On Wednesday, July 9, longtime Down guitarists Pepper Keenan and Kirk Windstein formally entered OCD Recording in Metairie, Louisiana to start monitoring guitars for the band’s extremely anticipated new studio album – their first full-length in over a decade. The as-yet-untitled file is slated for launch in 2026 by means of their new label dwelling, Nuclear Blast Information.
A brief in-studio video that includes Keenan and Windstein working by means of one of many album’s new songs has surfaced on-line, alongside a handful of behind-the-scenes photographs, giving followers their first style of the long-awaited recording periods. The album marks Down‘s return to full-length output after greater than 12 years, with the lineup of vocalist Philip H. Anselmo, guitarist Pepper Keenan, drummer Jimmy Bower, bassist Pat Bruders, and Windstein himself as soon as once more reuniting underneath the NOLA steel banner.
Down‘s signing with Nuclear Blast was first introduced this previous April, with the label stating: “Nuclear Blast is proud to be within the trenches with NOLA legends Down as their accomplice of their lengthy overdue return to the steel world. As well as, we’re excited to carry a few of their key previous catalog releases again into the highlight, particularly on the vinyl facet. There are such a lot of longtime Down followers at Nuclear Blast who’re excited to be working with one in all their all-time favourite bands. 2026 cannot come quickly sufficient!”
Frontman Philip Anselmo echoed the sentiment, saying, “It is good to signal with Nuclear Blast Information. It is a good label dwelling and we’re able to make some superior recordings!”
Keenan, who additionally performs in Corrosion of Conformity, added, “Having already been part of the Nuclear Blast household with COC, it’s an honor and a privilege to be right here as properly with my brothers in Down. The workforce at Nuclear Blast is a well-oiled machine and you may undoubtedly inform they love what they do. We’re in the proper place.”
Drummer Jimmy Bower summed it up: “Nuclear Blast is a superb label that put out some glorious data. It is an honor to have them work our jams!”
This new studio exercise follows a string of current stay appearances, together with a Western U.S. tour with Danzig and a headlining slot at this 12 months’s Milwaukee Steel Fest. It additionally marks a big artistic milestone for a band that hasn’t launched a full-length album since 2012’s Down IV – Half I.
In April 2024, Kirk Windstein spoke to Concrete Spew concerning the musical course of the upcoming materials: “It simply appears like Down. I imply, it sounds refreshing as a result of we have not achieved it in so lengthy… So it appears like Down. I believe, to me, it sounds extra old-school Down.”
He went on to explain the brand new writing course of as extra natural and stripped-down: “We’re not overthinking it. We’re not making an attempt to make issues too advanced… We simply sort of acquired away – and I hate to say ‘acquired away’ – however we would have liked to return and have a look at one another and simply go, ‘Let’s simply get in a room and do it like we did from the start.'”
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