"Hollow" is a

power ballad A sentimental ballad is an emotional style of music that often deals with romantic and intimate relationships, and to a lesser extent, loneliness, death, war, drug abuse, politics and religion, usually in a poignant but solemn manner.J. M. C ...

by American heavy metal band

Pantera Pantera () is an American heavy metal music, heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas formed in 1981, and currently comprised of vocalist Phil Anselmo, bassist Rex Brown, and touring musicians Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante. The group's best-kn ...

from their 1992 album '' Vulgar Display of Power''. A live medley of "Hollow" and another Pantera song, "Domination", is featured on '' Official Live: 101 Proof'' as "Dom/Hollow".

Lyrics

The lyrics are a reflection on a friend who has slipped into a

coma A coma is a deep state of prolonged unconsciousness in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light, or sound, lacks a normal wake-sleep cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. Coma patients exhi ...

tose or vegetative state. Phil Anselmo says that the song was not about a specific person, but a series of losses he suffered.

Song structure

The song is the last on the album and starts off with a harmonized

electric guitar An electric guitar is a guitar that requires external amplification in order to be heard at typical performance volumes, unlike a standard acoustic guitar (however combinations of the two - a semi-acoustic guitar and an electric acoustic gui ...

phrasing (in 6/8), with an electric guitar with a chorus effect in the background.

Phil Anselmo Philip Hansen Anselmo (born June 30, 1968) is an American Heavy metal music, heavy metal vocalist best known as the lead singer for Pantera, Down (band), Down, and Superjoint, amongst other musical projects. He is the owner of Housecore Records ...

's voice is much softer in the beginning of this song, as opposed to the rest of the album. The vocals are very reminiscent of another hit ballad by Pantera, "

Cemetery Gates "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 ...

". The song starts with a medium tempo and continues until the middle. Preceding a short solo by

Dimebag Darrell Darrell Lance Abbott (August 20, 1966 – December 8, 2004), 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 ...

, there is a short breakdown and the song continues with more intense heavy riffing and drumming (in 4/4) and more aggressive raspy singing and growling from Anselmo.

Release and reception

The song was released in 1992 as the band's third single for '' Vulgar Display of Power''. Although the song is one of Pantera's most well known songs, it failed to chart.

Track listing

# "Hollow" (single edit) # "Hollow" (LP version)

Personnel

– vocals *

– guitars *

Rex Brown Rex Robert Brown (born July 27, 1964) is an American musician. He is best known as the bassist for heavy metal band Pantera, from 1982 to their disbandment in 2003. As of their reunion in 2022, he is the band's only constant member. Brown is ...

– bass *

Vinnie Paul Vincent Paul Abbott (March 11, 1964 – June 22, 2018) 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 ...

– drums

References

{{authority control 1990s ballads 1992 singles 1992 songs Pantera songs Song recordings produced by Terry Date Songs written by Dimebag Darrell Songs written by Vinnie Paul Songs written by Phil Anselmo Songs written by Rex Brown Heavy metal ballads