New DOWN Album To Include "Angry" Songs About Katrina, Dimebag Darrell
The following report is courtesy of Chris Harris from VH1.com:
Guitarist Pepper Keenan (
CORROSION OF CONFORMITY) is driving through New Orleans' beleaguered Lower Ninth Ward, and even though he's done so hundreds of times before today, he still can't believe that more than 17 months after Hurricane Katrina touched down, the city he lives in — the city he loves — is still in such disarray.
"It looks like something out of a different country," Keenan said over the telephone, with anguish in his voice. "I just can't see how they're gonna figure this sh-- out. They can put 10 gazillion dollars into Baghdad, but nothing's changed around here. Dude, I am driving past houses, and it just looks like the house threw up all over the street. It's sickening."
But Keenan hasn't abandoned New Orleans. In fact, it's here, in this ravaged metropolis, that he and the rest of his band DOWN have been writing material for what will be the sludge metallers' third full-length album. For now, they're simply calling the effort — which producer Warren Riker (CROWBAR, SUBLIME) has signed on to helm — Down III. Katrina's devastating aftermath has helped inspire a great many of the 18 tracks they've composed for the LP, the band's first since 2002's Down II: A Bustle In Your Hedgerow.
"It's been a rough couple of years for everyone in this band," Keenan said. "We've been through a lot. We're trying to use all of that but really keep a positive energy and write some killer, heavy shit for people. I feel like the story of New Orleans ain't been told, and I wouldn't mind telling it from our point of view. Not that I want to use the band as a political platform, but we do have a certain voice and I think that the people we'll be talking to [with this record] are people who will understand."
Phil Anselmo, singer for Down and ex-PANTERA frontman, has been penning the disc's lyrics. The album will be the band's first since Anselmo underwent back surgery in late 2005.
"Phil's really good at [lyrics]," Keenan said. "Several songs address Katrina's aftermath and how life changes on you, man. We've got a lot of ammunition for this one, I'll put it that way — a lot of things have not necessarily gone right for everybody these last couple of years. Everybody's just trying to stay positive. We're not writing Christian songs. These are still angry, frustrated songs."
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