blabbermouth.net Ste of PMT conducted an interview with DOWN guitarist Bobby Landgraf at this year's edition of the Bloodstock Open Air festival, which was held August 7-10 at Catton Hall, Walton-On-Trent, West Midlands, United Kingdom. You can now watch the chat below. Bobby joined DOWN last fall as the replacement for Kirk Windstein, who left the band to focus on CROWBAR. A longtime "family" member, stage manager, and HONKY guitarist, Landgraf "was immediately at home," according to DOWN singer Philip Anselmo, and contributed to the songwriting process for the band's latest EP, "Down IV - Part Two", which was released on May 13 via Down Records/ADA Music. "Bobby had always been that guy 'in case of anything," Anselmo explained. "Knowing his personality, he really locked in with what we do and took it to heart. He made himself belong. Honestly, the first day he came down he contributed a very strong riff to a key song. There's that Southern element, which is imperative. I also catch a real old heavy metal vibe from this record. I can't stress this enough. He took it all on, and he did a fucking awesome job." DOWN guitarist Pepper Keenan added, "Even with the lineup differences, it's interesting how the songs still sound very DOWN. "Bobby and I have always locked in. It's not just physically either, but mentally as well. We see eye-to-eye, and he's been watching for a long time." "It was a big deal for me," beamed Landgraf. "I drove ten hours up from Texas that first day, cracked a beer, and plugged in. We jumped right into the room, and I played this part. They all smiled. That was the moment for me. "I'm a longtime fan, and I knew we were friends, but being a part of the writing and working towards something together was just incredible. "As a guitar player, one of my goals was to be in a group like this. I want to make everyone proud." "Down IV - Part Two" sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 23 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous EP, "Down IV Part I - The Purple EP", opened with around 12,000 units in September 2012 to land at No. 35. Interview:

[caption id="attachment_3706" align="alignnone" width="517"] Photo By Gary Wolstenholme[/caption] More Photos Here at Gary's website. Pepper Keenan from Down Interview by BloodstockFestival Down_Lysergic_Live at Bloodstock 2014 by BloodstockFestival Down_Witchtripper_Live at Bloodstock 2014 by BloodstockFestival Down_Bury_Live at Bloodstock 2014 by BloodstockFestival Here is the full set list: Eyes of the South We Knew Him Well Hogshead/Dogshead Witchtripper Lifer Lysergik Funeral Procession Pillars of Eternity Hail the Leaf Ghosts Along the Mississippi Conjure Losing All Stone the Crow Bury Me in Smoke

  To the DOWN Brotherhood! Here’s your chance to come SAIL WITH US TO COZUMEL FOR FREE on Motörhead’s Motörboat! Click through to to be entered for FREE!!

And he says Down aren't planning to record the next in their series of EPs until next spring. Keenan last worked with COC in 2010. He never officially left the band, although the current lineup of Reed Mullin, Woody Weatherman and Mike Dean released their IX, their second album without him, in June. Speaking ahead of Down's headline appearance at Bloodstock last night, Keenan told TeamRock: "The old COC thing's been coming up a lot. We're talking to Reed and Woody about getting that going. "That's going to take a lot of attention. We're talking about just going to Europe and playing shows as the Deliverance four-piece, and starting from there to get it back together." The Down Part II EP was released in May, following the first six-tracker in 2012. And Keenan reports the supergroup are in no rush to get to work on the third, saying: "We're just getting our feet wet on this thing. We've got a ways to go on this EP; it's got strong legs on it. We're going to keep pounding it out." Work won't begin until 2015, he predicts: "We're going to start writing in February, start putting the pieces in place." Keep up to date with Metal Hammer's live Bloodstock coverage at MetalHammer.com, on Facebook and via Twitter. Stay tuned for details of aMetal Hammer Show Bloodstock special from TeamRock Radio. A live video stream is available all weekend via Dailymotion.

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Nola.com Phil Anselmo's public persona is not generally described as "funny." As the lead shouter of a succession of extreme hard rock bands – the Illegals, Down and, most famously, Pantera – the heavily tattooed frontman comes across as intense, angry, driven, even frightening. Not surprisingly, he is a big fan of boxing and horror movies. But friends and associates say Anselmo is actually hilarious. Chris Lee, the Supagroup guitarist and singer turned web series producer, is married to Sean Yseult, the former White Zombie bassist. Yseult and Anselmo have been friends since Pantera and White Zombie toured together in the '90s. When Lee first met Anselmo, "I had no idea what to expect. I found out he's the funniest guy I've ever met. Fall-down-laughing funny." The previously unknown comedic side of Phil Anselmo is on full display in "Metal Grasshopper," a web series produced and directed by Lee. "Metal Grasshopper" follows the misadventures of a budding hard rock star, played by comedian, radio host, author and musician Dave Hill, as he seeks guidance from a metal mentor, aka Anselmo. On Wednesday, July 23, Hill will perform a stand-up routine at One Eyed Jacks, preceded by local comedians Andrew Polk, Fayard Lindsey, and Molly Ruben-Long. The live comedy show, presented by the Hell Yes Fest comedy festival, is followed by a sneak preview screening of an episode of "Metal Grasshopper." Lee will then curate a question-and-answer session with Anselmo and Hill. "Metal Grasshopper" was originally developed by Lee and Hill – a contributor to the syndicated radio show "This American Life," and host of "The Goddam Dave Hill Show" on WFMU-FM in New Jersey -- in conjunction with former writers for The Onion who had moved on to the Adult Swim channel. At first, they didn't know if Anselmo would want to "tarnish his reputation" by making fun of metal clichés. "But tarnish it, he wanted to," Lee said. "He came on board immediately." "Metal Grasshopper" is, at its core, a hard rock, f-bombed spoof of "The Karate Kid." Anselmo is the Mr. Miyagi mentor figure; Hill is the Ralph Macchio-like "Kid" in need of instruction. Hill and Anselmo play "extreme, ridiculous versions of ourselves," Hill said. "I'm a naïve guy who traveled a great distance to be schooled by the master." ’Metal Grasshopper’ Comedy Show

Summer Promotion! Pick up DOWN IV Part II at an FYE record store near you! From now until August 10th the EP will be sale priced. Pick up your copy and get a free Epitaph Records sampler with your purchase! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FYE Twitter: @officialfye Instagram: officialfye http://www.fye.com/

Metal Hammer Pick up the latest issue of Metal Hammer and check out the "I Love..." feature with Pepper Keenan on Led Zeppelin. Here's an excerpt: They blew everyone's mind, man... "The first time I heard Zeppelin I'd just won a contest: we had to fight for a greased watermelon in a swimming pool at summer camp. I was nine. I got a gift certificate for a record store in New Orleans, so i purchased Houses Of The Holy on cassette...and that was the end of that! I became a massive Zeppelin freak from there.

Blabbermouth.net [caption id="attachment_3661" align="alignnone" width="638"] Philip H. Anselmo[/caption] Professionally filmed video footage of PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS — the band led by former PANTERA and current DOWN frontman Philip Anselmo — performing on July 4 at the Roskilde Festival in Roskilde, Denmark can be seen below.Anselmo is currently touring Europe with his backup band THE ILLEGALS — guitarist Marzi Montazeri (ex-SUPERJOINT RITUAL), drummer José Manuel Gonzales (WARBEAST) and bassist Steve Taylor.Anselmo's career-first solo album, "Walk Through Exits Only", sold around 8,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 35 on The Billboard 200 chart. Produced by Anselmo and Michael Thompson, and recorded over a couple of years at Philip's New Orleans studio, Nodferatu's Lair, "Walk Through Exits Only" is abrasive, aggressive, anthemic and 100% Anselmo. According to Anselmo, he worked on an estimated 15-17 songs for "Walk Through Exits Only", which was issued via his own Housecore Records (MRI/Megaforce) "I could've put on any number (of songs) I wanted, but for me, these eight songs all together, 40-something minutes, that's my idea of a proper listening length," he told Billboard.com. "When you start to get longer, it gets a little redundant and boring, and I didn't want to bore anybody."

