Far Beyond Driven

One of the things I like about nu metal is its willingness to be unconventional. Sure, maybe it's safe-edgy much of the time, but it's at least interesting.

If Vulgar Display of Power offered the blueprint for the worst of the nu/core scene, this offers guidelines for its redeeming qualities. The persona adopted with this album is more a troubled soul than a trouble-making tough guy. Phil's angsty screams are occasionally replaced with just the sort of moans, groans, and whispers you'd expect from nu metal. Yes, they're equally as angsty, but they are at least somewhat sufferable.

In this later leg of their career, it seems like they're actually taking notes from their extreme metal betters, and occasionally giving a slower heavier take on their familiar sound. This is without a doubt the heaviest Pantera album, and while I can't say I enjoy a single song, it's generally tolerable.