"Psycho Holiday" is a song by the 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 ...

, released as the third and final single from their 1990 album ''

Cowboys from Hell ''Cowboys from Hell'' is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Pantera, released on July 24, 1990 by Atco Records. It marked the band's major label debut and their first collaboration with producer Terry Date. This was also the al ...

''. It is the third song on the album.

Background

"Psycho Holiday" is in the

key Key or The Key may refer to: Common meanings * Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm * Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock * Key (map ...

of F#. Vocalist

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 ranges in pitch from G4 to F6.

Music video

A video was made for the song, released on the 1991 VHS '' Cowboys from Hell: The Videos''. It was later re-released on the 1999 DVD '' 3 Vulgar Videos from Hell''. The video was directed by

Paul Rachman Paul Rachman (born September 13, 1962) is an American film director who directed the highly praised 2006 documentary on punk music '' American Hardcore'', which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was released by Sony Pictures Classics. H ...

Reception

Malcolm Dome of ''

Metal Hammer ''Metal Hammer'' is a heavy metal music magazine and website founded in 1983, published in the United Kingdom by Future, with other language editions available in numerous other countries. ''Metal Hammer'' features news, reviews and long-form ...

'' considered "Psycho Holiday" to be one of the ten best Pantera songs, writing that the band proved they could be melodic, nasty and musically simple but creative. Dom Lawson, also of ''Metal Hammer'', ranked it the 26th-best Pantera song, calling it an "unhinged classic".

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

writer Eduardo Rivadavia considered "Psycho Holiday" to be one of the three highlights from the album.

Track listing

# "Psycho Holiday" – 5:19 # "

" (live) – 4:07 # "Heresy" (live) – 4:48

In popular culture

"Psycho Holiday" was mentioned in the Cherrie Lynn book ''Unleashed''. In the video game '' WWF WrestleMania 2000'', the menu theme seems to emulate the song.

Personnel

– vocals * Diamond Darrell – guitar *

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 i ...

– 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

{{Pantera 1990 songs Pantera songs Songs written by Dimebag Darrell Songs written by Vinnie Paul Songs written by Phil Anselmo Songs written by Rex Brown