Down IV Part I - The Purple EP

A speedy pace to the album, Steeple gallops evenly until it breaks down into massive riffs narrowly eclipsed by a mildly restrained Anselmo. The mixing on Steeple, fantastic, establishing the suffocating heavy bricks on your chest sound Down has perfected. We Knew Him Well is busy, motivated, and passionate. This is the agitated part of the ride, Anselmo belting out painfully, with his band mates aggressively pounding a power track stained with heavy blues and agony. A black and white video of the Louisiana-based quintet for We Knew Him Well shows the rockers crowded in a small space, almost on top of each other, which incidentally matches the sound of this track. Dogshead is thick molasses, not sweet, boots stuck in mud wretchedness, led by killer bass. Conjure follows, a trippy mind-blower, so modern day Black Sabbath, so Cajun Down, two unique spices from the same family; I can’t get enough of this haunting metal spiritual. Gentle and rolling in transitions, Down IV Part 2, is more Appalachian than Rock Mountains, still traversing ruggedly, but not as sharp and radical from song to song as Down II, Bustle in Your Hedgerow, or as diverse as the beloved NOLA. Impossible to please the masses, some fans have wished for more Stone The Crow and complained that the new stuff is too experimental. To each his own, but you may want to clean out your one-hitter if you claim Down to be experimental.Sufferer’s Dears surges with a nasty delivery and curse-laden lyrics, authentic and real. Ending in style, Bacchanalia comes in silently and leaves with an unexpected Jar of Flies (AIC) instrumental fashion. The final minute of Part 2, extraordinary, a flavor unseen to this point, it deserves special attention and notice, as it carries a tune that is solidly more of the same concrete mix. If you are new to Down, I believe there lays a best practice when listening to them. More than any band I dig, Down is an extended feeling and their form of art is reduced when one takes the whole, breaks it apart, and judges it piece by piece(like I must do by necessity here). Down is a throwback, put the needle on the black circle, and let it spin band. Pun fully intended, the Down experience becomes disjointed any other way than to surround yourself in their cloud of smoke and let the stillness settle in. From that stoner perspective, Down IV, Part 2, isn’t markedly different than any earlier blends, and I couldn’t be happier about it. Oddly, in Down, I’m not looking for new direction or musical innovativeness, I simply want to feel their groove, be in their space, and Down IV, Part 2, is another got-the-goods, light it up, puff and pass musical trip.

The sludge blues sound is perfected on this record for the second time in down's career. What im saying is that they were one thing when they perfected it with NOLA but now they're something different. a slight reinvention.So the bass is great, sad to see Rex gone but replacement Pat Bruders might be even bigger shoes to fill if he ever leaves. Maybe. What I really enjoy on this new EP is the lyrics. Phil is on another level. A new level, if you will. Every riff on this slab is fantastic and oozing with blue sludge. Blue sludge to represent blues and sludge metal. hahaha anyway, I just think if youre a Down fan you wont regret buying this. It's killer.

Say what you will - these guys are some of the best at what they do. Based on their other works, I'd give this one 3 stars. Based on the buckets of other artists out there, it is easily a 4 or 5 star effort. Lucky that they like coming to Colorado - seeing them live is always a good time. Additionally, you will hear some of their better stuff... this little EP can wait until you get tired of the other albums first. In fact, would suggest getting more COC, Pantera and Crowbar before indulging on this one.

This is a difficult album to review in my opinion. Every song on it is good, not really any song is great though. They're all just, good. The two strongest tracks on the album are Witchtripper, and Open Coffins. Misfortune Teller holds a fairly solid groove at the end of the EP, but those are really the only stand outs. Again, the other songs are good, but not that great either.

I actually knew right away I was going to like this short record upon first listen. I was drawn in by the thick Sabbathy sound. Now that I have listened a few more times I am loving it. Sludgy, heavy, and really good writing.I can't stop listening and that doesn't happen to me that often these days.This album really does kick.And to think, we have 3 more EP's on the way.

It is here. The long awaited follow up to "Over The Under" is finally released and it doesn't disappoint. The production is a little more gritty than their previous album but it still have that very organic and dynamic sound that characterize them making you feel like you are in the rehearsal studio with the band. At first I was skeptical of the EP series idea but if this is a signs of thing to come then there won't be a lot to complain about.

I was 18 when Nola came out. I bought it, sold it. Back then I was into all the other member's bands, the pre-requisite Sabbath fan, etc., etc. But something about it didn't click. 'Bustle...' came out. Hated it. 'Over the Under' came out. Loved it. Couldn't get enough of it. The 'Purple EP' is definitely more in that same vein, with dark, cultish lyrical undertones, a killer album cover, and awesome grooves. I look forward to Part II.

Nice!