Suicide Note (song)

Last updated

"Suicide Note"
Single by Pantera
from the album The Great Southern Trendkill
ReleasedMay 22, 1996
Recorded1995
Genre
Length
  • 4:44 (Pt. I)
  • 4:19 (Pt. II)
Label East West
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Terry Date
Pantera singles chronology
"Drag the Waters"
(1996)
"Suicide Note"
(1996)
"Floods"
(1996)

"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.

Contents

The first part of the song was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1997. [3]

Background

"Suicide Note Pt. I" features 12-string acoustic guitars, keyboards, and bass drum beats in the style of a heartbeat. Guitarist Dimebag Darrell told Guitar World magazine in 1996 that he wrote all the guitar parts of the song the first time he picked up a 12-string guitar that Washburn Guitars had sent him in recognition of his new endorsement of the company.

The song breaks into "Suicide Note Pt. II", which in stark contrast to Pt. I, is a fast-tempo song featuring low tunings, screamed vocals throughout, and a breakdown at its climax. The main riff in Pt. II features extensive use of the DigiTech Whammy effects pedal which is used throughout most of the song including the chaotic solo.

Pt. I was omitted from the original vinyl pressing of The Great Southern Trendkill in 1996. It was however included on a limited edition 24 bit audiophile pressing in 2012.

The lyrics describe suicide attempts such as slitting of the wrist. Pt. I talks in particular about drug use whereas Pt. II describes the determination of suicide by gunshot.

Reception

Metal Hammer ranked the first part of the song number 24 on their list of the 50 best Pantera songs, while the second part of the song ranked at number 20. [4] [5]

Loudwire ranked both parts number eight on their list of the top 10 Pantera songs. [6]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Suicide Note, Pt. I" (Live Through This Night Remix Edit)3:55
2."Suicide Note, Pt. I" (Live Through This Night Remix)4:56

Personnel

Part I

Additional personnel

  • Big Ross – keyboards

Part II

Additional personnel

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>Cowboys from Hell</i> 1990 studio album by Pantera

Cowboys from Hell is the fifth studio album and major label debut by American heavy metal band Pantera, released on July 24, 1990, by Atco Records. It marked the first of many collaborations with producer Terry Date. This was also the album where Pantera fully abandoned the glam metal style of their previous albums in favor of a heavier sound. It has been recognized as one of the first ever groove metal albums.

<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.

<i>Far Beyond Driven</i> 1994 studio album by Pantera

Far Beyond Driven is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Pantera, released on March 22, 1994, by Elektra Records and East West Records. Pantera's fastest-selling album, it peaked at number 1 on the Billboard 200 and was certified Platinum by the RIAA. The album was also certified Platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association. Far Beyond Driven is the first album by Pantera where the band's guitarist Darrell Abbott is credited as "Dimebag Darrell", having changed his nickname from "Diamond Darrell" soon after Vulgar Display of Power was released. The Japanese and the Driven Downunder Tour '94 Souvenir Collection editions contain a bonus thirteenth track, "The Badge", a Poison Idea cover. This cover was also featured on The Crow soundtrack.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vinnie Paul</span> American drummer (1964–2018)

Vincent Paul Abbott was an American musician best known for being the drummer and co-founder of the heavy metal band Pantera. He also co-founded Damageplan in 2003 with his younger brother, "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, and was a member of Hellyeah for 12 years from 2006 until his death in 2018.

<i>Power Metal</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Pantera

Power Metal is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Pantera, released on June 24, 1988, through Metal Magic Records. It is the first Pantera album to feature Phil Anselmo on lead vocals, as part of Pantera's best-known lineup which would last until the band's breakup in 2003.

<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">Floods (Pantera song)</span> 1996 single by Pantera

"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.

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

"This Love" is a song by American heavy metal band Pantera. A power ballad, it was first released on the band's best-selling album, 1992's 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.

"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.

"Fucking Hostile" is a song by the American heavy metal band Pantera. It was released in 1992 on their album Vulgar Display of Power, and is considered by many to be among the band's best songs. It was also a live favourite for the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Broken</span> 1994 single by Pantera

"I'm Broken" is a song by American heavy metal band Pantera, released on their 1994 studio album, Far Beyond Driven. It was the first single released from the album.

<i>Over the Under</i> 2007 studio album by Down

Over the Under, also referred to as Down III: Over the Under, is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Down, released five years after their previous album, Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow. It was released internationally on September 24, 2007, and in the United States on September 25, 2007.

<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!

"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. "Fan poll: Top 5 PHILIP ANSELMO vocal performances". Revolvermagazine.
  2. "See PANTERA play "Suicide Note Pt. 2" for first time in 22 years". Revolvermagazine.
  3. Daniels, Neil (January 2000). Reinventing Metal: The True Story of Pantera and the Tragically Short Life of Dimebag Darrell. ISBN   9781480362734.
  4. "The 50 best Pantera songs ever - page 3". Louder Sound . February 4, 2019.
  5. "The 50 best Pantera songs ever - page 4". Louder Sound . February 4, 2019.
  6. "10 Best Pantera Songs". Loudwire . December 8, 2014.