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Check out the Philip Anselmo video backstage at Download Festival.  

Check out the video of DOWN performing "We Knew Him Well" filmed on location in Austin, TX by Mike Holderbeast and the Cement Level Crew: William Holderby Sr.,Caro Bab, Robert Major and Ryan..Audio recorded and mastered by Steven W. Richardson..Special thanks to Mr. Bruce Corbitt. Check out Mike Holderbeast’s YouTube channel for a slew of pro-shot videos of Down. Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals, and much more… click here.

[caption id="attachment_3626" align="alignleft" width="390"] Pepper Keenan[/caption] Chilling at home before touring with DOWN, Pepper Keenan proves rock is still dangerous as he changes a power-saw blade while talking to TG. I got my first real six string..."I acquired my guitar when I was 14 years old. A friend of mine, who was 16, was trying to outrun the police on a motorcycle and got killed in an accident. He was a good friend of mine, and he had passed away and the funeral was done I went and snuck into the house when his mom wasn't there and took the guitar. I figured he would have wanted me to have it. It was just some Japanese no-name thing: it wasnt worth a lot, but it was worth a lot to me. I was playing Ramones songs and basic punk rock stuff back then" Pick up the July issue of Total Guitar to read the full article.

Rocknreelreviews.com About a year and a half ago I had the opportunity to review the official fourth Down release which was the first part of their EP collection. ‘The Purple EP’ as it was dubbed, was a difficult release not to award maximum marks on the website!! It brought every aspect of the Down sound into a concise tight little 6 track package and showed that Down had found the perfect avenue to put out further releases. Things have moved on since then though!! Founding member and uber riff writer Kirk Windstein has since left the group to focus exclusively on his other band, the mighty Crowbar, which had left me worried as to how any future release might sound. I love Pepper Keenan but those two collectively are responsible for some of the finest southern riffs ever written and I genuinely thought this new EP might suffer from the lack of Windstein….Oh how I was wrong. If it is even at all possible…Down IV Part II is even fucking better!! And without going track to track like I did on the previous release, allow me to tell you exactly why I think this album is a superior release to Down IV Part I. Firstly the riff are so much more sludgy and doomy and without actually speaking to the band themselves, I am not sure if Pepper was the sole riffer here…if so I can’t wait to hear him on a future Corrosion of Conformity release. The riffs are so much more heavy and southern doom than I expected. If you check out the opening riff in Steeple you’ll see exactly what I mean, almost like a southern Slayer meets Type O Negative. Phil Anselmoonce again delivers a truly excellent vocal performance (how this man is still delivering the goods at his ages is mindboggling). We Knew Him Well is one of the heaviest tracks Down have ever written with a main riff so crushingly heavy that just the thought of headbaning to it gives me whiplash!! It’s like a monolithic version of old school doom but with that groove that only this southern band can deliver. The longer tracks on this EP are where the band OWN the fuck out of this EP though!! Bacchanalia is such a wonderfully classic stoner metal anthem. And Conjure by contrast is a Black Sabbath fuelled almost dirge styled doom metal song. The production on this EP is once again the thing that ultimately more than assists the songs. It has an almost practice room like rawness that coupled with the generally crushing sounding guitar tone, makes it overall what you hope for and expect from a Down release. Jimmy is solid on the drumming and even pushes himself out with a few comfort zones we have seen him use on the past two releases. Patrick has come into his own on the bass, demonstrating a bit more in the way of prowess than the previous EP. And finally, as always, Pepper andPhil just show up and steal the show for sure!! This EP is possibly my favourite Down release since NOLA, I think I made the same claim on Down IV Part I, but it really is that fucking good!! So when I recently read that Phil stated the band were only ever going to do the EP format from now on…I’m right there with you brother!!!

Iconic PANTERA and DOWN vocalist Philip Anselmo joined KILL DEVIL HILL, the band featuring his former PANTERA and DOWN bandmate Rex Brown on bass, on stage at the Download festival yesterday (Sunday, June 15) at Donington Park in Leicestershire, United Kingdom to perform the PANTERA classic "Mouth For War". Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below. As previously reported, Brown joined Anselmo later in the day at Download for a renditoion of PANTERA's "A New Level".Philip Anselmo and KILL DEVIL HILL performing "Mouth For War":  

Philip talks about keeping festival concerts unique with “blasts from the past”, and how he hates rock stars. Philip also touches on heavy metal genres and sub-genres, and how the headlining power of festivals could be safe in the hands of surprising new bands or quite possibly reunions of older more established bands. Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals are touring Europe! Get Tour Dates and Info HERE.

Robert Pasbani of Metal Injection conducted an interview with former PANTERA and current DOWN singer Philip Anselmo on May 10 at Best Buy Theater in New York City. You can watch the chat below.

A must watch review of DOWN IV - Part Two EP.

Get Tickets HERE! PLEASE NOTE: Pricing and stateroom options are available on Motörhead's Motörboat web site at www.motorheadcruise.com. Selecting a cabin here will not offer you a different price.

blogs,dallasobserver.com by Christian McPhate DOWN With Black Label Society, Butcher Babies, and Devil You Know Verizon Theatre, Grand Prairie Friday, May 23, 2014   Ten-year-old Jacob Trueblood had been waiting to meet Phil Anselmo all night. He'd been telling his mom that he wanted to give him a hug. He's been listening to Pantera and DOWN for several years now. He has their t-shirts and dozens of their photos saved on the computer. He even dressed up as Dimebag Darrell on Halloween. Tonight, he took a pen and wrote "UNSCARRED" on his stomach just like Anselmo's tattoo. But standing on stage with his hero was something he never expected. The Verizon Wireless Center in Grand Prairie was packed this evening, Friday night, and a sea of moving bodies surged in the pit as DOWN stirred the crowd into the frenzy as "special guests" of the Revolver Golden Gods Tour. The headliner was Black Label Society, joined by opening acts the Butcher Babies, a band fronted by two she-devils, and Devil You Know, a new act featuring lead singer Howard Jones formerly of Killswitch Engage. But the true stars of the night were DOWN and their young fan. Unafraid, Trueblood stood before the crowd, holding the microphone. And when the band started playing "Walk" by Pantera, he did what he normally does when he hears the song: he sang his heart out. "Re-spect/ Walk!/What do you say?" he sang, looking down at the crowd and up at his hero. It was hard for him not to look at him. He'd been listening to Pantera in his mom's car since he was two years old. And now he was living the dream and earning the respect of Anselmo and guitarist Pepper Keenan. "He might be the coolest kid in the world," said Kennan. Anselmo noticed Trueblood sitting on his uncle's shoulder near the corner of the pit and motioned for him to come onstage. He was banging his head like a true metalhead, displaying a Pantera T-shit with the words "20 Years Beyond Driven" written on the front. The crowd parted for him as he walked confidently toward the stage. "Everybody was being really respectful," said his mother afterwards. "It was a dream come true." Anselmo, too, looked like a mentor teaching his student as he motioned for Trueblood to roar with all that his small body could muster. Trueblood leaned his head back, held up the microphone and roared. "Walk!" The crowd echoed his call. He looked like a kid who'd fit right in with Dime's Little Kids Who Rock foundation. It's not hard to imagine that In a few more years, he'll be rocking the stage like Wylde and Anselmo who bumped fists with him after he finished his roar. Later in the night, the crowd would raise their fists and yell when Anselmo returned to the stage at the end of Black Label Society's set with Rex Brown while Zakk Wylde played the opening licks to "I'm Broken." From my vantage point, one could almost imagine Vinnie Paul on drums as Wylde paid homage to his fallen brother. Dime would have been proud. But the best part of the night was when he gave a hug to his hero. Anselmo smiled, returned the hug and then raised Trueblood's arms up like the champion he was. It was a feeling of respect, of friendship, of brotherhood that permeated throughout the evening as DOWN dominated the stage. It was their last night of the tour, and it felt like Dime was with us the entire evening, especially when Zakk Wylde and Black Label Society invaded the stage with a wall of guitar amps behind them. The metal roaring that night was far beyond driven.

