DOWN

Metal supergroups don’t get much bigger than Down. Formed in 1991 in New Orleans, the band boasts an A-list lineup of heavyweights featuring Pantera vocalist Phil Anselmo, Corrosion of Conformity guitarist Pepper Keenan, Crowbar guitarist Kirk Windstein and Eyehategod drummer Jimmy Bower. Unsurprisingly, Down’s music is ferocious and includes elements from all these bands. Their 1995 debut, Nola—featuring the grungy stoner-rock single “Stone the Crow”—and its 2002 follow-up, Down II, encompass laidback Southern boogie, sludgy metal and smouldering hard rock, while later songs such as 2012’s “Witchtripper” can be noisier, Sabbath-like fever dreams. Although each member of Down keeps busy with their other musical projects, the band are familiar faces at heavy-music festivals and occasionally convene for tours and one-off events.