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Artist Spotlight - Down

Written by Art Michalski

Wednesday, 17 October 2007

It’s been a long hellish ride for the New Orleans heavy metal supergroup Down on the way to the release of their new album III: Over the Under . Since their 2002 release A Bustle in Your Hedgerow, members of the band have suffered through huge issues. Lead singer Phil Anselmo (yes, that Phil Anselmo from Pantera) dealt with leaving his drug issues behind, experimental back surgery and the death of former Pantera band mate Dimebag Darrell (and I think we all know the story behind that one). Guitarist Pepper Keenan put his main band, Corrosion of Conformity, on hold as his hometown was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.
It looked as if Down may not be resurrected, but after the dust cleared and a headlining tour in Europe in 2006, the future for Down looked very good. The band got back into the studio this past winter to record the new record. The new record revisits the fury of their 1995 debut Nola and still delves into the Black Sabbath meets southern rock vibe of Hedgerow. Such tracks as the opener “3 Suns and 1 Star” and “Mourn” see Anselmo deal with the death of his friend Dimebag. Meanwhile, songs like “I Scream” and “On March the Saints” (which may or may not be a ode to the New Orleans Saints, currently struggling this season) are vintage Down tracks. It looked like the time off didn’t make Anselmo, Keenan and the rest of Down rusty in the least.
> The band started as a side project for Pantera, C.O.C. and Crowbar, but has now turned into the member’s main focus these days. The new record recently debuted at #26 on the Billboard charts early this month and is out touring right now. The band will perform an “evening with Down,” which translates to don’t expect any openers and a couple of hours with one of the best metal side projects turned main projects ever thought upon.

Down will play at Harpo’s in Detroit, MI this Friday, October 19^th. Tickets are $25 and are available at www.ticketmaster.com. Additional dates are available at www.down-nola.com. .

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