Down IV – Part I

Down IV – Part I
EP by Down
Released September 18, 2012
Genre Heavy metal, sludge metal, southern metal
Length 33:18
Label Down Records, Roadrunner Records
Producer Michael Thompson, Down
Down chronology
Diary of a Mad Band
(2010)Diary of a Mad Band2010		 Down IV – Part I
(2012)		 Down IV – Part II
(2014)Down IV – Part II2014
Singles from Down IV – Part I
  1. "Witchtripper"
    Released: July 31, 2012

Down IV – Part I (informally known as the The Purple EP) is the first EP by sludge/southern metal band Down. It was released on September 18, 2012.[1] It is the first album featuring bassist Pat Bruders due to the departure of former bassist Rex Brown in 2011, and the last to feature guitarist Kirk Windstein, who left in 2013.

Background

In January 2012, Philip Anselmo announced that the band have been recording songs in the studio since October 2011. The band plans to release a series of EPs over the next few years.[2] On May 21, 2012, Down performed "Misfortune Teller" for the first time in North Carolina.[3] On July 26, 2012, another new song, "Witchtripper" was made available for streaming.[4] It was made available for purchase on iTunes on July 31, 2012.[5][6] The band revealed the artwork and title of their first EP to be Down IV Part I – The Purple EP in July 2012.[7]

Lyrics and style

With the EP, the band decided to go back to its roots and earlier style of song writing that was most prominent on the band's debut album. Much of the work was done at Anselmo's barn named "Nosferatu's Lair", where the band recorded their entire second album, Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow. Influences such as Black Sabbath, Trouble and Witchfinder General would play a significant role in the writing process with the EP containing traces of doom metal and southern rock influences, giving the EP a dark, raw and ominous feel.

Anselmo described the album as:

"very stripped down. Nothing flashy. Straight to the point… really just DOWN music. If you liked the first record, the demos… something like that… This record, we're pretty dead straight and honest and on the money as far as making it as simple and direct as possible and I think we did that. . . It has that practice-room vibe to it. We didn't really try and fucking slick it out and anything. We went the more raw route, as far as an approach."[4]

The lyrics tackle subjects outside of just personal experiences unlike most of the band's previous work, exploring such themes as the faith and imperfection of mankind and cultural belief systems.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[8]
Blabbermouth.net8.5/10[9]
Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles9.0/10[10]
CraveOnline7.5/10[11]
Exclaim!favorable[12]
Loudwire[13]
PopMatters6/10[14]

The EP was well received by critics. Artistdirect.com and Loudwire both giving the EP a perfect 5 out of 5 star rating. Natalie Zed of About.com gave the album 3.5 out of 5 stars in her review. She stated:

"While the sound of this record is classic Down, delivered without experimentation or flourish, the form of the album is where the band allow themselves freedom to explore, and very successfully. The Purple EP is at once extremely satisfying, but also leaves the listener hungry and wanting more – a fine balance."

Commercial performance

Released on September 18, 2012, nearly 17 years after their debut album NOLA, The Purple EP debut on the Billboard 200 at number 35, number 15 on the Rock Albums chart, number 7 on the Independent Albums chart, and topped the Hard Rock Albums chart all in the week on October 6, 2012.[15] The album peaked at number 57 on the UK Albums Chart.[16]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Phil Anselmo; all music composed by Down.

No.TitleLength
1."Levitation"4:58
2."Witchtripper"3:49
3."Open Coffins"5:43
4."The Curse Is a Lie"6:00
5."This Work Is Timeless"3:43
6."Misfortune Teller"9:05
Total length:33:18

Personnel

Down

Charts

Year Chart Position
2012 U.S. Billboard 200[15] 35
UK Albums Chart[16] 57

References

  1. ↑ "PHILIP ANSELMO Talks New DOWN EP, Upcoming Solo Album (Audio)". Blabbermouth. 2012-08-21. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  2. ↑ "DOWN To Release 'EP One' In September". Blabbermouth. 2012-01-12. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  3. ↑ "DOWN Performs New Song In North Carolina; Video Available". Blabbermouth. 2012-05-23. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  4. 1 2 "DOWN: New Song 'Witchtripper' Available For Streaming". Blabbermouth. 2012-07-26. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  5. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-10-13. Retrieved 2013-09-09.
  6. ↑ "DOWN: 'Witchtripper' Available On iTunes". Blabbermouth. 2012-08-01. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  7. ↑ "DOWN: New EP Title, Cover Artwork Revealed". Blabbermouth. 2012-07-27. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  8. ↑ Zed, Natalie. "Down - Down IV Part I: The Purple EP Review". About.com. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  9. ↑ Van Horn, Jr., Ray. "Down - Down IV: The Purple EP". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  10. ↑ Small, Aaron. "Down - IV Part I - The Purple EP". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  11. ↑ Robinson, Iann (2012-09-25). "Review: Down IV Part I - The Purple EP". CraveOnline. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  12. ↑ Falzon, Denise (2012-09-27). "Down - Down IV Part I: The Purple EP". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  13. ↑ Sciaretto, Amy (2012-09-20). "'Down IV, Part 1 = The Purple EP' - Review". Loudwire. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  14. ↑ Wright, Daryll (2012-10-03). "Down: Down IV: EP-One - The Purple EP". PopMatters. Retrieved 2013-09-09.
  15. 1 2 "Down Song and Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  16. 1 2 "Down Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
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