Down’s New Album is “Past The Middle Point” of Recording Process
In a recent interview with The Heavy Metal Sitdown, Down/Sun Dont Shine guitarist and Crowbar frontman Kirk Windstein gave an update on the supergroup’s highly anticipated new album. And while it’s regrettable that the update isn’t “it’s coming out tomorrow,” it sound like we’re all slowly but surely getting closer to release.
”We’re totally in the — I would say past the middle point of even recording it… We have to take a break right now due to touring stuff [with our other projects]. But the drums are all done. Pepper [Keenan, DOWN guitarist] and I did the rhythm tracks. The bass is done. I’m not sure if Phil [Anselmo, DOWN frontman] started singing yet or not. That’s kind of on his time. But we’re really gonna kind of try to dive back into [completing the record] in the month of November, kind of between early November to maybe Thanksgiving, just finish up everything that we have to do on guitars and bass. And the rest is up to Phil. And then [we’ll get into the] mixing [process].”
It’s been a very long time since Down put out new music. If you’re only counting full-length releases, Down’s last one was Down III: Over the Under from 2007, but if you’re counting just any releases, then you’re talking the 2014 EP Down IV – Part II. Remember, there was supposed to be a Part III at one point, then there was going to be an all acoustic release, and then there was going to be a covers album maybe. So the fact that we know this will be a new, full-length release… maybe Down V… it’s kind of a big deal.
This new record will also be Down’s first under the Nuclear Blast umbrella. They joined the label back in April. At the time, they said the new record will be coming out in 2026, so for now that’s all we can really go by.
“Nuclear Blast is proud to be in the trenches with NOLA legends DOWN as their partner in their long overdue return to the metal world. In addition, we are excited to bring some of their key past catalog releases back into the spotlight, especially on the vinyl side. There are so many longtime DOWN fans at Nuclear Blast who are excited to be working with one of their all-time favorite bands. 2026 can’t come soon enough!”
In recent months, Down has been seen playing various festivals when Phil isn’t off playing with Pantera. Keep in mind that Pepper Keenan’s been busy working on a new Corrosion of Conformity record and touring with Judas Priest/Alice Cooper, while both Bruders and Windstein’s been busy with various projects of their own including a Crowbar tour with Eyehategod this summer, so it’s a miracle any Down music is getting written at all.
Here’s hoping their scattered careers can lead to a good Down record and not a disjointed mess.