DOWN Keeps The EPs Coming Phil Anselmo and Band Mates Discuss their Latest Disc and Kirk Windstein's Departure When DOWN - the New Orleans-based doom-metal band fronted by Phil Anselmo - announced in Jun 2011 that their next project would be a series of four separate EP's released in relatively quick succession, skepticism in the hard-music community ran high. After all, the group had released only three studio albums in the 12 previous years, four new EP's would surely take them an enternity.   So far, it would seem, Anselmo and Co. are living up to their end of the bargain. The first EP, Down IV - Part I, was released in September 2012, and the second, DOWN IV - Part Two, has just seen the light of day. Pick up the July issue of Guitar World to read the full article.

blogs.dallasobserver.com Phil Anselmo is known by many things in the metal community. He's been called "fucking brutal" when he takes the stage and the "Evel Kneivel" of heavy metal because of all his stage injuries. To some, he's a brother and a tough guy; to others, he's an asshole whom they'll only cross once. But one name stands above the rest: a legend. It's a title that he earned fronting two of the biggest names in metal: New Orleans-based metal super group Down and, of course, the legendary Pantera. But it was Anselmo's tough guy persona mixed with his throaty rasp and falsetto screams that helped to establish the Arlington boys in Pantera as an unstoppable metal force throughout the '90s and early 2000s. He was like an evil Superman soaring across the stage. And it's the same attitude that he'll be unleashing on Friday, May 23, when his band Down appears with Black Label Society as part of the Revolver Gold Gods Tour at the Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie. "I'm always looking forward to coming back to the DFW area," says Anselmo. "It's my second home. I love the people. And I think the area has probably one of the most unbelievable talent pools. I mean think about it: Mike Scaccia and Dimebag Darrell came from the same fucking place. That's magic, Jack. That's something that doesn't happen twice." In the '80s, Pantera was a prominent glam band in the DFW metal scene. Guitarist Diamond Darrell, drummer Vinnie Paul, bassist Rex Brown and singer Terrance Stamp were known for their stage show and crotch metal attire, silken jump suits and big hair. It wasn't until the band discovered thrash metal from the likes of Exodus, Slayer and Metallica that another form of magic would lead them to Anselmo. Anselmo joined the band in the late '80s and brought a level of horror and depth to the band's music, creating some of metal's most notable songs, like "Cowboys from Hell," "I'm Broken" and "Walk." The guys traded their jumpsuits for jeans and t-shirts, Diamond changed his name to Dimebag, and they soared to stardom in the early '90s. Anselmo's public life has been full of controversy from a back injury that led to an addiction and cost him his band Pantera and nearly his life, to his public dispute with Dimebag and Vinnie Paul, fueled in part by the music media. Anselmo is a survivor who took his new lease on life and created Housecore Records to promote metal bands like local favorites Warbeast, a band that includes former members of Gammacide and Rigor Mortis. It was while living with bassist Rex Brown and "a bunch of crazy motherfuckers" in the DFW area in the '90s when Anselmo first came across a Rigor Mortis' demo. "I popped it in and pretty much stole it," he says. "I loved it." Shortly after, he met the local metal legends: singer Bruce Corbitt, guitarist Mike Scaccia, bassist Casey Orr and drummer Harden Harrison. "They were killer," he recalls. Sadly, Scaccia died of a heart attack while playing onstage at The Rail Club in December 2012. Down will be headlining the "Rock the Heart" benefit show on Saturday, May 24, at Emo's in Austin. Proceeds will benefit the Mike Scaccia Heart Rock Foundation. In 1991, Anselmo formed Down with longtime friends Pepper Keenan of Corrosion of Conformity, Kirk Windstein and Todd Strange of Crowbar and Jimmy Bower of Eyehategod. Inspired by bands like Black Sabbath, the metal supergroup created a sludge metal sound that drew an almost cult-like following. Their first release was NOLA, which one fan to described as like, "smoking NOLA chronic while playing a drop-D guitfiddle. It's metal." They followed with Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow (2002), Down III: Over the Under (2007) and Down IV Part 1 - The Purple EP (2012). Their current release,Down IV Part 2, hit internet shelves on May 13. "For me, I think the songs are better," says Anselmo. "I think some of the stuff from the first EP were stuff left over from 2006. Shit like that. We got the material. We may as well release it and let people have it. But on the new EP, everything is really organic and off the cuff." There's also been a change in the lineup. Rex Brown of Pantera replaced Strange on bass and stayed with the band until 2010, when a bout with pancreatitis and personal issues forced him to leave the band. He was replaced by Patrick Bruders. Then in 2013, guitarist Kirk Windstein quit the band, and longtime guitar technician Bobby Landgraf slid into his spot. "For the core members left in Down -- Jimmy, Pepper and myself -- who've been writing Down songs since 1991, to have guys like that [join the band], it's like a new lease on the whole Down vibe," he says. "it's great shit, man." This "great shit" includes new tracks like "We Knew Him Well," a song that takes brutality to the next level, and "Bacchanalia," which offers something unexpected to fans: a mellower, more laid back tune. And the third installment of Down IV, explains Anselmo, may be more ambitious with textures and sounds. "I kind of like to paint a picture, so to speak, create an atmosphere," he says of his song writing. "I never like to spoon-feed the listener and tell them exactly what songs were about or anything like that. I like people to read into them. Take away from it what they take away from it. Then, honestly, hear about it later, what their concepts are. It's like, 'Wow, I never thought about it like that.'" Touring to support their new EP with Black Label Society has also offered fans another unexpected surprise when Anselmo joined his BLS brothers onstage to pay homage to his fallen brother Dimebag by singing a Pantera classic, "I'm Broken." "There's a pretty good percentage [chance that it will happen in Dallas], but then again you never know," says Anselmo. "Every show is a little different, brother." He says that it was BLS front man Zakk Wylde who first invited him to join them onstage. "Since we've been out here, it has been spur of the moment. We don't want to do the same fucking thing every fucking night. But I'll say Black Label Society has a pretty fucking good professional sound going on, and for them to throw down Pantera, they deserve some credit learning how to play the song and playing the fuck out of it." DOWN opens for Black Label Society with Devil You Know and Butcher Babies, 6:30 p.m., Friday, May 23, at Verizon Theatre, 1001 Performance Pl., Grand Prairie, $29.50 - $35.00

