In a new interview conducted backstage at Poland’s Mystic Festival, Down guitarist Kirk Windstein and drummer Jimmy Bower gave fans an exciting update on the heavy metal supergroup’s highly anticipated new album. The long-running outfit, which is famously completed by legendary vocalist Philip H. Anselmo, guitarist Pepper Keenan, and bassist Pat Bruders, is gearing up to release their first full-length record in years.
Speaking about the upcoming project, Jimmy Bower held nothing back in his praise for the final product and the band’s renewed energy.
“ It’s bada**. It’s really, really good. Phil sang his a** off. Everybody played great, and we’re really excited about it because we’re just proud of it, man. Kirk‘s back. That’s f**king important… We’re just really excited to hear what the fans are gonna say,” he said.
Kirk Windstein, who officially rejoined the legendary New Orleans sludge metal act six years ago, emphasized just how impactful this specific release is for him personally.
“I’ve been back six years now. But this [this is the] first [Down] record [I’ve recorded with the band since I returned],” he added. “A lot of people will be — I won’t say surprised, but I really, really think all the true Down fans are gonna absolutely love it, and hopefully we pick up some new fans as well. It’s a great record, great songwriting, great riffs. Like Jim said, everybody played their a** off. Phil sang… People are not gonna believe how well he sings on this. And there’s zero AutoTune or any of that bulls**t. That’s just him killing it. It sounds amazing.”
Earlier this year in April, Windstein revealed to “Metal Nation“ that the album was entirely “done” and “recorded,” noting that the band was simply searching for “the right person to mix it properly.”
“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 explained at the time.
He continued: “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. 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 plays [guitar] in. 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.”
