Vinnie Paul's Drum Setup on Pantera's The Great Southern Trendkill (1996) | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drums did Vinnie Paul use on The Great Southern Trendkill?

Vinnie Paul recorded The Great Southern Trendkill in 1996 on a Pearl Masters Custom kit in black finish. The configuration included dual 22 inch by 18 inch bass drums, rack toms at 10, 12, and 13 inches, and floor toms at 16 and 18 inches. The maple shells produced a warmer, woodier tone than the Pearl Reference Pure he had used on Far Beyond Driven, while the smaller 22 inch kicks delivered tighter, faster articulation that fit the album's more savage material. All drums were triggered for attack consistency, blending acoustic shell character with electronic reinforcement.

What snare did Vinnie Paul use on The Great Southern Trendkill?

For The Great Southern Trendkill, Vinnie Paul used a Pearl Free-Floating brass snare at 14 inches by 6.5 inches. The brass shell gave the drum a brighter, sharper crack with more controlled decay than the 14 by 8 inch steel snare of Far Beyond Driven. The shallower depth traded some low-end body for articulation, which let every hit read clearly even during the relentless snare patterns of Suicide Note Pt. II and War Nerve. The free-floating strainer system let Vinnie tune the wires independently of the shell for studio-precise response.

What cymbals did Vinnie Paul use on The Great Southern Trendkill?

Vinnie Paul used Sabian HH series cymbals on The Great Southern Trendkill in 1996. His setup included 14 inch HH hi-hats, 16, 18, 19, and 20 inch HH crashes, a 22 inch HH ride, an 18 inch HH china, and splash cymbals. The switch back to Sabian from the Zildjian Z Custom of Far Beyond Driven gave him a darker, more complex tone that sat better against Dimebag's mid-scooped guitar work. The Sabian HH setup would carry him through the rest of Pantera and into his Damageplan and Hellyeah years.

Where was The Great Southern Trendkill recorded and why was it different?

The Great Southern Trendkill was tracked primarily at Chasin' Jason Studios — Dimebag Darrell's home studio in Dalworthington Gardens, Texas — with additional work at Dallas Sound Lab. Phil Anselmo recorded his vocals separately at Nothing Studios in New Orleans, where he was living at the time. The geographic split was the result of band tension and Anselmo's personal struggles, not a creative decision. Vinnie Paul, Dimebag Darrell, and Rex Brown tracked the music together in Texas while Anselmo worked his parts on his own schedule in Louisiana. Terry Date returned to produce, with Vinnie Paul and Dimebag credited as co-producers.

Did The Great Southern Trendkill debut at #1?

No — The Great Southern Trendkill debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200 in May 1996, not #1. The #1 debut belongs to Far Beyond Driven (1994). The myth that all post-Cowboys Pantera records went to #1 is one of the most persistent pieces of misinformation in metal history. A top-five debut in 1996 was still an extraordinary commercial achievement for an album with no radio singles and no concessions to mainstream taste.