DOWN's new EP, "Down IV - Part Two", sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 23 on The Billboard 200 chart. The band's previous EP, "Down IV Part I - The Purple EP", opened with around 12,000 units in September 2012 to land at No. 35. "Down IV - Part Two" was released on May 13 via Down Records/ADA Music. Tracked at Nodferatu's Lair — iconic vocalist Philip H. Anselmo's home studio — and produced by Michael Thompson, Anselmo and DOWN, the new EP is the eagerly anticipated sequel to "Down IV - Part One". The new offering from DOWN is packed with the quintet's signature gargantuan riffs, swamp blues leads, crashing drums and hypnotic howls, upholding a certain tradition that countless fans celebrate, expanding their own musical mythos as they leave its pillars intact and untouched. In support of the new record, DOWN is taking its renowned live show on the road this spring, joining BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and DEVIL YOU KNOW on a North American tour. The tour, which also includes DOWN headlining shows and festival appearances, began at Iron City in Birmingham, Alabama on May 2, and will end at Rocklahoma in Pryor, Oklahoma on May 25. The run also includes an appearance on May 24 at Emo's in Austin at the "Rock the Heart" concert, a benefit for the late Mike Scaccia's (RIGOR MORTIS, MINISTRY) "Heart Rock" foundation, with the goal of raising awareness about heart disease. When Anselmo, Pepper Keenan, Jimmy Bower, Pat Bruders, and Bobby Landgraf retreated to Nodferatu's Lair at Anselmo's Lousiana home in the fall of 2013, things had changed a bit. For the first time in the band's storied career, Kirk Windstein wouldn't be handling guitar duties alongside Keenan. Instead, longtime "family" member, stage manager, and HONKY guitarist Landgraf took the reins. "He was immediately at home," affirms Anselmo. "Bobby had always been that guy in case of anything. Knowing his personality, he really locked in with what we do and took it to heart. He made himself belong. Honestly, the first day he came down he contributed a very strong riff to a key song. There's that Southern element, which is imperative. I also catch a real old heavy metal vibe from this record. I can't stress this enough. He took it all on, and he did a fucking awesome job." Keenan adds, "Even with the lineup differences, it's interesting how the songs still sound very DOWN. Bobby and I have always locked in. It's not just physically either, but mentally as well. We see eye-to-eye, and he's been watching for a long time." "It was a big deal for me," beams Landgraf. "I drove ten hours up from Texas that first day, cracked a beer, and plugged in. We jumped right into the room, and I played this part. They all smiled. That was the moment for me. I'm a longtime fan, and I knew we were friends, but being a part of the writing and working towards something together was just incredible. As a guitar player, one of my goals was to be in a group like this. I want to make everyone proud." The fans will undoubtedly take pride in this collection as well. Making good on DOWN's promise of a series of EPs, the second installment sees a pronounced progression amongst the individuals themselves as well. "We wanted to back up our word as far as releasing these EPs," Anselmo goes on. "Everybody was fixated on that. This is the shortest period of time between our releases, and every one stepped it up and upped his game. Keenan, Bower, Bruders and Landgraf all contributed some excellent riffs. Having all of this fresh input makes for a different listen and a new perspective on what DOWN should and does sound like. All of that yields a unique record off the bat." For the future, DOWN's sights are set on endless touring. Landgraf made his formal stage debut when the band headlined Anselmo's first annual Housecore Horror Film Festival in front of a packed audience of the faithful in October 2013. Now, it's just about bringing that inimitable sound everywhere possible. "Down IV - Part Two" track listing: 01. Steeple 02. We Knew Him Well 03. Hogshead/Dogshead 04. Conjure 05. Sufferer's Years 06. Bacchanalia DOWN's official video for the song "We Knew Him Well" can be seen below. The clip, which features the band tearing up the track in close quarters, was directed by JM Stelly and produced by Chris Trainor for LabProductions. Stelly previously worked with TO KILL A PARTY and Jason Martin while Trainor has collaborated with GWAR, PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, Discovery's "Sons Of Guns", and is the producer of Housecore TV.  

The VIP Meet & Greet photos from the May 2014 tour are being posted to the site as they come in from the road. Due to logistics of being on the road it takes a bit longer to get the photos. Please hang tight if you don't see your show posted as it will be posted soon. Meet & Greet Photos can be found by clicking on "Photo Galleries" under the "Media" tab. From there click on Meet & Greet photos. Here's a direct link: MEET & GREET PHOTOS HERE. Thanks for being patient!

blabbermouth.net

Blabbermouth.net [caption id="attachment_2662" align="alignnone" width="526"] Jimmy Bower, Philip Anselmo[/caption] On May 2, Jake Serd of the band DEGRADE THE SIGNAL and Centrill 74 Entertainment conducted an interview with Philip Anselmo (DOWN, PANTERA) for 94.9 K-Rock in Birmingham, Alabama during DOWN's Revolver Golden Gods Tour with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, DEVIL YOU KNOW and BUTCHER BABIES. A few excerpts from the chat follow below. 94.9 K-Rock: The new [DOWN] album/EP ["Down IV - Part Two"] will be released May 13th. Anything you guys did differently on this one? Any new formula? Philip: Well, obviously, Kirk Windstein [guitar] isn't with us anymore. For DOWN, that's a big deal. However, we totally respect what he had to do and he wants to concentrate on CROWBAR. I love him with all of my heart. [The new DOWN guitarist Bobby Landgraf is] a guy that has worked with us for almost a decade. We've been on the road together and toured together. He's an insanely great guitar player. He fits like a glove. He was always that guy that was there just in case Pepper [Keenan, guitar] or Kirk got ill or couldn't make the gig. He was the fill-in guy. Luckily, that never happened. To have him come in was absolutely a breath of fresh air. He contributed riff-wise right off the bat. I've got to say… This is Pat [Bruders], our bass player's second go at it as far as recording. He did the first EP with us. Pat has stepped it up and brought up these riffs. To have these new riffs made the record. It made the whole experience enjoyable, in my opinion. 94.9 K-Rock: The first single is titled "We Knew Him Well". If you would, talk about that track and the meaning behind it. Philip: Well… I'm not going to spoonfeed the listener. With DOWN, I have the option to be very obscure with the lyrics. What I like to do is create lyrics that hopefully create imagery in someones head when they listen to it and read the lyrics. So, as far as any deep meaning goes… fuck yeah, I definitely have my own opinion on what it is and who it's about. I think people should listen to it and come to their own assumptions. Make it fit for their fucking life and go from there. I will let you know that…. the main riff, the first riff is Bobby's. The second riff is Jimmy's [Bower, drums]. And that's all I'm giving ya right there! That's a Bower riff! 94.9 K-Rock: Any upcoming plans after this touring cycle to do any side projects? SUPERJOINT [RITUAL]? Philip: No side projects… but I'm definitely working on the new ILLEGALS [Philip's solo band] record. It's a treacherous, hideous, relentless, and fucking extreme. Right now, I'll just say that it's in its skeletal formation. Some bones may be missing in the skeleton, but once I get that skeleton together and start adding each organ one by fucking one, it's going to be an interesting record. 94.9 K-Rock: What made you guys lean more towards an EP release [with the new DOWN]? Philip: The question of the fucking decade! Everyone's attention span these days is a little shorter. Honestly, for me, doing a full-length record is a thing of the past. I'm not doing it again. It's boring. If I can concentrate on making five or six songs the best I can, that's the way I would prefer to release it. There's several reasons for DOWN. On the first three records, it took us five years between every record to put them out, so doing it in the EP formula helps us get it quicker to people. Not so much stress on everyone. At the end of the day, DOWN is still made up of a bunch of other bands. The new EYEHATEGOD is coming out and Jimmy is going to be busy with that. Pat does a lot of grindcore stuff. Pepper does all kinds of stuff. I do the ILLEGALS and run the record label and all. We all realize every one of us has other things…. but when it's DOWN time, it's DOWN time. We all commit. 94.9 K-Rock: Recently you released the 20th anniversary [reissue] of [PANTERA's] "Far Beyond Driven". Does it feel like it was that long ago? Philip: Honestly, for me, it does feel like it was a long ways away, but then again, some days it feels like it was yesterday. It's a little bit of both. For all of the hoopla over the success of PANTERA, there's no fucking way… and don't get me wrong… [PANTERA] was the tightest band I've ever played with in my entire life. Unbelievable musicians who could do any fucking thing they wanted with their instruments. That's very rare and unique. At the end of the day, I would give all praise and love in my heart to the fans. The PANTERA audience. They are unique… steadfast… brutal… unforgiving… and loyal as loyal gets. Lifers. 94.9 K-Rock: Any communication between you and the other PANTERA guys or was it all through management? Philip: We are all attached via e-mail. I don't answer back much unless there's a decision or they need an answer from me on if something is cool or whatever. Rex [Brown, bass] and I keep in touch. I love Rex. I love Vinnie [Paul Abbott, drums]. I love them both. Vince is the captain of his ship right now and he does what he does. I'm not going to judge a man by his life or decisions. I've got my own fucking ship to steer. Rex and I are in contact. I respect Vince and his decisions. Love is the law. Love under will.

