Heavy metal supergroup DOWN — featuring vocalist Philip H. Anselmo, guitarists Pepper Keenan and Kirk Windstein, drummer Jimmy Bower, and bassist Pat Bruders — have announced the "Strap It Down" North American headlining tour, running from August 15 in Atlanta, Georgia through September 4 in Shakopee, Minnesota.
Support for the trek comes from HELMET and SPIRIT IN THE ROOM, two complementary acts that add significant weight to what's already a muscular bill. The tour also includes a pair of slots at Zakk Wylde's "Berzerkus" festival (August 28 in Scranton, PA, and August 29 in Wantagh, NY), featuring LAMB OF GOD and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY among others, as well as a closing festival slot as direct support to SLAYER in Shakopee.
Limited VIP ticketless packages are available, offering a soundcheck experience, meet-and-greet, photo opportunity, signed poster, and exclusive merch — a rare opportunity for close access to one of heavy music's most revered acts.
Even more exciting for DOWN fans: guitarist Kirk Windstein has confirmed that the band's long-awaited new studio album is completely recorded. "It's done. It's been recorded. We just need to find the right person to mix it properly. We're hoping to have a release by October or something, I would think," he told Metal Nation.
It's been years since DOWN released proper new studio material, and the prospect of a new record arriving in the same year as a North American tour is thrilling news for the New Orleans sludge/doom faithful.
Additional DOWN appearances include Aftershock (October 3, Sacramento), Sick New World Texas (October 24, Fort Worth), and Decibel Metal and Beer Fest (December 5, Denver).