was Dime's favorite solo on that song. [2]

The lyrics of the song tell about atrocious acts committed by mankind such as rape, murder, and war, and contain a plea to God to flood the earth in a fashion like that described in the biblical Book of Genesis.

Guitar solo

The song features one of Dimebag Darrell's most popular guitar solos. The solo was originally a riff written by Darrell in the mid-1980s, and footage exists of him performing these licks as early as 1986. Guitar World magazine voted his solo as the 32nd-greatest of all time. [3] Darrell built the solo from his improvised solos he played in concerts, before the band was signed. [4]

Darrell on the solo:

That particular solo was thought-out in a more orchestrated fashion than some of the others I play where I just start ripping right off the bat. ... The thing that really makes the 'Floods' solo come across like it does is [bassist] Rex's playing behind it. He's using his fingers and he plays a whole bunch of cool licks and shit in there. He definitely adds to the vibe and feel of my lead because I'm playing off his part a lot—it was a great foundation for me to build on, man. [3]

Darrell also said:

I picked up the idea of doubling from Randy Rhoads. It seemed appropriate to start off in a slow, melodic fashion and then build and build and build to the climax with the big harmonic squeals at the end.

For that last big note I think there's four guitars going on. There's a squeal at the second fret of the G string, a squeal at the fifth fret of the G and then I used a DigiTech Whammy pedal on two-string squeals at the harmonics at the fourth and 12th frets of the G and B strings, I believe. That was one of those deals where I didn't plan it out.

I just sat there and fucked with it until it sounded right. [5]

Reception

Classic Rock writer Stephen Dalton described "Floods" as "Pantera's 'Bohemian Rhapsody'". Dalton also described it as "a seven-minute, shape-shifting, post-apocalyptic epic featuring one of Dimebag Darrell's finest solos, an octave-vaulting baroque ejaculation that sounds like Brian May on steroids". [6]

Metal Hammer ranked "Floods" 9th on their list of the 50 best Pantera songs. They described it as an all-time classic. [7]

Guitar World ranked the song 20th on their list of the 25 greatest Pantera songs. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pantera</span> American heavy metal band

Pantera is an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas, formed in 1981 by the Abbott brothers, and currently composed of vocalist Phil Anselmo, bassist Rex Brown, and touring musicians Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante. The group's best-known lineup consisted of the Abbott brothers along with Brown and Anselmo, who joined in 1982 and 1986 respectively. The band is credited for developing and popularizing the subgenre of groove metal in the 1990s. Regarded as one of the most successful and influential bands in heavy metal history, Pantera has sold around 20 million records worldwide and has received four Grammy nominations.

<i>Vulgar Display of Power</i> 1992 studio album by Pantera

Vulgar Display of Power is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Pantera. Released on February 25, 1992, through Atco Records, it was the band's second collaboration with producer Terry Date, after having worked with him on their breakthrough album Cowboys from Hell (1990).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dimebag Darrell</span> American guitarist (1966–2004)

Darrell Lance Abbott, best known by his stage name Dimebag Darrell, was an American musician. He was the guitarist of the heavy metal bands Pantera and Damageplan, both of which he co-founded alongside his brother Vinnie Paul. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest metal guitarists of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Anselmo</span> American heavy metal vocalist

Philip Hansen Anselmo is an American heavy metal musician best known as the lead singer for Pantera, Down, and Superjoint, amongst other musical projects. He is the owner of Housecore Records.

<i>The Great Southern Trendkill</i> 1996 studio album by Pantera

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 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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rex Brown</span> American bassist

Rex Robert Brown is an American musician. He is the longtime bassist for heavy metal band Pantera, having joined the band in 1982. Following the band's reunion in 2022, Brown is the longest-serving member of the band. He is also a former member of the supergroup Down (2001–2011) and a former bassist for Kill Devil Hill. He released his debut solo album Smoke on This… in 2017. For the first time in Brown's career, the work features him not only as a bassist but also as lead vocalist and guitarist.

<i>The Best of Pantera: Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboys Vulgar Hits!</i> 2003 greatest hits album by Pantera

The Best of Pantera: Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboys' Vulgar Hits! is a compilation album by American heavy metal band Pantera, released on September 23, 2003, two months before their breakup. The title of the compilation is a combination of the titles of their first four major label albums.

