NOLA sludge pioneers Down are inching closer to their long-awaited return to the studio racks, but fans will likely have to wait until the latter half of 2026 to hear the finished product. Guitarist Kirk Windstein recently shed light on the band’s tentative timeline, revealing that strategic scheduling at their record label plays a major role in when the new material will drop.
During a recent appearance on the “Pod Scum” podcast with host “Reckless” Rexx Ruger, Windstein was asked if the supergroup would finally unleash a new record in the coming year. While he answered in the affirmative, he cautioned that it would be a late-year arrival to give breathing room to another project within the family.
“Yes. Later than sooner, but I don’t really see why it can’t get out, say, by September, around September-ish,” Windstein explained (as transcribed by Blabbermouth).
The primary reason for this specific window involves Corrosion of Conformity (C.O.C.), the band fronted by Down guitarist Pepper Keenan. Both bands recently signed deals with Nuclear Blast Records, creating a logistical need to space out their respective album cycles to maximize impact.
“Because Down‘s on [the] Nuclear Blast [record label], along with C.O.C. [Corrosion of Conformity], who have an amazing new record coming out April 2nd,” Windstein elaborated. “So we can’t put Down, even if it’s ready, we can’t put it out too close to that. And the label’s not gonna wanna do that anyway. We wouldn’t do it anyway. But C.O.C. needs to come out and let everybody get blown away for a good bit. And when the water settles a little bit, we f**king give ’em a double whammy and throw out the Down.”
The upcoming release will mark the first full-length effort from the band since their 2014 EP, Down IV – Part Two. The current iteration of the group features a formidable lineup of metal veterans: vocalist Philip H. Anselmo, guitarists Windstein and Keenan, drummer Jimmy Bower, and bassist Pat Bruders.
Formed in the mid-90s as a side project for members of Pantera, Crowbar, and Corrosion of Conformity, Down quickly established a legendary status with their 1995 platinum debut, NOLA. Despite sporadic activity over the last three decades, the band has maintained a fervent following through releases like Down II: A Bustle In Your Hedgerow (2002) and Down III: Over The Under (2007), cementing their place as the standard-bearers of New Orleans heavy metal.
