What can you tell us about the forthcoming Down EP? It’s very raw, when you consider the last two records. If people think the first record [1995’s NOLA] is a raw example of what Down was, I would have to say the EP is more like that, production-wise and approach-wise. Why did you want to approach it like the first album?
Believe me, there’s an intensity with Down. Any time you put a microphone in my hand and push me onstage, there’s an intensity.
On the last Down record [2007’s Down III: Over the Under] I got on this big singing trip. And that’s all fine and dandy, but, well...this might be a weird answer, but going through all the different phases of listening to music, maybe you love a certain genre for a certain number of weeks or months or years and then you switch it up and you’re into something else. With this EP, it kinda worked out that we were all cosmically aligned in that way. We went back to the roots of Down, which lead directly back to Black Sabbath. But really, in all honestly, we were spurred on and influenced by the bands that were directly influenced by Sabbath before we came along—bands like Witchfinder General and Saint Vitus. That’s where our heads were at, and with that comes some letting go. Because you can take a riff, maximize it, trick it out, make it as slick and polished as possible, or you can leave it alone and let it do its own work. So instead of overthinking this thing, we just let the songs come. And it worked out the best for all of us. NOLA is considered a stone classic among fans. What comes to mind when you think of that one? It was not an over-thought record. We didn’t have time to over-think it. We were all in plenty of active, working bands. We had a certain amount of time alotted for Down, and most of that was for writing purposes. Once an idea was formed, it didn’t really stray very far from that point on—unless it was lyrically. To me, I think that’s what we attempted to do on this EP. If the riff was slammin’ right out of the gate, I would fight tooth and nail to keep it that way. And for the most part, everyone undertsood
There’s a song on the EP called “Witchtripper” That would make a pretty awesome title for the whole thing. Really? I thought I’d get the most scrutiny out of that one. The first song is called “Levitation,” and that could be a good title, too. I guess the EP could be named after any one of the songs on it, but none of them would really sum up the whole thing. That’s where it becomes a little tough for me. I’d rather have it speak for itself. As far as the
that and executed it pretty damn well.
songs go, I’m actually pretty pleased with them.
Do you have a title or a release date yet?
that in a way, because it’s a genre band. That’s
No. I know it’s probably up to me for a title, but lately I’m thinking, why does the record need a title? The obvious consensus is that it should be called Down IV, because our previous records were numbered that way, too. So if people wanna call it that, I’m cool with it.
We started Down as a side band, and it is still why you start a side band, normally, because you want to delve into a specific genre. Unless you tell people that you wanna start this avant-garde monster with saxophones and pianos and harps. Of course, that’s not the case with Down. It’s a genre band, and with that comes a bit of lyrical