Releases by down

Down is an American heavy metal supergroup formed in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1991. The band's lineup has included vocalist Phil Anselmo, drummer Jimmy Bower, guitarists Pepper Keenan and Kirk Windstein, and several bassists over the course of its history, including Todd Strange, Rex Brown, and Pat Bruders. The group is associated with members of other established heavy metal bands, including Pantera, Eyehategod, Crowbar, Corrosion of Conformity, Goatwhore, Superjoint Ritual, and Sun Don't Shine. Since its formation, Down has experienced multiple periods of inactivity and has released five studio recordings, comprising three full-length albums and two extended plays (EPs). Its releases include "NOLA" (1995), "Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow" (2002), "Down III: Over the Under" (2007), "Down IV - Part I" (2012), and "Down IV - Part II" (2014). Down was formed in 1991 by Anselmo, Bower, Keenan, Windstein, and bassist Todd Strange. The members were longtime friends and shared an interest in bands such as Black Sabbath, Trouble, and Saint Vitus, influences that contributed to the group's musical style. The band initially recorded a three-track demo that circulated through underground tape-trading networks. The demo gained attention in the United States, leading to local performances and eventually a recording contract with Elektra Records. The band's debut album, "NOLA", was released on 19 September 1995 and reached number 55 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album received positive reviews from critics and was supported by a tour before the band entered a hiatus while members returned to their primary musical projects. In 1999, Todd Strange left the band and was replaced by Pantera bassist Rex Brown. Down reunited in late 2001 to record its second album, "Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow", which was written and recorded at Anselmo's barn studio, known as "Nodferatu's Lair". Released on 26 March 2002, the album received a more mixed critical response than its predecessor but reached number 44 on the Billboard 200. The band supported the release with appearances on the second stage of Ozzfest 2002. An acoustic version of "Stone the Crow" was recorded during this period but was not officially released. Following touring activities, Down again entered an extended hiatus. The band reunited in 2006 after signing with Warner Bros. Records. Over the following year, the members wrote material for their third album, "Down III: Over the Under". The album's lyrics addressed topics including the breakup of Pantera, the murder of former Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and Anselmo's recovery from back surgery and drug addiction. Released on 25 September 2007, the album debuted at number 26 on the Billboard 200 and received generally favourable reviews. Prior to its release, Down toured with Heaven & Hell and Megadeth, followed by a headlining tour. In April 2008, BBC Radio 1's Rock Show broadcast alternate versions of "N.O.D.", "Beneath the Tides", and "Jail", as well as a cover of "When the Levee Breaks". During the same period, the band began developing new material intended for a fourth studio release. By 2009, members indicated that substantial new material had been written and recorded. Brown was absent from part of the band's 2009 touring schedule due to acute pancreatitis. In 2010, Brown was reported to have largely recovered from his illness. After legal disputes with Warner Bros. Records concerning music rights, Down released the live album "Diary of a Mad Band: Europe in the Year of VI" through Roadrunner Records on 5 October 2010. The title references Ozzy Osbourne's album "Diary of a Madman". In 2011, the band resumed work on new material and performed a number of live dates. Brown did not participate in these performances, with Crowbar bassist Pat Bruders serving as his replacement. In June 2011, Bower confirmed that Brown would not return to the group and that Bruders had become the band's new bassist. Recording sessions for new material began in late 2011. Although reports circulated that the band planned to release four EPs instead of a full-length album, no such plan was formally adopted. The first release from these sessions, "Down IV - Part I", was issued in September 2012. In the summer of 2013, Windstein left the band and was replaced by Bobby Landgraf. The second EP, "Down IV - Part II", was released on 13 May 2014. In 2016, following controversy surrounding Anselmo's conduct during the Dimebash event, the organisers of the FortaRock Festival cancelled Down's scheduled appearance at the festival. In January 2018, Anselmo stated that the members remained committed to recording another Down album, although scheduling conflicts arising from their involvement in other bands had delayed progress. In November 2019, Down announced plans to reunite for a series of performances in 2020, including an appearance at Graspop Metal Meeting in Belgium. Ahead of the 25th anniversary of "NOLA", Windstein confirmed that he had rejoined the band. In an interview published on 4 August 2025, Windstein stated that recording of a new studio album was more than halfway complete, with drum, bass, and rhythm guitar tracks already finished. On 13 February 2026, Down released a cover version of Dr. John's "Right Place Wrong Time" during Mardi Gras celebrations. Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_(band) Studio albums NOLA (1995) Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow (2002) Down III: Over the Under (2007) Extended plays Down IV Part I – The Purple EP (2012) Down IV – Part 2 (2014) Live albums Diary of a Mad Band (2010, Live) Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.