Down III: Over The Under Review

Release Date: Sep 24, 2007
Label: Wea/Roadrunner
Genres: Rock
Number Of Tracks: 12
This record documents the lives of these New Orleans natives through the last 5 years of catastrophe, tragedy and ultimately triumph.

Sound:	10
Lyrics:	10
Impression:	9.5
Overall rating:	9.8
Users rating:	9.6
Comments:	27

overall: 10

Featured review by: unregistered, on september 25, 2007

Sound: So I was at this bash this weekend and someone from that party handed me a CD that said Down III "Over The Under" and told me to take it home and listen to it but bring it back. In shock, I look at them and ask "Are you f--king serious?" only because it does not come out until the 25th of the month. In any case, I do so. Opening track "3 Stars and 1 Sun" starts with some feed back but starts off with the classic down sound, sounding simalar to "Lifer" from there first CD, "Nola". From the gate Phil Anselmo's vocals are very solid and seems to have a softer approach, for the lack of a better discription, but still meet Down fan's standards. Track 8, "Beneath The Tides" is the longest song on the CD pushing 9 minutes and is probably the lightest song on the CD and probably the best all around. It is extremely apparent that the guitar work is nothing short of incredible, going from calm to aggressive without Phil screaming but singing. The instrumental parts in the song are intricate but go right back to the hard chops Pepper and Kirk are notorious for. Tracks 9, "His Majesty The Desert" and 10, "Pillamyd" bleed into each other. "His Majesty The Desert" starts off sorta like "Jail" from NOLA and then fades into "Pillamyd" and when that finally kicks in it is like a hammer to your face. Aggressive to the bone and unrelentless. Overall, the sound is classic Down. Any fan of Down will love this CD. // 10

Lyrics and Singing: Phil comes through unbelievebly. His sound as I said previously are very solid but have a softer approach, cutting out a lot of the classic screaming and replacing it with harmonizing with the brutallity behind his voice. It is very apparent that they are more then pissed off about hurricane Katrina, Dimebag and this whole war. "And when we walk away there will be no coming home," Beneath The Tides. There are solid statements made in every song and I believe this is probably there best work vocally. // 10

Impression: Comapring this to other Down albums is a grave mistake. All 3 albums are different in there own way but still have one thing in common and that is the sound that Down produces. I love the guitar work on just about every song on the album and Rex Brown can still strum a bass like the best of them. I don't particularly hate anything on this album, I just wish there was a little bit more diversity among some of the songs, as on previous albums where they had strictly acoustic songs where as on "Over The Under" the closest to anything like that is "Beneath The Tides" and "His Majesty The Desert". The CD was not worth copying or burning but it sure as f--k is worth buying on the 25th when it is released. This is one band where pirating there music is almost considerd a death sentence so regaurdless if I have gotten my hands on it already I am still going to the store on the 25th of this month and buying it. // 10

overall: 9.7

Reviewed by: SilentGhost, on december 04, 2007

Sound: I've read Phil's interview on Revolver and apparently, he was going through some physical therapy and surgery for his back problems (which he faced while he was still in Pantera). The album itself was written by Phil, Keenan, and Windstien. Windstien brings Crowbar's chuggy riffs and downtuned playing into the songs. Keenan puts in the rhythmic styled guitars that are heard in his band Corrosion of Conformity. I have heard Phil's vocals change over the few Pantera albums, and in my opinion they have changed for the worse. His vocals on Reinventing the Steel was nothing compared to the ones on VDP and CBH, but this album changed all that. Phil's vocals on this album sounds fresh and as if he's back in his mid-late '20s again. The drums are fantastic as well and they keep the rhythm going pretty well. Overall, I think this is a really great album with some nice, catchy riffs and good vocals. // 10

Lyrics and Singing: The lyrics are more about regret, sorrow, anger, and more about their personal problems. It's a lot deeper than some of Phil's other works and it clearly shows all the troubles that he had to go through after Dimebag's death. The sound of the music matches perfectly with the lyrics. The low riffs brining out the negative view of the lyrics, while the faster parts and the solos expresses the anger. Phil's voice matches the lyrics very well with his screams and more melodic singing. // 10

Impression: I'd say that this is one of the best albums that Phil has put out so far. Unlike Superjoint or Pantera, this entire album is more sludge and it definitely does feel slowed down. Those people who like both Crowbar and CoC will love this album. If it was stolen, I'd go and steal it back, then tell the guy that he has good taste in music. // 9

Comments

[snuggleblade]

I traded my Down CD for a Gwar Cd.

[shenanigans]

The reviewer got a bad cd, because he got the track names mixed up. It happened in my torrent too and I had to listen to each song and find out the lyrics to get the song name. Beneath the Tides is NOT the longest song, the longest song that sounds cool and slow is actually "Nothing in Return(Walk Away)", and is the last song.