Blabbermouth.net

During a brand new interview with the Lubbock, Texas radio station 94.5 FMX, DOWN guitarist Pepper Keenan spoke about his current status with CORROSION OF CONFORMITY and whether he ever plans on doing anything with that band ever again. "The C.O.C. thing is still a pretty big part of my life and a big part of where I came from and how I got here," he said (hear audio below). "So the questions always come up all the time [about whether I will do something with C.O.C. again]. We are getting closer to solving that. Everybody is talking. We've had offers from a lot of different promoters all over the place. It's just a matter of [finding the] time [to do it right], you know, and not doing it half-assed. It has to be real. I'm not gonna jump into it for a paycheck. We all talk and we wanna get together and start writing and see what happens." Fan-filmed video footage of DOWN performing the CORROSION OF CONFORMITY classic "Albatross" on May 9 at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey can be seen below. Keenan is still considered to be a member of CORROSION OF CONFORMITY but is not involved in the reunion of C.O.C.'s "Animosity" lineup, which was resurrected in 2010 and has been recording and touring ever since. Keenan joined CORROSION OF CONFORMITY in 1990, but he did not become the band's lead singer until the recording of "Deliverance", which came out in 1994. In a 2012 interview with Blistering.com, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY bassist/vocalist Mike Dean was asked if the band will ever do anything with Pepper again. "There's no firm plans, but there is a firm desire to make it happen," he said. "We had a really good time doing 'In The Arms Of God' and I'm really proud of that album. The only thing missing was Reed [Mullin]. I thought Stanton Moore did a great job. If you're not going to have your original drummer, then it's novel to get someone who's flamboyant to do their take on it. I thought that was a good move. I came away from that thinking that if we had this level of creativity and also had Mullin… that would be a bonus. But yeah, I hope we don't just get that lineup together for shows or 'Deliverance' nostalgia shows, but get it together with the idea of putting out a record. There's some controversy to doing the three-piece. People are like, "Oh my God, no Pepper!" People haven't even heard it and complain. I'm like, "Complain on, you'll see!" There's a good story behind this version, and there would be a good story behind doing the four-piece again." Legacy Recordings, Sony Music Entertainment's catalog division, in 2010 released "Playlist: The Very Best Of Corrosion Of Conformity", a new CORROSION OF CONFORMITY best-of collection in the "Playlist" compilation albums series. CORROSION OF CONFORMITY's most recent studio album with Keenan, "In the Arms of God", came out in 2005 on Sanctuary Records. C.O.C.'s reunited "Animosity" lineup will release its new album, "IX", on June 24 via Candlelight Records. The CD was produced by the band and longtime comrade John Custer. Interview:  

  DOWN performing the CORROSION OF CONFORMITY classic "Albatross":   

Loudwire.com

Photos from NYC Below:

Kill Devil Hill were joined onstage by Down‘s Philip H Anselmo for a rendition of Pantera‘s “Mouth For War” during this past weekend’s ‘Rock On The Range‘ in Columbus, OH. The pairing of course served as a mini-Pantera reunion with ex-Pantera bassist Rex Brown being a member of Kill Devil Hill.

Mark Weiss sat down with Philip last Friday (May 9). Among other things, Philip touched on his influences, developing his vocal style, how seeing Agnostic Front when he was 15 changed is perspective on music, and how Kerry King helped Pantera down the path of thrash metal. Check out Mark Weiss on Facebook for great shots of Philip as well as a history of iconic rock and roll photos spanning decades.: For more interviews check out Rock Scene’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/rockscenemagazine Remaining Down dates for 2014 as of now (stay tuned for more!). 05/15/14 Pittsburgh, PA 05/16/14 Columbus, OH 05/17/14 Fort Wayne, IN 05/19/14 Sioux Falls, SD 05/20/14 Chicago, IL 05/21/14 Saint Paul, MN 05/23/14 Grand Prairie, TX 05/24/14 Austin, TX 05/25/14 Pryor, OK 08/01/14 Viveiro 08/03/14 Lokersen 08/05/14 Amsterdam 08/06/14 Uden 08/08/14 Derbyshire, UK 08/09/14 Jaromer 08/11/14 Majano (Udine) 08/12/14 Ravenna 08/14/14 Dinkelsbuehl 08/15/14 Le Locle

