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Rating: DOWN II - A hustle in your hedgerow
After a full 7 years since the release of Nola (1995), the Down managed to embed once again a little gem into the American music scene, with a performance of the highest class. Unjustly given little visibility, the second chapter of the quintet leaves in the listener’s ear a less angry echo compared to the previous work, yet it results in being very visceral and deep. Born from a carefree and passionate work, masterfully guided by an exceptionally fit Phil Anselmo, Down II sees the light with the new entry Rex Brown (ex Pantera) replacing Todd Strange on bass, thus, in part, diminishing the complete supremacy of the New Orleans natives present in the group.
The album kicks off with a “Lysergik Funeral Procession” composed of a series of purely Sabbathian riffs already appearing in the previous chapter, the following “There’s Something On My Sight” (couldn't they make these titles any shorter!?) continues in the doom trend of Anselmo’s idols, subjecting the latter to the use of a highly pitched voice, reprised also in the third song with the grim name “Man That Follows Hell”. The macabre-ironic (if one can put it that way) “Stained Glass Cross” still speaks with a “distinct seventies accent” presenting itself soft and easy-listening, greatly complemented by the insertion of the organ in the final part. The dark and claustrophobic atmosphere of “Ghost Along the Mississippi”, is strongly characterized by Kirk and Peeper's riffs, capable of creating a decidedly raw and aggressive sound that is momentarily abandoned when moving to the sweetly melancholic dimension wrapped around “Learn From This Mistake”, a piece of absolute value in which the frontman's warm and rough voice seems to bask blissfully among the captivating solos of the two guitars.
The long shadow of the seventies fleetingly reappears with “Beautifully Depressed” which, without striking the imagination, leaves space for the acoustic piece “Where I’m Going”, impregnated with the best Southern romanticism, which is rendered even more vibrant and delicate by the voice of a mature Anselmo. Bringing us back to Earth with a powerful kick in the ass is an angry “New Orleans Is A Dying Whore”, pounding and pachydermic like my ex-Italian teacher, leaving a mark in the auditory cavities. Heavy, distorted rhythms and a classic ode to marijuana are instead the prerogatives present in the track “The Seed”, which is instead magically erased by the captivating blues rhythm of “Lies, I Don’t Know What the Said But…” that in the growing and throbbing final progression evolves, strong of Anselmo's boozy voice, giving a distinct originality to the sound. The fast and boisterous “Dog Tired” is the prelude that opens the curtain to the last scene represented by another acoustic piece with a strongly introspective nature titled “Landing On The Mountains Of Meggido”.
From reading the review, one can discern an undeniable exaltation in talking about this band, which I assure you is without a doubt completely justified. Awaiting the third release expected within the year, I highly recommend obtaining (for those who do not know them) also the previous (and fantastic!) "Nola", in order to gain a broader perspective on the sounds of this undeservedly underrated band. This was my first review, hope you enjoyed it, see you next time!
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