Down IV – Part I

Down IV – Part I (informally known as The Purple EP) is the first EP by American sludge metal band Down. It was released on September 18, 2012.[2] It is the first album featuring bassist Pat Bruders due to the departure of former bassist Rex Brown in 2011, and the last to feature guitarist Kirk Windstein, who left in 2013.

Down IV – Part I
EP by
Down
ReleasedSeptember 18, 2012
StudioNodferatu's Lair, Louisiana[1]
GenreSludge metal, stoner metal, southern metal
Length33:18
LabelDown Records, Roadrunner Records
ProducerMichael Thompson, Down
Down chronology
Diary of a Mad Band
(2010)		 Down IV – Part I
(2012)		 Down IV – Part II
(2014)
Singles from Down IV – Part I
  1. "Witchtripper"
    Released: July 31, 2012

Background

In January 2012, vocalist Phil Anselmo announced that the band has been recording songs in the studio since October 2011. The band planned to release a series of EPs over the next few years.[3] On May 21, 2012, Down performed "Misfortune Teller" for the first time in North Carolina.[4] On July 26, 2012, another new song, "Witchtripper", was made available for streaming.[5] It was released on iTunes on July 31, 2012.[6][7] The band revealed the artwork and title of their first EP to be Down IV Part I – The Purple EP in July 2012.[8]

Lyrics and style

The band decided to go back to its roots and the style of writing that was most prominent on their debut album. "We're writing it like we did the first one," said Pepper Keenan. "Just get together in the jam room, right in each other's faces. That's how a lot of the classic rock bands worked; jamming it out, Deep Purple-style."[9]

Much of the work was done at Phil Anselmo's barn "Nodferatu's Lair" in Louisiana, where the band also recorded their second album, Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow. Influences such as Black Sabbath, Trouble, and Witchfinder General played a significant role in the writing process, with the EP containing traces of doom metal and Southern rock, giving it a dark, raw and ominous feel.

Anselmo described the album as:

"Very stripped down. Nothing flashy. Straight to the point… really just DOWN music. If you liked the first record, the demos… something like that… This record, we're pretty dead straight and honest and on the money as far as making it as simple and direct as possible and I think we did that. . . It has that practice-room vibe to it. We didn't really try and fucking slick it out and anything. We went the more raw route, as far as an approach."[5]

The lyrics tackle subjects outside of just personal experiences unlike most of the band's previous work, exploring such themes as the faith and imperfection of mankind and cultural belief systems.

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[10]
Blabbermouth.net8.5/10[11]
Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles9.0/10[12]
CraveOnline7.5/10[13]
Exclaim!favorable[1]
Loudwire[14]
PopMatters6/10[15]

The EP was received well by critics. Artistdirect.com and Loudwire both giving the EP a perfect 5 out of 5 star rating. Natalie Zed of About.com gave the album 3.5 out of 5 stars in her review. She stated:

"While the sound of this record is classic Down, delivered without experimentation or flourish, the form of the album is where the band allow themselves freedom to explore, and very successfully. The Purple EP is at once extremely satisfying, but also leaves the listener hungry and wanting more – a fine balance."

Commercial performance

Released on September 18, 2012, nearly 17 years after their debut album NOLA, The Purple EP debut on the Billboard 200 at number 35, number 15 on the Rock Albums chart, number 7 on the Independent Albums chart, and topped the Hard Rock Albums chart all in the week on October 6, 2012.[16] The album peaked at number 57 on the UK Albums Chart.[17]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Phil Anselmo; all music is composed by Down

No.TitleLength
1."Levitation"4:58
2."Witchtripper"3:49
3."Open Coffins"5:43
4."The Curse Is a Lie"6:00
5."This Work Is Timeless"3:43
6."Misfortune Teller" (The song "Misfortune Teller" ends at minute 7:05. After 1 minute and 30 seconds of silence [7:05 – 8:35], an untitled hidden song starts.)9:05
Total length:33:18

Personnel

Charts
Year Chart Position
2012 U.S. Billboard 200[16] 35
UK Albums Chart[17] 57

References
  1. Falzon, Denise (September 27, 2012). "Down - Down IV Part I: The Purple EP". Exclaim!. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  2. "PHILIP ANSELMO Talks New DOWN EP, Upcoming Solo Album (Audio)". Blabbermouth. August 21, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  3. "DOWN To Release 'EP One' In September". Blabbermouth. January 12, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  4. "DOWN Performs New Song In North Carolina; Video Available". Blabbermouth. May 23, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  5. "DOWN: New Song 'Witchtripper' Available For Streaming". Blabbermouth. July 26, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  6. "ITunes - Music - Witchtripper - Single by Down". iTunes. Archived from the original on October 13, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  7. "DOWN: 'Witchtripper' Available On iTunes". Blabbermouth. August 1, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  8. "DOWN: New EP Title, Cover Artwork Revealed". Blabbermouth. July 27, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  9. Ling, Dave, "Live! Down"; Classic Rock #148, August 2010, p105
  10. Zed, Natalie. "Down - Down IV Part I: The Purple EP Review". About.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  11. Van Horn Jr., Ray. "Down - Down IV: The Purple EP". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  12. Small, Aaron. "Down - IV Part I - The Purple EP". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  13. Robinson, Iann (September 25, 2012). "Review: Down IV Part I - The Purple EP". CraveOnline. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  14. Sciaretto, Amy (September 20, 2012). "'Down IV, Part 1 = The Purple EP' - Review". Loudwire. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  15. Wright, Daryll (October 3, 2012). "Down: Down IV: EP-One - The Purple EP". PopMatters. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  16. "Down Song and Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  17. "Down Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
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