Doing a 180: Down, NOLA / Down II: A Bustle In Your Hedgerow
Rhino has made it a point to reissue classic albums on 180-gram vinyl on a regular basis. These are the latest to get that treatment. You're welcome.
The “supergroup” has long been a staple of rock ‘n’ roll, and when it comes to heavy metal, one of the most powerful such groups is Down, which currently features frontman Phil Anselmo (Pantera), guitarists Pepper Keenan (Corrosion of Conformity) and Bobby Landgraf (Honky), bassist Pat Bruders (Goatwhore), and drummer Jimmy Bower (Crowbar, Superjoint Ritual). So far, Down has put out five studio albums, and we’ve just reissued the first two on 180-gram vinyl. If you need a quick refresher course on these LPs, we can assist.
NOLA: In regards to that remark about supergroups, they’re a staple of rock ‘n’ roll, but they’re also notoriously hit or miss, because you never know how well certain creative types will mesh with other creative types. In the case of Down’s debut album, 1995’s NOLA, the band was firing on all thrusters from the word “go,” as evidenced by AllMusic.com’s review: “This is a landmark album that combines the talents of dedicated rock musicians, and should be included in any collection of heavy metal music.” The single “Stone the Crow” may have only made it to #40 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, but don’t let that dissuade you: this is classic heavy metal, and it’s a must-hear.
Down II: A Bustle In Your Hedgerow: You know you’re going to be in for some serious rock when there’s an unabashed Led Zeppelin lyric reference in an album’s subtitle, and that’s what Down II delivered. No, it wasn’t as immediately impactful as its predecessor, but it still ended up on Albums of the Year lists from Metal Hammer, Terrorizer, and Kerrang! and hit #44 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart, a full 13 spots higher than NOLA.