[shenanigans]

AND the real "Beneath the Tides" starts with feedback, and is track 8, not the opening track. The opening track is actually the one of the best on the album and starts with awesome drumming and buildup to an awesome riff. Its 5:43 min long.

[dizturbed]

^ f*cking idiot.

Anyway, it's been a long time coming for this CD. I think it'll be a rebirth for Phil Anselmo and the band itself.

[dizturbed]

sorry shenanigans, didn't mean to point to your comment. My comment was referring to this.

snuggleblade wrote:
I traded my Down CD for a Gwar Cd.

[shenanigans]

You calling me a F*cking Idiot? Ok buddy, the reviewer obviously has a torrented burned cd. The torrents got the tracks mixed up. Buy the cd..and compare it with the reviewers descriptions of the opening songs and "Beneath the Tides". Haha even in his description of "Beneath the Tides" he puts a line from the song "And when we walk away there will be no coming home,"...that is OBVIOUSLY "Nothing in Return(Walk Away)....

Now if you weren't talking to me then sorry.

[shenanigans]

.....I read your sorry post right after I put mine...(damn UG)

[dizturbed]

shenanigans wrote:

.....I read your sorry post right after I put mine...(damn UG)

Right, I tried to edit it but it was too late.
I hate not being able to edit comments

[JC13]

^^ :haha:. Down is fvcking awesome, saw them live once... Would have twice except 19+ clubs r teh lame.. Haven't gotten this album yet, although I should some time this week.

[postmortem2006]

Down III isn't their best but its certainly a ****ing good record

[Lee Mc]

DOWN RULE i got their album on the 24th tho :/ and the bounus song on the limited eddition CD is totally awesome everyone should go out and buy all of Down's ablums

[Azwethinkwedo]

i loves me a bit of down like. gettin the album today.

and i'm mos def gunna get tickets to see them live

[XzX_Patrick_XzX]

ive been a long time down fan and i love the new cd. i love it in on march the saints when it kicks in pepper and kirks tone is un-****ing-believable. i would have to say though that my favorite song on this cd is "nothing in return" that is probably one of the best songs i have ever heard

BURY ME IN SMOKE

Checked.

[soadrocker301]

this album is legit. just straight up down. solid.

[guitgrinder]

Down III: Over the Under-
Better than anything you're listening to right now.

[sheppo]

shenanigans wrote:

The reviewer got a bad cd, because he got the track names mixed up. It happened in my torrent too and I had to listen to each song and find out the lyrics to get the song name. Beneath the Tides is NOT the longest song, the longest song that sounds cool and slow is actually "Nothing in Return(Walk Away)", and is the last song.

maybe you should actually.....wait for it.....buy the cd

[priestou812]

i heard down way back in 95 and was amazed loved it better than pantera or coc i thought it was a one and done thing but then down 2 came out and it was like whoa now i cant belive they put a album out in the same decade hopefully this wont be the last

[priestou812]

pillmyd is f*ckin insane sounds alot like sabbath goddamn the whole f*ckin album is off the hook it might not be there best album but its diffently their rawest and most soulfull

[ether_binge]

love the album and i love down, seen them twice but am I the only one who wishes pepper keenan would sing more on the album kinda like what lane and Jerry did in alice in chains?

[TrendKiller88]

Down is rad, Phil is god PERIOD.

[gibsonplyer]

Just saw them in AC. Great show. Phil sounded great, the whole band sounded great.

BTW you're not the only one who would like to hear Pepper singing on the record. Of course I'm also a huge fan of AIC as well so that would explain this but nevertheless Over the Under is CD of the year.

[FreddoX]

I love this album. I uselly listens to alot of Slayer, Pantera and Satyricon. And to listen to one of my biggest idols doing something different than Trash Metal and doing it with the same amount, if not greater, skills that he put in on Pantera, is just awesome. It's a good change to listen to this.

[cooljew]

Well apparently i'm a complete dumass cause i just heard about these guys like a week ago for the first time. and let me say, i don't know how the **** i lived without them, these songs are incredible.

[turbopunk2000]

Down. I remember my friend almost punched me when i said I like them better than Pantera. Fucking amazing band, I can't even begin to explain the emotions I get from listening to them

[steve_a7x]

DOWN = ONE OF THE BEST BANDS AROUND!
nola was an amazing album, a bustle in your hedgerow was very good, not as good as nola tho and over the under was just simply amazing 10/10 from start to finish! favourite album/band since pantera!

[y-e-a-r-z-e-r-o]

i am a stranger to down but after hearing about phil of pentera and this cd i got it ..... and it is better than anything else i have heard phil involved with, i do love pantera and all but this entire cd is awsome.... 3 suns and 1 star, never try, on march the saints = totally bad asssss
im going to go in search of the other down albums now.... like right now