Becoming (song)

This article is about the song by Pantera. For the song by Jewel, see 0304.

1994 promotional single by Pantera

"Becoming"

Promotional single by Pantera
from the album  Far Beyond Driven
B-side| "5 Minutes Alone"
Released| 1994
Recorded| 1993
Genre| Groove metal
Length| 3:05
Label| East West
Songwriter(s)|

* Dimebag Darrell
* Vinnie Paul
* Phil Anselmo
* Rex Brown

Producer(s)|

* Terry Date
* Vinnie Paul

Pantera singles chronology
| "5 Minutes Alone"
(1994)  | "Becoming"
(1994)  | "Drag the Waters"
(1996)

|
|

"Becoming" is a song by American heavy metal band Pantera from their seventh album Far Beyond Driven. It was released as a 2-track promotional-only vinyl 12", with "5 Minutes Alone" as its B-side.

## Overview

[edit]

The song was conceived as an extensive series of high-speed double bass drum exercises by Vinnie Paul, and then guitarist Dimebag Darrell added riffs and a solo based on his first whammy pedal, the Digitech Whammy.[1][2] It also uses an unusual guitar tuning, as it sits between C# and D-tuning.

Vocalist and lyricist Phil Anselmo described the song as "gloating ... puffing the chest out ... very tongue in cheek, very much me playing around with words, and throwing a bit of a curveball at the listener".[1] He elaborated, "The most popular heavy metal bands in the world at that time were, in my estimate and definitely all of our estimates, playing the game. ... They had reached this pinnacle; now they were kind of tapering off and writing more commercial stuff, whereas we realized our strong point, once again, was sticking to heavy metal and making it as heavy as our style would allow. Therefore, with 'Becoming', it is what it says. We were becoming. Honestly, we had arrived."[3]

## Track listing

[edit]

12" single

1. "Becoming"
2. "5 Minutes Alone"

## Reception

[edit]

Rolling Stone called the "badass"[2] song one of Pantera's most powerful and bluesy, a "rhythmic steam roller",[1] with "next-level guitar pyrotechnics".[2]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Grow, Kory. "Pantera Look Back at 20 Years of 'Far Beyond Driven'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
2. ^ a b c Epstein, Dan. "How Vinnie Paul and Pantera Revolutionized the Art of Metal". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
3. ^ Graham 'Gruhamed' Hartmann (March 24, 2014). "Philip Anselmo Explains the Meaning Behind Pantera's 'Becoming' – Exclusive Video". Loudwire.

* v
* t
* e

Pantera

* Rex Brown
* Phil Anselmo

* Vinnie Paul
* Dimebag Darrell
* Terry Glaze

Studio albums|

* Metal Magic
* Projects in the Jungle
* I Am the Night
* Power Metal
* Cowboys from Hell
* Vulgar Display of Power
* Far Beyond Driven
* The Great Southern Trendkill
* Reinventing the Steel

Live albums|

* Official Live: 101 Proof

Extended plays|

* Walk
* Hostile Moments

Compilations|

* The Singles 1991–1996
* Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboys' Vulgar Hits!

Singles|

* "Cowboys from Hell"
* "Psycho Holiday"
* "Mouth for War"
* "Walk"
* "I'm Broken"
* "Planet Caravan"
* "5 Minutes Alone"
* "Drag the Waters"
* "Revolution Is My Name"
* "Hole in the Sky"

Promotional singles|

* "Cemetery Gates"
* "This Love"
* "Hollow"
* "Fucking Hostile"
* "Becoming"
* "Suicide Note Pt. 1"
* "Floods"
* "Cat Scratch Fever"
* "I'll Cast a Shadow"

Other songs|

* "Domination"
* "The Art of Shredding"
* "A New Level"

Video albums|

* Cowboys from Hell: The Videos
* Vulgar Video
* 3 Watch It Go
* 3 Vulgar Videos from Hell

Related bands|

* Arson Anthem
* Damageplan
* Down
* Gasoline
* Hellyeah
* Kill Devil Hill
* Necrophagia
* Southern Isolation
* Superjoint Ritual
* Viking Crown

Related articles|

* Discography
* Columbus nightclub shooting
* Rebel Meets Rebel
* For Those About to Rock
* Terry Date
* Jerry Abbott
* Elegant Weapons

* Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

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