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Class 6(66)
Down: Nola
13/07/10 || InquisitorGeneralis
Introduction
“Nola” is a masterpiece by a supergroup that has gone beyond all expectations anyone could have possibly had for them. Back in 1995 Pantera was still on top of the metal world, Corrosion of Conformity had just released “Deliverance”, and Crowbar was putting the first of the solid combo of “Time Heals Nothing” and “Broken Glass”. Who could have foreseen that the major players from all those bands fifteen years later would be focused on Down! Sure, if internal conflicts and a crazed gunman (may he rot in Hell) had not broken up Pantera they would still be Phil Anselmo’s main game today. But, shit happens.
Anywho, Phil, Pepper from CoC, Kirk from Crowbar, and Jimmy Bower from 10,000 other bands got together back in 1995 and released a masterpiece of Southern sludge-esque metal called “Nola” that has long deserved a spot in the old Class6(66) section. This album is complete domination and has been a favorite of mine since the first moment I heard it and has stood the test of time as my tastes have become more and more extreme. No matter how much blackened tech-death I listen to, I always come back to “Nola” when I need killer riffs and thick, sludgetastic southern groove.
h. Songwriting
10. Each and every song on “Nola” sounds distinct, original, and fucking awesome. There are heavier tracks like the fantastic opener “Temptation’s wings” and the raging “Lifer” and slower, sludgy songs like “Stone the crow”, “Hail the lead”, and the trademark closer “Bury me in smoke”. This is by fucken far the best written Down album, although “Over the Under” is pretty good in its own right and “Bustle in Your Hedgerow” certainly has some classic moments. Neither of them come close to matching the quality and amount of well-written, ass-kicking sons found on “Nola”.
Production
10. “Nola” has just a little raw edge to it and the production is perfect for the style and feel of the music. The guitars are heavy, the bass is audible, and the drum sound is prominent but not overwhelming. I could not imagine “Nola” sounding any other way or any improvements that could be made.
Guitars
10. Pepper and Kirk are one of the best guitar combos in any genre of metal. The riffs they lay down on “Nola” are just plain sick and keep on coming at you. Each and every song contains killer guitar playing, ALL OF THEM…… AAAAAHHHHH COMMENCE SOUTHERN GUITAR RIFF JEAN STAINING! For examples of this cream-inducing awesome check out the introduction to “The eyes of the south”, every riff in “Losing all”, the breakdown in “Life”, and the riff behind the chorus in “Temptation’s wings”. If you do not like the guitar sound and playing on “Nola” you are an awful, worthless human being and deserve to be euthanized while listening to “Euthanasia” and being raped by ex-staffer Euthanatos.
Bass
9. Kirk pulled double duty and recorded the bass for this album too. Good work Mr. W, you are a true soldier. The bass on “Stone the crow” says it all. Good work Kirk.
Drums
8. Anyone who knows anything knows that “Bower Power” can be achieved without the use of gravity blasts, hyper-speed thrashing, or double-bubble bass drum insanity. Jimmy B keeps a solid pace behind the kit and while his playing never dominates the music he is definitely an essential part of the album’s success. Sure, the death metal maniac in me would love some heavier fills and transitions, maybe some double kicks thrown in here and there. Still, “Nola” is perfect just the way it is and that includes Bower’s performance on drums. I could not imagine any other drum sound or style on here. Check out Jimmy’s tribal pounding at during the breakdowns and end of “Stone the crow” for an example of classic less is more playing.
Vocals
9. Remember, this 1995 Phil chocked full of heroin and rage so his vocals run the spectrum between high-pitched shriek’s like those on “Lifer”, classic Phil tough guy growling, and more melodic singing like the chorus of “Bury me in smoke”. This is one of Phil’s best vocal performances with any of his many groups and projects. This album proved that Phil was much more than the touch-guy meathead who sang for Pantera and did his worst Halford impersonation on “Cemetery gates”.
Lyrics
10. Heroin, jail, weed, religion, killing yourself, booze… it’s all covered perfectly on “Nola”. Here are quite possibly the best lines in the entire record. They sum up the feel and vibe of “Nola” perfectly…
Don’t regret the rules I broke
When I die bury me in smoke
A close second would be these from “Eyes of the south”…
Its a soul sense of pride
good lord the south is blind
but she gives me so much
suffrage with my pain
We all have a love/hate relationship with where we are from. We respect home but there are always aspects of it that we dislike or rebel against. FUCKING DEEP for a metal album huh? Let’s all just smoke some dope and chill out. Groovy.
Cover
10. Keep it fucken simple stupid. This cover is tits. A great logo combined with the fleur-de-lis symbol of New Orleans… see that is where the title comes from jerk off, New Orleans Louisiana: home city to most of the band.
Logo
10. Down’‘s logo is a total fucken winner and represents the band perfectly: it looks archaic and worn down and features old-world style letters. I like it, it’s cool, it fits the band perfectly. Done.
Booklet
N/A. Since I bought “Nola” I have lived in three different states in a combined seven different houses and/or apartments. Yeah right I still have that shit.
Overall and ending rant
“Nola” is the best southern influenced metal album ever fucking made. Call it stoner, sludge, groove… whatever it dominates from beginning to end. This has been one of my absolute favorite records since the moment I got it and has never left my listening rotation. The songs are excellent, the lyrics meaningful, and the production spot-on. I wish I could tell you that writing this Class6(66) entry has motivated me to listen to “Nola” again but fact is have been listening to it constantly for ten fucking years. Hey, it converted Daemonomania’s Grave anus- licking, Ahab whale dick-sucking monkey ass to being a big Down fan. That definitely means that Phil, Kirk, Pepper, and Jimmy did something right back in 1995.
- Information
- Released: 1995
- Label: Elektra
- Website: www.down-nola.com
- Band
- Philip Anselmo: vocals
- Pepper Keenan: guitar
- Kirk Windstein: guitar, bass
- Jimmy Bower: drums
- Tracklist
- 01. Temptation’s Wings
- 02. Lifer
- 03. Pillars of Eternity
- 04. Rehab
- 05. Hail the Leaf
- 06. Underneath Everything
- 07. Eyes of the South
- 08. Jail
- 09. Losing All
- 10. Stone the Crow
- 11. Pray for the Locust
- 12. Swan Song
- 13. Bury Me in Smoke
