Down

Apparently, you can’t keep former Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo from doing what he does best for very long. Following the shocking murder of former bandmate Dimebag Darrell, Anselmo and the rest of the New Orleans band were forced to endure the devastation and displacement wrought by Katrina less than a year later, not to mention personal demons and complicated back surgery. The result is a new album that throws new shades of positivity (and melody) into Anselmo’s distinctly extreme brand of determination. Side project no more, Down has an all-star cast with veterans from Pantera, Corrosion of Conformity, Eyehategod, and Anselmo’s apeshit Superjoint Ritual focusing on bluesier riffs, midtempo grooves and general restraint while channeling the intensity of their other bands.

Down TV footage: