Kingcrimsonprog Down’s third album, Down III: Over The Under was released in 2007 as the band evolved beyond the point of being a super group side project and started being a bone-fide heavy metal institution.

The New Orleans based band released their first album back in 1995 and their second in 2002. Twelve years after their inception, their third album continues on their formula of sludge and southern rock influenced stoner rock.

Over The Under stands apart in Down’s catalogue in that by and large, the music is often faster and more metal orientated in places than the band’s previous two albums. This is not so grand a change as to be labeled a departure however, just a slight shift in focus.

The album is chocked full of big riffs, memorable choruses and a real stompy quality that makes it a joy to listen to. This, coupled with the terrific Sabbathy production job and some of the band’s best lyrics to date makes Over The Under a seriously good album.

Stand out tracks include the live favourite ‘N.O.D,’ the powerful ‘In The Thrall Of It All,’ and the intense ‘Beneath The Tides.’

Phil Anselmo’s voice is powerful and varied enough to carry the entire album from harsher more metal sections, to softer bluesy moments and everything inbetween. His often imitated but never bettered style gives the band an utterly unique quality that separates them from the many bands playing sludge or stoner metal.

If anyone thinks that Down have gotten a free ride on the back of Pantera’s legacy, one listen to Over The Under should convince them otherwise. Down are an excellent band and this album is definitely worth your time and money.

UMUR III - Over the Under is the 3rd full-length studio album by American sludge/ metal act Down. The album was released in September 2007 by ILG/Warner Music Group.

At this point Down has more or less evolved from being a project to being a full-time occupation for at least some of the members. Pantera disbanded in 2003, so both bassist Rex Brown and lead vocalist Phil Anselmo are able to concentrate on Down more or less full-time ( both are involved in several other projects though). Corrosion of Conformity haven´t been active since 2006, so guitarist Pepper Keenan can also be counted as a full-time member. Lifesblood for the Downtrodden (2005) by Crowbar is the last we´ve heard from that band so I guess guitarist Kirk Windstein can also be counted as a full-time member. I don´t know much about drummer Jimmy Bower other than the fact that the list of bands he has been involved with is very long.

The music on the album is sludgy/ southern metal. It´s heavy but not doomy. The songs are written by different band members and sometimes more than one member in different constellations. I think it´s easily detectable when Pepper Keenan is involved in the songwriting though. The songs he is involved in are the most memorable and melodic. Also there´s a southern hard rock/ bluesy touch to his songwriting that are similar to his songwriting style in Corrosion of Conformity. Of course Phil Anselmo´s vocal style makes the songs sound different from the output of that band. Phil Anselmo´s vocals on the album are actually very enjoyable. His aggressive vocals from the last couple of albums by Pantera are nowhere to be found. His style on III - Over the Under is more laidback and melodic yet raw in places when that approach is needed. The harder edged songs on the album are less melodic but still pretty memorable. What I enjoy most about the album is that it´s obvious that the band really enjoy playing together. The compositions are not necessarily the most intricate I´ve heard in my life, but that joy of playing is contagious.

The production is earthy and warm.

III - Over the Under is a really good album by Down. I expect that the band can produce some even better music on future albums, so for now a 3.5 star rating is deserved.