DOWN — Down III: Over the Under (review)

DOWN — Down III: Over the Under album cover Album · 2007 · Stoner Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
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.
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