Down III: Over the Under

Down’s third record touches on the recent tragic events of the members’ lives. The all-star metal band, which includes vocalist Phil Anselmo (formerly of Pantera and Superjoint Ritual), bassist Rex Brown (also from Pantera), Pepper Keenan (guitarist/vocalist for Corrosion of Conformity), Kirk Windstein (guitarist/vocalist for Crowbar) and drummer Jimmy Bower (Crowbar, Superjoint Ritual, Eyehategod), hail from New Orleans. Over the Under (the band’s first release since 2001’s Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow) has some powerful lyrics and excellent guitar work that fall nothing short of the expectations. Anselmo describes the aftermath of hurricane Katrina in “On March the Saints,” and he painfully talks about the sad fate of former bandmate and ex-Pantera guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell as well as the falling out between the two on “Mourn.” Down played an excellent show at the Senator Theatre recently—perhaps the best concert I’ve seen there—going through a flawless set of songs from all three records. Any real fan of metal that missed it should be regretting it right about now.