LoudWire.com Down are back with the second installment of a series of four EPs. ‘Down IV Part I: the Purple EP’ was released in 2012, and the follow up, ‘Down IV – Part II,’ is out today (May 13). The band is also currently on tour with Black Label Society. Loudwire spoke with frontman Philip Anselmo about the new Down EP, his solo project with his backing band the Illegals, his contribution to the upcoming Eyehategod album, this year’s Housecore Horror Film Festival and other topics. Check out our interview with the legendary Philip Anselmo below: You recently jumped on the Golden Gods tour with Black Label Society. How have the first few shows been? It is going well on my part. Obviously, I can do better. It’s always the first week blues working in the old throat. Going between the more death metal stylings of the Illegals back to quasi-Southern rock of Down is always kind of a challenge, but other than that, the crowds have been really over-the-top, great, amazing. The Black Label Society guys are fantastic. The two other bands on tour, the Butcher Babies and Devil You Know, everyone is cool as f–k. It’s laid back and intense at the same time. When you go into a Down tour, do you have to revisit the catalog and re-remember the lyrics or are they all in that memory bank forever? No, it’s not really that. It’s really the switchover of vocal styles. Me, at my elderly, frigging, date of expiration here, you’ve got to take care of the old voice. Really that is my only battle right now. Is it strange to look over to the side and not see Kirk Windstein there after all these years? To a degree. Bobby Landgraf is an incredible guitar player. He had worked for us doing the guitar teching and stuff like that before. He has always been on that side of the stage. It’s like déjà vu meets welcome to the band, brother. It’s not all that strange. Let us talk a little bit about the new EP, ‘Down IV – Part II.’ Would you consider it a continuation of the first EP, a sequel, or something completely different? I like to think of and approach each record as its own thing or its own album. It is its own thing. I feel real good about it. The songs came out as organically as possible. The sessions were incredibly diplomatic and democratic. Everybody added in their two cents and we went for it. To me it feels very good and unique. Does ‘Bacchanalia,’ the last track on the EP that ends in a laid back and mellow style, give a hint of the direction the third EP might go in? That is an interesting way to look at it. I can’t say no to that question because honestly I guess it would be a bit of a segue. The third installment of these four EPs may be a little more ambitious with textures and sounds that we might use. For me really, at the end of the day, it’s got to sound like Down. We are a band that has touched on using smoother tones, if you take a look at a song like ‘Stone the Crow’ or something like that. Of course, we have gone completely and 100 percent acoustic, as well, on several different albums. We have that flexibility, but I always battle with myself to think, if we put out an all acoustic record or a smooth rock record, would that be totally fair to Down fans? I’m not so sure. I think, yes, it will be more ambitious but there’s got to be some heaviness to it. Down at heart is a heavy metal band based on Black Sabbath worship. I think there will be signs of growth, but it has got to sound like Down and with that comes heaviness. Ambition and heaviness and the mood that we are in will dictate where that record takes us. After you wrap up this run in the U.S., you are headed over to Europe for a bunch of festivals. What is Down’s level of awareness and popularity over there as compared to North America? It’s interesting. The Europeans do not forget anything. Even flash in the pan bands here in the United States somehow have a pretty strong following in Europe. They are very educated in music, very passionate. We do very well over there and we are very well received. It seems like in the U.S. the past few years there has been a rise in festivals, like Rocklahoma or Rock on the Range. Do they compare at all to the European festivals? A festival is a festival is a festival. The Europeans have been doing it longer. They have some festivals that are just so massive and so well run. You have to include the awesome audiences. I can’t impress upon you how much passion they are toting around. It’s a tough comparison because I think that Down has a hardcore fan base worldwide and that definitely includes the United States. I always feel like Down is kind of a different band. If you round up say 100 bands, we stick out like a, I won’t say a sore thumb, but I will say a thumb. We stick out no matter what festival situation we may be in. It’s all fun to us. The Philip H. Anselmo & the Illegals album ‘Walk Through Exits Only’ has been out for a while now. Were you satisfied with the response? I thought it was a good response. It doesn’t matter how well established you are individually. If you are going to throw something brand new at your fan base, it is going to take a while for them to digest it all. I still think we are in the slow digesting mode because one record can only tell so much about a band. I’ve been writing a bunch of new stuff for the Illegals and being very, very conscious to make sure that it’s completely different, but still extreme at the same time. I think it’s going to take this next record and maybe even the next one after that for people to even be able to completely figure out what our intentions were on the first record. I have been through all this before with different bands. You have to prove yourself on that second record. When that comes out or when we are ready to put the sucker out, I will know more, you will know more, and we will go from there. Turning to the label side of things, your Housecore Records is getting ready to put out the Eyehategod album. What was your role in its recording? It’s a type of record where they did drums in one room, guitars in a different room, and when it came to vocals, that is where Mike IX Williams felt the most comfortable with working together with me. We work awesome together. We know this from doing a couple of Arson Anthem records together. Mike is very particular. He is very serious about what he does, especially when it comes to Eyehategod. When it comes to Eyehategod, I have been a fan since their first demo. I feel like I know them very well. Mike trusted me. We worked really well together on this thing. Honestly, I think it’s his best work. To be bold enough, I think it’s Eyehategod’s best record ever. I’m so proud of them and proud to be part of this. It goes beyond words. I don’t even know how to put it into words. It’s going to be a blast. I’m very proud to be part of it. That is all I can say. The first Housecore Horror Film Festival was a huge success. There was the recent announcement about the ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ cast reuniting at this year’s festival. What did you learn from last year’s event that you can apply to this year to make things bigger and better? Honestly, to not stress out on it as much. Year One was like, “Oh my God. What are we getting into here?” We saw how laid back everything was and how well set up it was. That relieved a whole lot of anxiety. I’m looking forward to it, yet still in my opinion we are in a lot of infantile stages as far as securing certain buildings and securing certain bands and making sure we get a gigantic library of different films. To me, it’s all still very much in the works and has a long way to go before I can feel absolutely comfortable about it. It is great to have the ‘Texas Chainsaw’ cast. Everyone that was a part of it that is still alive and kicking is going to come down and view this thing together for the first time. It is a lot of guys and gals that were in the actual film that have never sat down together and watched the whole original from front to back in one sitting. That is going to be really so unique and mind blowing for a horror freak like myself. It once again goes beyond words. We are working hard towards everything. You have a lot of irons in the fire. Anything else you have going on that you need to mention? I think we nailed everything. Whatever it may be, irons in the fire, there is always room in that fire. Just bring it on, man. Our thanks to Philip Anselmo for taking the time to chat with us. Pick up the new ‘Down IV – Part II’ EP at iTunes, and click here to see the band’s current tour dates.

Former PANTERA and current DOWN singer Philip Anselmo spoke to Artisan News about what is has been like joining Revolver Golden Gods tourmates BLACK LABEL SOCIETY on stage at the last couple of shows to perform the PANTERA classic "I'm Broken" as an encore. "It's like a special-occasion type of thing, you know?!" Anselmo said. "Being in throat for DOWN is a whole different thing than PANTERA, so it's, like…. Ahhhh…. "I wish I could do it every night, but… I can't. Alright, alright, alright… I would have to go to bed real early… I'm not doing myself any favors either chain smoking, so… "[Zakk and I have] been talking about it. We talked about it a few weeks before the tour. He's, like, 'Phil, which one you wanna do, bro?' And I'm, like, 'I'll let you decide there, Zachary.' But I heard them soundchecking, and I knew what they were working on, and it was a pleasure jumping up there. "Zakk, if he ain't one of the damn nicest motherfuckers in this rock and roll business, I don't know who is." During a September 2013 interview with Artisan News, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY mainman Zakk Wylde was asked about the possibility of a hypothetical PANTERA reunion with him filling in for the late "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott on guitar. "It'd be up to [former PANTERA members] Vinnie [Paul Abbott, drums], Phil and Rex [Brown, bass] — they're the guys that make everything happen," he said. "So if they were all gonna do it and honor Dimebag and [if they said to me], 'Zakk, would you wanna honor Dime and do Dime's parts?' Of course, I was a pallbearer for him — I laid him to rest — so, of course, I'd say, it would be a beautiful way to honor him and stuff like that. And to celebrate all things PANTERA and what they achieved. 'Cause they changed the game, as far as extreme metal goes. I mean, they're the kings of it. But it's up to the fellows. Then it would just be me woodsheddin' 25-8, learning all of Dime's parts, you know what I mean?! Yeah, but like I said, as far as I'm concerned, it would just be honoring Dime. Like with the Yankees, you honor… everybody's wearing Thurman Munson's '15' for that day, just because we're honoring Thurman's greatness. So it's the same thing, man." Asked about the likelihood of a PANTERA "reunion" with Wylde filling in for Dimebag, Vinnie Paul told the Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas radio station 97.1 The Eagle Rocks in March 2012: "I spent two hours with Zakk, sitting down — a really great talk about… [Zakk] calls [Dimebag] 'the old man.' I mean, [Zakk] and my brother were so tight. If [a PANTERA reformation] ever were to happen, [Zakk] would be the guy [to step in for Dimebag]. But I honestly think, out of respect for my brother, we should just leave the 14 amazing years PANTERA had be. We're all happy doing our own thing. We have to continue living and do other things." Dimebag's longtime girlfriend Rita Haney in 2011 called on Vinnie and Anselmo to settle their differences in honor of Dimebag, who was shot and killed by a crazed gunman while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at a Columbus, Ohio rock club in December 2004. Vinnie, who is Dimebag's brother, and Anselmo have not spoken since PANTERA split in 2003. But the relationship got even more acrimonious when Vinnie indirectly blamed Philip for Dimebag's death, suggesting that some remarks the vocalist had made about Dimebag in print just weeks earlier might have incited Dimebag's killer. Speaking to Fuse News, Anselmo said about the possibility of a PANTERA reunion with Wylde filling in for Dimebag: "For me, really, I think it would mean a lot for Rex and Vince and myself to sit down and, I guess, bury the hatchet where we can be on more friendly terms. And, you know, I think it would mean a lot to the fans." He added: "Without Vince, there's not any PANTERA reunion at all; it's useless. But he damn well knows my door's wide open. He needs to bust out the keys and unlock his, man. I'm waiting, but I'm not holding my breath."  

Billboard.com  

AS PHIL ANSELMO & CO. PREP THE MAY 13 RELEASE OF "DOWN IV - PART TWO," BILLBOARD EXCLUSIVELY PREMIERES THE VIDEO FOR THE SONG, "WE KNEW HIM WELL."

