After more than a decade without a full studio album, Down is making a comeback — and we may not have to wait much longer. During a recent appearance on The Jasta Show, guitarist/vocalist Kirk Windstein confirmed that the heavy metal supergroup has made a lot of progress towards their new full-length album, with a tentative release set for 2026 via Nuclear Blast Records.
“Yeah, all the drum tracks are done and basically the bass tracks as well,” Windstein said, offering a glimpse into the process.
Down, known for its crushing riff-driven sound, currently features a lineup of seasoned musicians: vocalist Philip H. Anselmo, guitarist Pepper Keenan, drummer Jimmy Bower, bassist Pat Bruders, and Windstein himself. Reflecting on the band’s musical trajectory, Windstein discussed how the songwriting process has evolved since their 1995 debut NOLA.
“[Philip and I] talked about it kind of jokingly and stuff, but I’m, like, ‘Dude, at some point I think you were just overthinking,’ because it went from the simplicity of NOLA where there’s so many open areas of just big, simple riffs and shit to really being complex on a lot of songs on Down III: Over The Under, where he’s almost singing over every part of the song but the guitar solo or something.”
That sense of introspection has fed directly into the writing process for the new material. Windstein described the recent writing sessions at Anselmo‘s home studio as a reinvigorating experience.
“We were out at the Nodferatu’s Lair and I’m, like, I said, ‘I haven’t been out here writing with you dudes since… It’s been, like, since for the first EP,’ so maybe 2011, early 2012… So it’s kind of like we haven’t written together in so long that it was so fresh. I mean, we got together on a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and I think we had seven songs written.
“Because you’ve got five dudes that can write riffs. I mean, your drummer can write riffs too. And Pat writes great, and Phil writes great. And you’ve got me and Pepper on guitar. So when you’ve got five dudes that can write riffs, there’s some songs that we all kind of have a riff in it, even, or a part or half a riff or something.”
The upcoming album will mark Down‘s first full-length since Down III: Over The Under (2007), and the first new material since their EPs Down IV Part I – The Purple EP (2012) and Down IV – Part Two (2014).
If Windstein‘s enthusiasm is any indication, the band’s collaborative spirit could yield one of their most unified – and riff-laden – records yet. Color us excited.
Enter your information below to get a daily update with all of our headlines and receive The Orchard Metal newsletter.
#KIRK #WINDSTEIN #Talks #Progress #DOWNs #Upcoming #Album
