Metal supergroup Down will release its long-awaited new album “Volume V” on Nov. 20, 2026, via Nuclear Blast Records. Pre-order the album here, and watch the music video for the new single “Blood Oath” below.
Down features vocalist Philip H. Anselmo (Pantera), guitarists Pepper Keenan (Corrosion of Conformity) and Kirk Windstein (Crowbar), drummer Jimmy Bower (Eyehategod) and bassist Pat Bruders. “Volume V” is the band’s first full-length album since 2007 and its first release of any kind since the Down IV Part II” EP in 2014.
“We were all excited about this,” Anselmo said. “There was a sense of lightness in the air. Everyone’s attitude was positive. There was more focus than ever. It just felt fresh again. Each one of us was individually striving for something, and I believe we achieved what we wanted to achieve. The record is a journey. It’s classic Down, but it’s also unique.”
“Everybody played their asses off, wrote great riffs, and Philip is singing amazing,” Windstein said. “There’s so much electricity when we get together. To me, it’s the same vibe as our debut ‘NOLA,’ but we’ve got another 35 years of experience as songwriters.”
“The five of us are from the same era, grew up together and accomplished a lot on our own,” Keenan said. “We all sounded different, but we’re still from the same 20-block radius. As far as what makes Down special, we knew one another before any of us had done anything. There’s history.”
Two writing sessions yielded the bulk of material on “Volume V.” Upholding a tradition dating back to “Down II,” the members retreated to Anselmo’s home studio and their de facto clubhouse, Nodferatu’s Lair.
The album opens with “The Myth.” It sets the tone with a powerhouse vocal, pummeling rhythms, and precise down-picking. Then, there’s “Merciful Fate” featuring King Diamond. It reaches an apex with a vocal duel between Anselmo and King Diamond and solos executed at a breakneck pace of 120bpm. King’s wife Livia Zita even blesses the track with dark accents of her own. Closer “Twice-Told Tales” caps the trip off with a heavy and hypnotic denouement. “It’s a conglomerate of tight riffs and blues rock mixed with the diligence of classic metal,” Anselmo said. “It’s an important song to us. I could feel Ozzy Osbourne’s influence on me in the strangest way.”
Lead single “Blood Oath” is anchored by an alternately hard-hitting and hummable riff, culminating on a clarion call chorus. With a sly tip of the hat to their stomping grounds, it practically bleeds old gold, black, and white. “Anybody who’s from New Orleans is going to get a kick out of the references to the city,” Anselmo said. “Musically, it’s got a big hook. It’s a Down song, but it takes a turn.”
“You’ll know it’s Down right off the fucking bat,” Keenan said. “It’s heavy in its attack.”
“Volume V” was produced by Eddie Mapp and Down, mixed by Dave Fortman and mastered by Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering in California.
The record will be released on CD and digital formats, as well as 2xLP in the following color variants:
- Orange [World]
- Yellow + Red Galaxy [Nuclear Blast US Exclusive]
- Orange + Red Galaxy [Nuclear Blast EU Exclusive]
- Black [Band Exclusive #1]
- Clear, Black + Red Smoke [Band Exclusive #2]
- Orange + Black Galaxy [Decibel Exclusive]
- Smoke [Revolver Exclusive]
“Volume V” track listing:
1. The Myth
2. Merciful Fate
3. Turn out the Light
4. The Message
5. Causeway Grief
6. Blood Oath
7. They Walk the Night
8. They Came fFrom Dust
9. Ozz
10. Twice-Told Tales
Down is out on a North American headlining tour with support by Helmet and Spirit in the Room. The Strap It Down tour commenced Aug. 15 in Atlanta, Georgia, and will close Sept. 4 in Shakopee, Minnesota, with a special performance as direct support to Slayer. The journey also includes slots on the 2026 installment of Zakk Wylde’s Berzerkus Festival featuring Lamb of God, Black Label Society and others on Aug. 28 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Aug. 29 in Wantagh, New York.
Limited VIP ticketless packages are available now, featuring a soundcheck experience, meet-and-greet, photo opportunity, signed poster and exclusive merch item. Visit down-nola.com/tour to secure yours.
In October, Down will perform at Aftershock and Sick New World Texas. In December, the band will headline day two (Dec. 5) of this year’s edition of the Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest Denver.
Down tour dates:
With Helmet, Spirit in the Room
8/19/2026 House Of Blues – Cleveland, OH
8/20/2026 Stage AE – Pittsburgh, PA
8/22/2026 Royal Oak Music Theatre – Royal Oak, MI
8/23/2026 HISTORY – Toronto, ON
8/25/2026 MTELUS – Montreal, QC
8/26/2026 The Palladium – Worcester, MA
8/28/2026 The Pavilion @ Montage Mountain – Scranton, PA ** Berzerkus Fest w/ Lamb Of God, Black Label Society, more
8/29/2026 Northwell @ Jones Beach Theater – Wantagh, NY ** Berzerkus Fest w/ Lamb Of God, Black Label Society, more
8/30/2026 The Fillmore Silver Spring – Silver Spring, MD
9/01/2026 Bogart’s – Cincinnati, OH
9/02/2026 Ramova Theatre – Chicago, IL
9/04/2026 Mystic Lake Amphitheater – Shakopee, MN ** w/ Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies, Hatebreed
Festivals
10/03/2026 Aftershock – Sacramento, CA
10/24/2026 Sick New World Texas – Fort Worth, TX
12/05/2026 Decibel Metal And Beer Fest – Denver, CO
** No Helmet, Spirit Iin the Room
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