Down Announce Volume V, Their First Album in 12 Years

Down announced Volume V, their first full-length album in twelve years, on August 19, with a November 20 release on Nuclear Blast Records. The New Orleans band � built around Pantera's Philip Anselmo and Crowbar's Kirk Windstein � recorded the ten songs during sessions at Anselmo's home studio, the same setup the band has used since Down II. The album was co-produced by the band with Eddie Mapp, mixed by Dave Fortman and mastered by Maor Appelbaum. Mercyful Fate's King Diamond guests on a track called Merciful Fate, with his wife also appearing on the song. Lead single Blood Oath is out now with an official video. There was a sense of lightness in the air, Anselmo said of the sessions. Windstein added that everybody played their asses off, wrote great riffs.