News.RttP{DOWN ANNOUNCES DOWN IV - PART TWO EP DUE MAY 13, 2014 TOURING THIS SPRING WITH BLACK LABEL SOCIETY}

Metal legends Down will release their new EP Down IV - Part Two on May 13, 2014 via Down Records/ADA-Music. Tracked at Nodferatu's Lair - iconic vocalist Philip H. Anselmo's home studio - and produced by Michael Thompson, Anselmo and Down, the new EP is the eagerly anticipated sequel to Down IV - Part One. The new offering from Down is packed with the quintet's signature gargantuan riffs, swamp blues leads, crashing drums and hypnotic howls, upholding a certain tradition that countless fans celebrate, expanding their own musical mythos as they leave its pillars intact and untouched.

In support of the upcoming record, Down will take their renowned live show on the road this spring, joining Black Label Society and Devil You Know on a North American tour. The tour, which also includes Down headlining shows and festival appearances, begins at Iron City in Birmingham, AL on May 2nd, and ends at Rocklahoma in Pryor, OK on May 25th. The run also includes an appearance on May 24th at Emo's in Austin at the "Rock the Heart" concert, a benefit for the late Mike Scaccia's (Rigor Mortis/Ministry) "Heart Rock" Foundation, with the goal of raising awareness about heart disease. Full tour dates are below, and tickets and VIP packages are now on sale here.

With a collective resume encompassing Pantera, Corrosion of Conformity, and Eyehategod, Down puffed out its first haze of sonic smoke from the belly of gritty old New Orleans on the 1995 platinum-selling classic, Nola. At that moment, they naturally summoned something akin to a ritual, continually partaking in it with critically revered offerings - Down II: A Bustle In Your Hedgerow in 2002, Down III: Over the Under in 2007, Diary of a Mad Band live CD/DVD in 2010 and Down IV - Part One in 2012. Their shows built a certain live lore with unforgettable runs alongside Metallica and Heaven & Hell as well as coveted spots on Download, Soundwave, and OZZfest. On 2014's Down IV - Part Two, the boys once again deliver passionate, powerful, and pure heavy music.

When Anselmo, Pepper Keenan, Jimmy Bower, Pat Bruders, and Bobby Landgraf retreated to "Nodferatu's Lair" at Anselmo's Lousiana home in the fall of 2013, things had changed a bit. For the first time in the band's storied career, Kirk Windstein wouldn't be handling guitar duties alongside Keenan. Instead, longtime "family" member, stage manager, and Honky guitarist Landgraf took the reins.

"He was immediately at home," affirms Anselmo. "Bobby had always been that guy in case of anything. Knowing his personality, he really locked in with what we do and took it to heart. He made himself belong. Honestly, the first day he came down he contributed a very strong riff to a key song. There's that Southern element, which is imperative. I also catch a real old heavy metal vibe from this record. I can't stress this enough. He took it all on, and he did a fucking awesome job."

Keenan adds, "Even with the lineup differences, it's interesting how the songs still sound very Down. Bobby and I have always locked in. It's not just physically either, but mentally as well. We see eye-to-eye, and he's been watching for a long time."

"It was a big deal for me," beams Landgraf. "I drove ten hours up from Texas that first day, cracked a beer, and plugged in. We jumped right into the room, and I played this part. They all smiled. That was the moment for me. I'm a longtime fan, and I knew we were friends, but being a part of the writing and working towards something together was just incredible. As a guitar player, one of my goals was to be in a group like this. I want to make everyone proud."

The fans will undoubtedly take pride in this collection as well. Making good on Down's promise of a series of EPs, the second installment sees a pronounced progression amongst the individuals themselves as well.

"We wanted to back up our word as far as releasing these EPs," Anselmo goes on. "Everybody was fixated on that. This is the shortest period of time between our releases, and every one stepped it up and upped his game. Keenan, Bower, Bruders and Landgraf all contributed some excellent riffs. Having all of this fresh input makes for a different listen and a new perspective on what Down should and does sound like. All of that yields a unique record off the bat."

For the future, Down's sights are set on endless touring. Landgraf made his formal stage debut when the band headlined Anselmo's first annual Housecore Horror Film Festival in front of a packed audience of the faithful in October 2013. Now, it's just about bringing that inimitable sound everywhere possible.

Down

Down IV - Part Two tracklist
1. Steeple
2. We Knew Him Well
3. Hogshead/Dogshead
4. Conjure
5. Sufferer's Years
6. Bacchanalia

Down tour dates:
5/2 - Iron City - Birmingham, AL *
5/3 - The Orange Peel - Asheville, NC &
5/4 - The Fillmore - Silver Springs, MD *
5/5 - Upstate Concert Hall - Clifton Park, NY *
5/7 - Electric Factory - Philadelphia, PA *
5/8 - The Palladium - Worcester, MA *
5/9 - Starland Ballroom - Sayreville, NJ *
5/10 - Best Buy Theater - New York, NY *
5/12 - Danforth Music Hall - Toronto, ON &
5/13 - The Sherman Theater - Stroudsburg, PA *
5/15 - Stage AE - Pittsburgh, PA *
5/16 - Rock on the Range - Columbus, OH #
5/17 - Piere's - Fort Wayne, IN *
5/19 - The District - Sioux Falls, SD *
5/20 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL *
5/21 - Myth Live Event Center - St. Paul, MN *
5/23 - Verizon Theatre - Grand Prairie, TX *
5/24 - Emo's - Austin, TX ^
5/25 - Rocklahoma - Pryor, OK #

* - w/ Black Label Society, Devil You Know
& - Down headline show
^ - "Rock The Heart" Concert: A benefit for the Mike Scaccia "Heart Rock" Foundation
# - Festival appearance

http://www.down-nola.com