On the eve releasing "Down IV -- Part Two," the latest EP by the all-star metal group Down, frontman Phil Anselmo says he and his bandmates are more confident than ever in putting out new music in short bursts rather than full-fledged albums.    DOWN IV Part Two Is Available for download at iTunes: "Doing a whole record, especially with Down, it's very tricky," Anselmo tells Billboard. "It can be a limited thing, because it is [Black] Sabbath worship -- no secret there -- and maybe a little bit of Lynyrd Skynyrd. But there's a lot more. If you look at what we've done in the past, we've done metal songs, then we have songs like 'Stone the Crow.' We've done all acoustic songs, so by no means is it really limited. By doing these [EPs] each one can have its own personality and sound really different and show a different side of the Down. And this one, I honestly think it's better than the first installment by leaps and bounds, but I can't be the judge of all our music, really. That's up to the people and the fans, and I'm sure we'll be hearing all about it." Phil Anselmo Takes Solo Walk, Promises More New Songs Anselmo says the six songs on "Part Two" have "a very metal vibe. Obviously the Black Sabbath is there, but also I feel and hear a lot of Witchfinder General, which is a band I grew up adoring in the early 80s, so I took a lot of those influences and applied them here."

"It is [Black] Sabbath worship, no secret there." -Phil Anselmo on Down's influences. Tweet this

He adds that "everybody contributed really, really f*cking equally" to "Part Two;" bassist Patrick Bruder, Anselmo says, "really stepped up and offered some awesome riffs, while guitarist Bobby Landgraf, who joined last year to replace co-founder Kirk Windstein, "came in a breathed a new energy into the band that felt really good. To have a guy like that who's been close to the band and a fan of the band come in and give his perspective on what he things 'Part Two' should be was really good." And, Anselmo adds, most of the six songs on "Part Two" were "really new to us" rather than leftover or rehashed riffs. At the same time, he's looking forward to "Part Three," which has no set released date yet but which he predicts "will be maybe the most interesting departure, if I can use that word without getting screamed at by our fan base. I don't want to ever completely depart, but I think it'll probably be the most different of the whole batch of the (EPs)." Down is currently on the road with Black Label Society and also has festival dates booked for Rock on the Range on May 16, Rocklahoma on May 25 and Bloodstock in the U.K. on Aug. 8. Meanwhile, Anselmo -- who also rode herd over the 20th anniversary reissues of Pantera's "Far Beyond Driven" earlier this year and will host his second Housecore Horror Film Festival Oct. 23-26 in Austin, Texas -- is gearing up to make his second solo album, following last year's "Walk Through Exits Only" with his group the Illegals. "It's going to be hideous, horrific, hopefully unlistenable to a certain degree -- just very, very ugly," Anselmo predicts. "I'm squeezing in any time I can get for it; I have one month off in July, so maybe a week or so there, and then I'll probably get in another jam session before the holiday season totally consumes me and then definitely start working on it fresh and new with a different perspective probably early next year. I still get a lot out of making music; it still fucking does the trick for me, and I just adore it."

Watch the brand new video for "We Knew Him Well" - Watch it NOW! DOWN IV Part Two Is Available for download at iTunes: Order Exclusive Bundles (limited quantities and sizes remain) HERE:

When NOLA supergroup Down decided to forgo release of a new LP for a series of EPs, all that meant was more swamp-y, punishing riffs to go around. Let’s be fair, with the first EP clocking in at 33+ minutes and their new Down IV Part II EP clocking in over 35 minutes, it just means more Bower/Anselmo/Keenan/Bruders/Landgraf to go around. The band’s latest monster is, Part II is available now! Listen to the full EP on Spotify today. Order your copy and catch them on the road at the dates below.

Must watch video of Phil performing "Unbroken" with Black Label Society on May 10, 2014 in NYC.

MetalInjection.net   They were teasing this would happen and here we go, Zakk Wydle's Black Label Society invited Phil Anselmo on stage last night (May 8th) in Worcester, MA to jam on perhaps my favorite Pantera track, "I'm Broken." More dates for their current tour can be found here.

Check out some pics of DOWN by Mark Weiss taken on May 7th in Philly.  

Cackblabbath.com [caption id="attachment_2100" align="alignleft" width="400"] DOWN IV - Part Two EP[/caption] The E.P. route is doing the trick for Down. Although, for most of their career, they’ve been a side-project; they have been notoriously slow at delivering new material. So the conscious decision to just deal in E.P.s for a while seems to have spread the load a little and here we have part II of the planned four releases. Less than two years since the last one! Another release sees another line-up change as long-time beard of doom, Kirk Windstein, has departed to focus on Crowbar; so in comes Bobby Landgraf on guitar. Kirk will certainly be missed on the live circuit by Down fans, but here on the studio material it is pretty much business as usual for the NOLA riff machine. Pretty much business as usual in the sense that Down have delivered the goods once more. ‘Part II’ is not a straight forward continuation of ‘Part I’ however. CackBlabbath.com lauded the first instalment as “The best thing they’ve done since 1995′s N.O.L.A. by far” and the lead single ‘Witchtripper’ as “One of the best songs they have ever recorded.” So ‘Part II’ has a lot to live up to. There are some subtle differences in approach on this one. If ‘Part I’ was a step back to the primitive doom of the N.O.L.A. album, then ‘Part II’ goes even further towards the basic approach. There’s no big lead single to liken to ‘Witchtripper’ on here and the hooks and choruses have been exchanged for gritty and occasionally more aggressive material. ‘Part II’ sounds like a jam session from one of NOLA’s more extreme bands rather than it’s best-selling son. If you were to liken it to anything they’ve done before it would be somewhere close to ‘A Bustle in Your Hedgerow’. It’s a collection of abrasive and straight for the throat songs. They’re longer tunes however with ‘Conjure’ grinding a doomy path out for over eight minutes and the closer ‘Bacchanalia’ doing the same. It all turns out to be a little unexpected but equally thrilling record. Anyone second-guessing Down would probably have earmarked this E.P. to be some of the most commercial material to date. With headline festival performances lined-up and the general popularity of doomy bands at the moment; you may think they’d go all-out to be the kings of it all. ‘Part II’ doesn’t embrace that idea however. It’s a plunge into NOLA’s grimy backwaters, but they’re still the kings. This is a great addition to the Down catalogue.

MetalInjection.net Vocalist Phil Anselmo of Down was recently interview by Kerrang! Magazine, and to the best of my knowledge the word "Pantera" doesn't even show up once. Holy hell! Seriously though, Anselmo makes some good points in his interview, starting off by saying that he does not and has never considered himself to be a "rock star" because it "has ugly connotations to it." "Anyone who puffs up their chest because they wrote a song that people like needs to get smacked," he added. "I consider myself to be just another music nerd, like anyone else that's heavily into music. "I still collect music, I still seek out music, and yes, I've had some success in my career, but it's not like I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I've worked my ass off to get anything out of this, just like any other musician who started like I did at a young age. "With Down, we have a very hardcore audience that really love what we do. That's the fans' choice and I honor them, because without that, we would be zero. "Honestly, it's not my fault that I was in a very popular band at one point in my career." Anselmo also says that any media figure should be held more accountable for their actions because they're in the public view and need to be a role model of sorts, which I totally agree with. If you're going to be a douche, what kind of precedent does that set? I know that makes me "old' or whatever stupid word you're going to sling, but it's the truth. "I think that there's a responsibility to a certain degree. We should be held accountable because we grow up in the media's eyeball, and I guess people judge us from there. Everybody's different and every musician is different, and it's up to the fans to filter what they see in the press and the music itself. They need to ingest it and take it all in, and, at the end of the day, people have free will. They can follow or be inspired by anything or anybody." Phil Anselmo, he's a responsible adult that just wants to be a nerdy music nerd and set a good example. As if I didn't like the dude enough already.

