Down are in rare company, being a band that releases on average one record every seven and a half years, and still manages to make a major splash. The fact that they return over a decade after their last released music, having weathered some self-inflicted controversies and subsequent fence-mending, the wavering condition of each of their main bands, and still delivered a song every bit as good as “Lifer,” their debut single over 30 years ago, is quite astonishing. The new single “Blood Oath” slips through the fingers on attempts to describe it, as it’s Sabbathian, but it manages to fuse elements of Ozzy, Dio, and even Tony Martin era work, both vocally and musically.
The song lives in the dire and doomy sludge terrain of New Orleans, the home of many of these players, singer Philip Anselmo included, but it also gestures to the great English bands of the style and even little bits from the wave of progressive doom bands heavily inspired by bands like Down. An even more impressive feat, however, is how strenuous it is to gain these little critical insights due to how utterly compelling and engrossing the song is.
Honorable Mention
Avrak – “Unborn” is a notable mention, as Nocturno Culto’s side-project opens their career with a lead single that is simply perfect black metal. It has eerie atmosphere and blast beats that feel genuinely terrifying, with a guitar riff drawn from the song “Black Sabbath,” the immortal title track of Black Sabbath’s debut that put metal on its evil course.
Dreadnought – “Color of Our Broken Hearts” is another highlight, as the band have quietly assembled a brilliant discography, mixing progressive arrangements with a measured mix of melodic, extreme and more traditional heavy metal. The song is atmospheric in the proper way, possessing a hypnotic power that is best for deep thought or reading, like it not only wants to warm and surround you like a billowing cloud but also buffet your thought upward.
Haywire – “Interstate Love Affair” is also worth mentioning, as the band taps into the spirit of Hüsker Dü, finding a fast way to the heart with a rough and ragged vocal delivery, bellowed from the heart with an almost metallic grit. The music is delivered with fever rather than precision, and the production lets noise in, making it feel like listening to a band and not a quantized demo. On top of all of this is an infectious perfect pop melody, just like classic ’70s punk was built on, and staggeringly beautiful vocal harmonies on the chorus.
In conclusion, Down’s new single “Blood Oath” is a masterpiece that showcases the band’s ability to deliver compelling and engrossing music, even after a decade-long hiatus. The song’s unique blend of Sabbathian and doom metal elements, combined with its haunting atmosphere, makes it a must-listen for fans of heavy music. Additionally, the honorable mentions, including Avrak, Dreadnought, and Haywire, demonstrate the diversity and talent of the metal and punk genres, with each band bringing their own unique style and sound to the table.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte, widely regarded as the “Shakespeare of Sh*tposts,” is a video game expert with a unique knack for turning pixels into punchlines.
Born in the small town of Respawn, Pennsylvania, Pixel grew up mashing buttons on an ancient NES controller, firmly believing that “blowing into the cartridge” was a sacred ritual passed down through generations.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte: proving that life, much like a buggy open-world game, is better with a little lag-induced chaos.
