"Becoming" is a song by American heavy metal

Heavy metal music

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...

 group Pantera

Pantera

Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...

 from their album Far Beyond Driven

Far Beyond Driven

Far Beyond Driven is the seventh album by American groove metal band Pantera. It was released on March 22, 1994 through East West Records. Upon its release, it debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200...

. It was released as a 2-track promotional-only vinyl 12", with "5 Minutes Alone

5 Minutes Alone

"5 Minutes Alone" is a song by the heavy metal band Pantera from their 1994 album Far Beyond Driven. The song also appears on the bands live album. The song was released as downloadable content for Rock Revolution.-Lyrics:...

" as its B-side.

The song features a unique guitar riff by Dimebag Darrell

Dimebag Darrell

Darrell Lance Abbott , also known as Diamond Darrell and Dimebag Darrell, was an American guitarist. He was best known as a founding member of the heavy metal bands Pantera and Damageplan. Abbott also contributed to the album Rebel Meets Rebel, a collaboration between Pantera and David Allan Coe...

 which involves a DigiTech Whammy pedal

Digitech Whammy

-Overview:The WH-1 Whammy pedal, the original whammy, first engineered and manufactured in 1989 by IVL Technologies and discontinued in 1993, remains the most sought-after.-Controls:...

 as well as extensive double bass drumming from Vinnie Paul

Vinnie Paul

Vincent Paul Abbott, also known as "Vinnie Paul" is a heavy metal drummer and producer who is currently a member of supergroup Hellyeah, but is best known for being a member, and co-founder, of the heavy metal band Pantera...

.

Lyrics

The song hints at lead singer Phil Anselmo

Phil Anselmo

Philip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo is an American musician who is best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Pantera. He is currently the frontman for the Louisiana-based metal act Down. He is also the owner of Housecore Records....

's childhood, describing it as a time of abuse and neglect, and showing how strong and bitter he was at the time of its release.

Live performance

During live performances of the song, the band would play Becoming and combine it with the outro of "Throes of Rejection", a Pantera song also featured on the album Far Beyond Driven. A live performance of the song is also available on the bands live album "Official Live: 101 Proof

Official Live: 101 Proof

-Credits:*Phil Anselmo – vocals*Dimebag Darrell – guitar*Rex Brown – bass guitar*Vinnie Paul – drums-Chart positions:...

".

Release and reception

Despite its limited release, the song peaked at #18 on the U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles

Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles

The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100...

 chart, equaling a position of #118 on the main Billboard Hot 100

Billboard Hot 100

The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...

 chart, making it one out of three Pantera singles to appear on the chart.

Charts

Chart (1994)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100...	18