<i>Out of the Silent Planet</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Kings X

Out of the Silent Planet is the debut studio album by the American rock band King's X, released in 1988. The title of the album comes from that of a book by C. S. Lewis, an author favored by band members Ty Tabor and Jerry Gaskill. "Out of the Silent Planet" is also the title of the first track from the follow-up album Gretchen Goes to Nebraska. The cover art features the skyline of Houston with the southern outline of the state of Texas. The album received widespread acclaim from music contemporaries. Pantera bassist Rex Brown commented of his and Dimebag Darrell's impressions, noting "Dime called me and said, 'Dude, have you heard this? Have you checked out King's X?'" He says. "We went on a long road trip, and we must have listened to that first record I don't know how many times, and we couldn't stop! This was the sound that Dime and I were always looking for."

"In This River" is a song by American heavy metal band Black Label Society, a power ballad featured on their 2005 sixth studio album Mafia. Performed entirely by guitarist, vocalist and pianist Zakk Wylde, it was released as the third single from the album and reached number 32 on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cemetery Gates (Pantera song)</span> 1990 single by Pantera

"Cemetery Gates" is a power ballad by American heavy metal band Pantera. The song is the fifth track from the 1990 album Cowboys from Hell, the band's fifth record and second with lead singer Phil Anselmo. The song, the longest in Pantera's discography, showcases Anselmo's vocal ability and range, concluding with screaming high notes answered by Dimebag Darrell on guitar in a trade-off.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowboys from Hell (song)</span> 1990 single by Pantera

"Cowboys from Hell" is a song by American heavy metal band Pantera. First appearing on the band's 1989 demo album, the song is the band's first single. It was released later on the major label debut album Cowboys from Hell, and on the band's compilation album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This Love (Pantera song)</span> 1992 single by Pantera

"This Love" is a power ballad by American heavy metal band Pantera. It was first released on the band's best-selling album, Vulgar Display of Power, and later on the band's compilation album, The Best of Pantera: Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboys' Vulgar Hits! A live version was also included on Official Live: 101 Proof.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drag the Waters</span> 1996 single by Pantera

"Drag the Waters" is a song by the American heavy metal band Pantera. It first appeared on the 1996 album The Great Southern Trendkill, and later on the band's compilation album, The Best of Pantera: Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboys' Vulgar Hits!.

"The Art of Shredding" is a song by the American heavy metal band Pantera. It was released in 1990 on their fifth studio album Cowboys from Hell, and is the twelfth and final song on the album.

"A New Level" is a song by American heavy metal band Pantera. It is the second track on their 1992 studio album Vulgar Display of Power.

"Live in a Hole" is a song by American heavy metal band Pantera. It was released in 1992 on their album Vulgar Display of Power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mouth for War</span> 1992 single by Pantera

"Mouth for War" is a song by American heavy metal band Pantera. It was first released on the band's sixth album Vulgar Display of Power and was the first single off that album. It was later released on the band's compilation album, The Best of Pantera: Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboys' Vulgar Hits!

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dimebag Darrell performances</span>

Darrell Lance Abbott, best known as Dimebag Darrell, was an American guitarist. He was a founding member of the heavy metal bands Pantera and Damageplan. His musical recordings and film appearances include:

"Suicide Note" is a two-part song by American heavy metal band Pantera from their eighth studio album, The Great Southern Trendkill. The first half of the song was released as the album's second single in 1996. The combination total time is 9 minutes and 3 seconds.

"Domination" is a song by American heavy metal band Pantera. It is the sixth track on their 1990 studio album Cowboys from Hell. The song is very notable for its breakdown in the middle of the song, which is considered to be the best out of all of Pantera's breakdowns. From 1990 to 1991, it was used as a live set opener.

References

  1. "Hear Early Mix Of PANTERA's 'Floods' From 'The Great Southern Trendkill' Reissue". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. October 6, 2016.
  2. "Floods by Pantera - Songfacts". www.songfacts.com.
  3. 1 2 "50 Greatest Guitar Solos". January 29, 2009.
  4. Nick Bowcott (January 22, 2013). "From the Archive: Dimebag Darrell Discusses Pantera's 1996 Album, 'The Great Southern Trendkill'". Guitar World . Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  5. August 2018, Guitar World Staff 20 (August 20, 2018). "Hear Dimebag Darrell's Isolated Guitar from Pantera's "Floods"". guitarworld.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. Dalton, Stephen (2019). "Pantera - The Great Southern Trendkill: 20th Anniversary Edition album review". loudersound.com. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  7. February 2019, Dom Lawson04 (February 4, 2019). "The 50 best Pantera songs ever". Metal Hammer Magazine.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. Bienstock, Richard; April 2019, Chris Gill 26 (January 5, 2023). "The 25 Greatest Pantera Songs of All Time". guitarworld.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)