Sludge-metal veterans Down are recording their first new music in additional than a decade. The long-running NOLA supergroup options singer Philip Anselmo (Pantera) alongside guitarists Pepper Keenan (Corrosion of Conformity) and Kirk Windstein (Crowbar), amongst others.
Down — whose lineup is rounded out by drummer Jimmy Bower (Crowbar, Eyehategod, Superjoint Ritual) and bassist Pat Bruders (Crowbar, Goatwhore) — final launched the EP Down IV – Half II in 2014.
On Friday (January third), Bower posted a photograph of Windstein and Keenan within the studio, writing, “Kirk and Pep laying down some magic right now.”
Again in November, Windstein instructed the podcast That Metal Interview (as transcribed by Blabbermouth), “I’ve been in Down world [for the last few months] kinda, writing with Down and ending up the writing for the album that’s [gonna come] out [in 2025] sooner or later… We’ve received 10 new songs, man. It’s superior.”
Anselmo has been busy the previous couple years touring with the revamped lineup of Pantera, who kick off a UK/European outing later this month. After that, Pantera will help Metallica at a variety of North American stadium shows from April although June (tickets available here).
See the studio replace and the current interview with Windstein beneath.