Volume V

DOWN's Volume V, due from Nuclear Blast Records on 20 November 2026, is the New Orleans band's first full-length album since Down III: Over The Under in 2007. Most of it came from two writing sessions at Nodferatu's Lair, Philip H. Anselmo's home studio and the band's writing room since Down II, with the songs jammed into shape face to face through 2025, and Pepper Keenan and Kirk Windstein recorded their guitars at the same time. Eddie Mapp produced with the band, Dave Fortman mixed and Maor Appelbaum mastered. King Diamond duels with Anselmo on "Merciful Fate", on which King Diamond's wife, Livia Zita, also appears, and Anselmo says Ozzy Osbourne's influence surfaced unexpectedly in the closing "Twice-Told Tales". "Blood Oath", which he expects New Orleans listeners to enjoy for its references to the city, came out on 19 August 2026 with a video shot by Mike Holderbeast and Metal Dave Gonzalez; February's Dr. John cover, "Right Place, Wrong Time", is not on the record. The five first met as teenagers in New Orleans bands: Anselmo (Pantera) sings, Keenan (Corrosion Of Conformity) and Windstein (Crowbar) play guitar, Jimmy Bower, a guitarist in Eyehategod, is on drums and Pat Bruders on bass; Windstein, gone from 2013, was back by the end of 2019. The CD linked here is a jewel-case import (EAN 4065629770402); the general-release 2LP is orange (EAN 4065629770419), with an embossed, spot-gloss sleeve on first pressings. No Japanese edition had been announced by September 2026.