Noisey.vice.com When NOLA supergroup Down decided to forgo release of a new LP for a series of EPs, all that meant was more swamp-y, punishing riffs to go around. Let's be fair, with the first EP clocking in at 33+ minutes and their new Down IV Part II EP clocking in over 35 minutes, it just means more Bower/Anselmo/Keenan/Bruders/Landgraf to go around. The band's latest monster is, Part II is due on May 13th, but checkout the exclusive stream right here on Noisey. Preorder your copy and catch them on the road at the dates below. Reminder, Jimmy Bower's new record with Eyehategod is due at the end of May.

Blabbermouth.net   DOWN played the brand new song "Conjure" live for the first time ever this past Saturday, May 3 at The Orange Peel in Asheville, North Carolina. Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be seen below. "Conjure" comes off DOWN's new EP, "Down IV - Part Two", which will be released on May 13 via Down Records/ADA Music. Tracked at Nodferatu's Lair — iconic vocalist Philip H. Anselmo's home studio — and produced by Michael Thompson, Anselmo and DOWN, the new EP is the eagerly anticipated sequel to "Down IV - Part One". The new offering from DOWN is packed with the quintet's signature gargantuan riffs, swamp blues leads, crashing drums and hypnotic howls, upholding a certain tradition that countless fans celebrate, expanding their own musical mythos as they leave its pillars intact and untouched. In support of the upcoming record, DOWN has taked its renowned live show on the road this spring, joining BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and DEVIL YOU KNOW on a North American tour. The tour, which also includes DOWN headlining shows and festival appearances, began at Iron City in Birmingham, Alabama on May 2, and will end at Rocklahoma in Pryor, Oklahoma on May 25. The run also includes an appearance on May 24 at Emo's in Austin at the "Rock the Heart" concert, a benefit for the late Mike Scaccia's (RIGOR MORTIS, MINISTRY) "Heart Rock" foundation, with the goal of raising awareness about heart disease. When Anselmo, Pepper Keenan, Jimmy Bower, Pat Bruders, and Bobby Landgraf retreated to Nodferatu's Lair at Anselmo's Lousiana home in the fall of 2013, things had changed a bit. For the first time in the band's storied career, Kirk Windstein wouldn't be handling guitar duties alongside Keenan. Instead, longtime "family" member, stage manager, and HONKY guitarist Landgraf took the reins. "He was immediately at home," affirms Anselmo. "Bobby had always been that guy in case of anything. Knowing his personality, he really locked in with what we do and took it to heart. He made himself belong. Honestly, the first day he came down he contributed a very strong riff to a key song. There's that Southern element, which is imperative. I also catch a real old heavy metal vibe from this record. I can't stress this enough. He took it all on, and he did a fucking awesome job." Keenan adds, "Even with the lineup differences, it's interesting how the songs still sound very DOWN. Bobby and I have always locked in. It's not just physically either, but mentally as well. We see eye-to-eye, and he's been watching for a long time." "It was a big deal for me," beams Landgraf. "I drove ten hours up from Texas that first day, cracked a beer, and plugged in. We jumped right into the room, and I played this part. They all smiled. That was the moment for me. I'm a longtime fan, and I knew we were friends, but being a part of the writing and working towards something together was just incredible. As a guitar player, one of my goals was to be in a group like this. I want to make everyone proud." The fans will undoubtedly take pride in this collection as well. Making good on DOWN's promise of a series of EPs, the second installment sees a pronounced progression amongst the individuals themselves as well. "We wanted to back up our word as far as releasing these EPs," Anselmo goes on. "Everybody was fixated on that. This is the shortest period of time between our releases, and every one stepped it up and upped his game. Keenan, Bower, Bruders and Landgraf all contributed some excellent riffs. Having all of this fresh input makes for a different listen and a new perspective on what DOWN should and does sound like. All of that yields a unique record off the bat." For the future, DOWN's sights are set on endless touring. Landgraf made his formal stage debut when the band headlined Anselmo's first annual Housecore Horror Film Festival in front of a packed audience of the faithful in October 2013. Now, it's just about bringing that inimitable sound everywhere possible. "Down IV - Part Two" track listing: 01. Steeple 02. We Knew Him Well 03. Hogshead/Dogshead 04. Conjure 05. Sufferer's Years 06. Bacchanalia  

Enter for a chance to win a pair of Bloodstock weekend tickets with camping, for what is a four-day event. The event takes place August 7^th through August 10^th in the UK. DOWN performs on the Ronnie James Dio stage Friday, August 8^th. To Enter: Simply add your email address to the email sign-up box below and join DOWN’s official email newsletter. Already on the email list? Don’t worry, you’ll be automatically entered to win! The contest begins Tuesday, May 6^th and will close on Friday, May 23^rd. A winner will be chosen and notified by Wednesday, May 28^th. Enter Your Email Address Here! [mc4wp_form id="1873"] Please Note: “with camping” doesn't mean you win camp equipment, it means you’ll have access to the campsite for the duration of the festival, so you’ll need to come equipped with your own camping gear! This prize does NOT include any sort of travel accommodations. You’ll need to get yourselves there and back. If you win and can't attend a new name will be drawn. There is no cash equivalent for this prize. Venue Location: Catton Park, Walton-On-Trent, Derbyshire, DE12 8LN, England. Get Additional Venue and Travel Information HERE All festival info is available at www.bloodstock.uk.com. Good Luck!

ArtistDirect.com Down’s latest offering Down IV, Pt. II represents everything that a timeless hard rock or heavy metal record should. Lumbering blues-infused riffs abound as well as mind-bending and meandering musical epics marked by moments of entrancing psychedelica and Sabbath-ian bombast. The Louisiana metallic mystics once again summon greatness at every turn, and that’s why Down IV Part II will undoubtedly be revered in the same way NOLA is. In this exclusive interview with ARTISTdirect.com editor in chief Rick Florino, Down mainman Philip Anselmo opens up about the EP, hints at what’s next, and gives us a whole lot more knowledge like he always does! Down IV Part II embodies what Down was always meant to be. It's a natural continuation of the Black Sabbath inspiration and exploration more than ever. The songs are longer in places and tread dreamier territory. It codifies what you guys have always talked about and really captivates. Thank you, Rick. At the end of the day, it has to sound like Down. Down was founded straight up because of Black Sabbath and all of the influences therein. To me, having the new infusion of writers is important. Pat's contribution on the second EP was massive. Our new guitar player Bobby Landgraf came in as a contributor right off the bat having watched us for many years and been a fan of the band. To have a great guitar player like that come in and give his spin on what he feels a Down riff should sound like or qualify as, it's an absolute injection of new blood and enthusiasm throughout the entire band. I can't give those guys enough credit for what they brought to this particular record. I'm in full agreement with you. It's a Down record one-hundred percent through and through. It couldn't be mistaken for any other band really at this point in time. Read the FULL INTERVIEW HERE!

Philip H. Anselmo has posted the following message mourning the passsing of Peyton, a young cancer-stricken fan whom you may recall performed onstage with Anselmo and his band The Illegals:

“Dammit… this one hurts deep. There’s been moments in my life that have been so extraordinarily positive, uplifting and unique, and I feel very lucky to be able to write those words. However, one of the most uplifting experiences had to have been meeting and jamming with Peyton. He was the bravest kid in the entire room when myself andThe Illegals met him at our first gig ever in Oklahoma. I was led to believe he was frail, weak and highly-guarded before we met, but he was anything but that deceptive description. He commanded the entire stage at soundcheck, he shredded on the axe, and completely blew us all away collectively with his quick wit, skills and charm. And when it was his turn to get up onstage come gig-time, he laid into that guitar with as much passion as most pros in the Heavy Metal biz today. He will always be in our hearts. RIP little brother Peyton. You put love into our hearts. Our condolences go out to his brave family and friends everywhere. With all my heart on behalf of many- Philip H. Anselmo“