DOWN is looking for “right person” to mix new studio album
09-04-2026
In a new interview with Metal Nation, DOWN guitarist Kirk Windstein spoke about the progress of the recording sessions for the band’s long-awaited new album. Kirk is joined in the long-running heavy metal supergroup by vocalist Philip H. Anselmo, guitarist Pepper Keenan, drummer Jimmy Bower and bassist Pat Bruders. Kirk said: “It’s done. It’s been recorded. The process of trying to find… ‘Cause we kind of self-produced it, so it’s not that we’re looking for a producer. The work is done. We just need to find the right person to mix it properly. So that’s what we’re looking at right now. But we’re hoping to have a release by October or something, I would think.”
Windstein also talked about the songwriting chemistry between him and his bandmates. He said: “It’s been amazing. It really clicked — when we started writing for this new record, it was like we were back in the ’90s or something, writing the ‘NOLA’ record (debut DOWN album). It’s, like, everybody’s got ideas. One guy’s got a riff and then somebody’s got something that works with that riff. We also have a situation where Jimmy Bower, who plays guitar in EYEHATEGOD, he really started out as a drummer. I always joke with him — it’s not even a joke; it’s true — I’m, like, ‘Dude, you’re a way better drummer than you are a guitar player. But you’re perfect for EYEHATEGOD,’ which is the only band he playsin. But Jimmy can write killer riffs. Our bass player Pat does. And the thing a lot of people don’t know is how much Phil Anselmo is such a great songwriter and arranger, really, but he’s a great riff writer. And I think three of the 10 songs on the record are pretty much his songs; every part is his. And we’re, like, ‘This is great.’ We add a little something to it here and there.”
Last January, DOWN returned with a special cover of Dr. John‘s “Right Place, Wrong Time”. The cover was in celebration of Mardi Gras.
Watch “Right Place, Wrong Time” below.
New Orleans native Dr. John was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. His music combined New Orleans blues, jazz, R&B, soul, and funk. “Right Place, Wrong Time” was the first single from Dr. John‘s 1973 album “In The Right Place”, and became the most popular single of his career. The song has been featured in various films and television shows, including “Dazed And Confused” and “American Horror Story: Coven”.
DOWN‘s cover and accompanying video, shot last March by Mike Holderbeast, comes in celebration of the Mardi Gras season and serves as a homage to Dr. John and his appearances on “The Midnight Special” TV series, a late-night musical variety show that aired from 1972 to 1981.
Anselmo comments: “Dr. John‘s ‘Right Place, Wrong Time’ is probably one of the first songs I ever learned or knew of as a kid.
“We grew up in the French Quarter and Dr. John‘s music was everywhere.
“Recording this song was something that I always wanted to do and I’m happy that I did it with DOWN.
“The video was an absolute blast to make. Even my mom is in it! Because of her, I know Dr. John‘s music very well.”
Last September, in an interview with Geoff of the Gas Masks & Hand Grenades podcast, DOWN guitarist Kirk Windstein offered an update on the progress of the recording sessions for the band’s long-awaited new album. Kirk is joined in the long-running heavy metal supergroup by vocalist Philip H. Anselmo, guitarist Pepper Keenan, drummer Jimmy Bower and bassist Pat Bruders. Asked if it’s true that DOWN was originally going to release a covers LP next, Kirk said: “It started out that way. And that was the talk for quite a while, and it was kind of, like, well, if we’re gonna learn all these really obscure songs, in the time it’s gonna take us to learn all these fucking things and kind of make ’em our own, we could probably write originals. So we got together in January of 2024. Went to Phil‘s (rehearsal and recording studio). Pepper, myself, Jimmy and Pat had gotten together and come up with a few ideas, and Phil had some stuff. We went out for three days and came back, came home, and by the time we were done, we had seven songs — not perfectly arranged.”
According to Kirk, all the drums, bass and “95 percent” of the rhythm guitars have been recorded so far. “I think we have one or two songs (to do rhythm guitars on),” he explained. “And then we’re gonna go over to Phil‘s and do solos and sweetie tracks, we call it — just interlude things you put in between vocals and shit.”
Elaborating on the songwriting and recording process for the new DOWN material, Kirk said: “When we got together to write, the chemistry is just undeniable. It’s just magic. We’ve known each other so long, we’ve jammed together for so long. And Pepper and I did something — it was kind of his idea, but I thought it was a pretty brilliant idea. Jimmy doesn’t play to a click track, so it’s harder to keep time, especially when you’re not looking at him. So, he said, ‘You know what? Let’s track the fucking guitars together. Let’s not do one guy, then one guy. Let’s pick out one section, let’s make it through the whole fucking verse, and if one of us fucks up, we stop, go back and start it again.’ So we’re doing it, just playing together and shit. So it’s got more of a live feel, because Pat and Jimmy laid the drums and bass down together, and now we’re doing guitars together with the rhythm tracks and shit.”
He added: “DOWN‘s one of the few bands — of course we use Pro Tools (recording software), but we don’t do click tracks and fix shit. It’s real music.”
As for a possible release date for the next DOWN album, Windstein said: “I would guess — hoping by the summer next year.”
This past April, it was announced that DOWN had signed with Nuclear Blast Records.
When the deal with Nuclear Blast was first announced, the label said in a statement: “Nuclear Blast is proud to be in the trenches with NOLA legends DOWN as their partner in their long overdue return to the metal world. In addition, we are excited to bring some of their key past catalog releases back into the spotlight, especially on the vinyl side. There are so many longtime DOWN fans at Nuclear Blast who are excited to be working with one of their all-time favorite bands. 2026 can’t come soon enough!”
Anselmo stated: “It’s good to sign with Nuclear Blast Records. It’s a good label home and we’re ready to make some awesome recordings!”
Keenan said: “Having already been a part of the Nuclear Blast family with CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, it is an honor and a privilege to be here as well with my brothers in DOWN. The team at Nuclear Blast is a well-oiled machine and you can definitely tell they love what they do. We are in the right place.”
Bower added: “Nuclear Blast is a great label that put out some excellent records. It’s an honor to have them work our jams!”
The supergroup hasn’t issued anything since the arrival of the “Down IV – Part Two” EP in May 2014.
“Down IV – Part Two” sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release in May 2014 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 recorded at Nodferatu’s Lair — Anselmo‘s home studio — and produced by Michael Thompson. It was released via Down Records/ADA Music.
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