DOWN Is Getting Serious About Writing New Material

17:31 Monday, 15 January 2024

Looks like Down's first new music since their 2014 EP Down IV – Part 2 is actually happening, for real this time. Down guitarist Kirk Windstein originally took to social media a few weeks ago to note that the band was working on new music together, but now drummer Jimmy Bower has followed up to reveal that Down has been working at Phil Anselmo's Nodferatu's Lair studio for the past few days.

For those unaware, Down is Windstein (Crowbar, Eye Am) and fellow guitarist Pepper Keenan (Corrosion Of Conformity), Anselmo (Pantera), bassist Patrick Bruders (Saint Vitus, ex-Crowbar), and Bower (Eyehategod). Down released three very influential albums between 1995 and 2007 – NOLA in 1995, Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow… in 2002, and Down III: Over the Under in 2007 – before dropping two EPs under the collective Down IV moniker in 2012 and 2014.

No timetable is set for the release of Down, but hey – any new music from the stoner supergroup at this point is extremely welcome.

In a recent interview with Scott Penfold of Loaded Radio earlier in October, Windstein expressed his hopes that the band could release an EP of six new songs in 2024.

"We talked about doing like a cover-song EP. But we threw around like a hundred songs and we can't pick and choose any of them. So, to me, it's easier to just go, 'Hey, guys, let's get in the fucking room and just write some shit.' Come out with six songs and do an EP. So I hope that that's what happens."

"To be honest, I don't know," he added. "And this is not from Phil or Rex or anything. They can do the Pantera thing forever. Like as far as festivals in South America, Europe and whatnot, they can — they can always go do a weekend or two in the summer here and there between Zakk and Charlie's schedules… whatever they're up to with their respective bands. So I hope that they do. I hope they do it forever."

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