### Down: Down IV part I - The purple EP

#### 14/11/12 || Cobal

Well, I suppose I’ve been putting this review off for too long now. Worst is I ain’t quite sure why. Anyway, I also had been waiting for a new release by Anselmo and company for way too long, and when I heard they were going to release a series of EP’s instead of a full-length work, I was deeply interested, as it seemed an honest idea to me. Don’t you just hate it when a so called LP is filled with mediocre tracks being there ONLY for the sake of length?

Another thing that made my interest grow was the expectation surrounding the release of The Purple EP, and again Anselmo’s statements declaring this would be an openly back-to-basics Sabbath-like work. At this point, me being 75% (or so) about the very roots of metal sound is no secret, right? Anyway, that’s what good ol’ Philip offered in advance, and he’s a man of his word, apparently. Am I happy with it? It’s hard to say.

What there’s here to be listened is a thick and groovy mix of 70’s sound, southern stuff (whatever that means) and some sludge riffs. The sound is massive, and it’s very difficult to listen to this without slightly nodding to the mid-tempo yet obviously angry riffs and smiling. In the end, the kind of atmosphere this creates when listening to it calmly is definitely of the trippy kind, if you know what I mean.

And what do we have there, right on top of this thicker than chapopote mud milkshake? You got it! Ex-Pantera’s frontman vocal work, and hard to say this as it may be, it didn’t do much for me. And it’s not like vocals here are not well sung or their melodies don’t fit the music they decorate, on the contrary, they seem to be particularly well written. The problem lies on the singer’s particular tone and style. Somehow, it sounds a stranger within the final sound. A damn unbelievable shame.

All in all, I and all the ones that had been waiting for more by these Mississipi sorcerers got exactly what we had been promised, and despites I don’t think this is the best release Down has to offer, I’ll eagerly wait for the second part in line of this Down IV serial work. Casting a glance won’t ever hurt anyone.

Notice this grade was given after taking some points away for the ridiculous although fun video clip they created for the song “Witchtripper” and giving some extra ones for being this an independent release.

Cheers.

- Information
- Released: 2012
- Label: Self-released/independent
- Website: www.down-nola.com
- Band
- Phil Anselmo: vocals
- Kirk Windstein: guitars
- Pepper Keenan: guitars
- Patrick Bruders: bass
- Big Ross: keyboards
- Jimmy Bower: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Levitation
- 02. Witchtripper
- 03. Open Coffins
- 04. The Curse Is a Lie
- 05. This Work Is Timeless
- 06. Misfortune Teller