Phil Anselmo of Down and Pantera recentely caught up with94.9 K-Rock to talk about the latest EP from Down now that it is finally out!
You can see the chat below!
94.9 K-Rock: The new [DOWN] album/EP [“Down IV - Part Two”] will be released May 13th. Anything you guys did differently on this one? Any new formula?
Phillip: Well, obviously,Kirk Windstein[guitar] isn’t with us anymore. For DOWN, that’s a big deal. However, we totally respect what he had to do and he wants to concentrate onCROWBAR. I love him with all of my heart. [The newDOWNguitaristBobby Landgrafis] a guy that has worked with us for almost a decade. We’ve been on the road together and toured together. He’s an insanely great guitar player. He fits like a glove. He was always that guy that was there just in casePepper[Keenan, guitar] orKirkgot ill or couldn’t make the gig. He was the fill-in guy. Luckily, that never happened. To have him come in was absolutely a breath of fresh air. He contributed riff-wise right off the bat. I’ve got to say This isPat[Bruders], our bass player’s second go at it as far as recording. He did the first EP with us.Pathas stepped it up and brought up these riffs. To have these new riffs made the record. It made the whole experience enjoyable, in my opinion.
94.9 K-Rock: The first single is titled“We Knew Him Well”. If you would, talk about that track and the meaning behind it.
Phillip: Well I’m not going to spoonfeed the listener. WithDOWN, I have the option to be very obscure with the lyrics. What I like to do is create lyrics that hopefully create imagery in someones head when they listen to it and read the lyrics. So, as far as any deep meaning goes fuck yeah, I definitely have my own opinion on what it is and who it’s about. I think people should listen to it and come to their own assumptions. Make it fit for their fucking life and go from there. I will let you know that. the main riff, the first riff isBobby’s. The second riff isJimmy’s [Bower, drums]. And that’s all I’m giving ya right there! That’s aBowerriff!
94.9 K-Rock: Any upcoming plans after this touring cycle to do any side projects?SUPERJOINT[RITUAL]?
Phillip: No side projects but I’m definitely working on the newILLEGALS[Philip’s solo band] record. It’s a treacherous, hideous, relentless, and fucking extreme. Right now, I’ll just say that it’s in its skeletal formation. Some bones may be missing in the skeleton, but once I get that skeleton together and start adding each organ one by fucking one, it’s going to be an interesting record.
94.9 K-Rock: What made you guys lean more towards an EP release [with the newDOWN]?
Phillip: The question of the fucking decade! Everyone’s attention span these days is a little shorter. Honestly, for me, doing a full-length record is a thing of the past. I’m not doing it again. It’s boring. If I can concentrate on making five or six songs the best I can, that’s the way I would prefer to release it. There’s several reasons forDOWN. On the first three records, it took us five years between every record to put them out, so doing it in the EP formula helps us get it quicker to people. Not so much stress on everyone. At the end of the day,DOWNis still made up of a bunch of other bands. The newEYEHATEGODis coming out andJimmyis going to be busy with that.Patdoes a lot of grindcore stuff.Pepperdoes all kinds of stuff. I do theILLEGALSand run the record label and all. We all realize every one of us has other things. but when it'sDOWNtime, it'sDOWNtime. We all commit.
See the rest of the interview atBlabbermouth
