Down III
Over the Under
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DOWN III: OVER THE UNDER, the 3rd studio offering from southern fried doom lords DOWN, has a very 70’s centric feel from start to finish. From the songs and the production to the album cover, OVER THE UNDER might just be the most 70’s influenced and 70’s sounding DOWN album ever recorded.
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Check out other DOWN Episodes
Released 9/25/2007
Label:
Independent Label Group, Warner, Roadrunner
Producer:
Warren Riker, Down
Phil Anselmo – vocals
Pepper Keenan – guitar
Kirk Windstein – guitar
Rex Brown – bass
Jimmy Bower – drums
Tracks
1 Three Suns and One Star
2 The Path
3 N.O.D.
4 I Scream
5 On March the Saints
6 Never Try
7 Mourn
8 Beneath the Tides
9 His Majesty the Desert
10 Pillamyd
11 In the Thrall of It All
12 Nothing in Return (Walk Away)
Singles
"Mourn" Released: 9/25/2007
"I Scream" Released: 10/22/2007
"On March the Saints" Released: 2008
Time to fire up the “bowrider” and begin preparations for “The Dockside Sessions” coming later this summer. Discover why knowing the difference between a succubus and an incubus is critical when it comes to certain forms of somnia, remember that if you’re learning guitar to always focus on your “fingering technique”, behold some outstanding metal from Australasia that’s very “throaty”, and just accept the fact that “I don’t know where they could have put it where I would have liked it” when you JOIN US as we take a trip through the heavier side of the 70’s with DOWN III: OVER THE UNDER.
THREE SUNS AND ONE STAR
“Awwwwwww mannnnnnn…….”
What a riff! Just think ZZ Top on steroids.
2:52 – the riff change that takes us to the bridge. Some tasty harmonies in there…a solid opener for album # 3.
“I’ve drank the oceans dry,
I’ve stopped the time,
Embraced the riddle of regret…”
THE PATH
A radical departure relative to the opener. Definitely use those headphones. DOWN is the heavier, doomier face of southern rock blended with Black Sabbath and modern-day Doom & Stoner metal. Technically, calling it southern metal would be accurate.
There are multiple songs on this album that have aged quite well and actually sound better now than they did in 2007.
“Crawling to the path of the righteous…”
N.O.D.
Yeah! Get you some powerful, stoner sludge shuffle…
“Drop trip..”
Guessing that N.O.D. stands for “Not On Dope”…or perhaps not.
2:40 – what a shift.
“Lost on a trip,
No acid can supply,
Because L.S.D. ain’t what it used to be for me…”
I SCREAM
Could this song perhaps be about ice cream? (Maybe so, but most probably not…)
Granted, DOWN always feels like a much better fit for autumn, but since this episode is coming out in the spring, just days away from Easter, it’s also very 4/20 friendly, so load up your bowl of relaxers and light ‘em up.
ON MARCH THE SAINTS
Inspired in no small part due to the destructive path of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the resulting impact on NOLA…
“There’s no such thing as a good time for bad luck…”
That pre-chorus climb is reminiscent of Hand Of Doom.
2:30 – March? Or Mosh?
On Mosh The Saints? That’s a perfect S.O.D. title for their version of a DOWN song. Someone must make this happen!!!
“We have been through change,
By the season of the storms,
It’s irony, the cleansing…”
NEVER TRY
Darker and doomier and bluesier…perhaps sage words of wisdom from Phil regarding the demons he’s conquered, no doubt due in part to the crippling aftermath of Katrina. Feels like a continuation of “Learn From This Mistake” from DOWN II.
2:31 – That’s 70’s Sabbath all day, or really anything 70’s. Just load up a bowl and pretend it’s 1974 and that you just picked up DOWN III at your local record store and you’re blasting Zeppelin on the 8-track player in your ‘72 Monte Carlo while racing home to crank up the hi-fi and blast some tunes.
MOURN
(R.I.P. Dime)
Regarding the devastation of being prohibited from attending Dime’s funeral after he was murdered at point blank range on stage with Damageplan in 2004.
BENEATH THE TIDES
Crunchy, phaser laden goodness. This has the sound of being on the coast, watching the tides coming in and going out, sometimes gently and sometimes with great fury and relentless power.
While this tune may not be as memorable as other songs on the album or even earlier DOWN records, it’s definitely got a solid vibe and feel that has aged quite well over the years.
2:36 – solo riff…there’s that 70’s vibe again. A little slide guitar, reminiscent of classic Skynyrd.
“Playing Russian roulette with a full chamber…”
HIS MAJESTY THE DESERT
Very visual, very Planet Caravan-esque…not really an instrumental, but not really NOT an instrumental either. This song pairs up well with the next track (Pillamyd).
“Reaching for a handful (yet still the pain goes on)…”
2:11 – “…and building…And Building…AND BUILDING…”
PILLAMYD
“Crying on the downed stones…”
Likely alluding to the building of neverending tolerance that comes with the insatiable hunger which feeds opioid addiction until the “pillamydion” is finally reached.
3:02 – Damn! Feel THAT!”
“It’s etched in stone…”
3:55 – a call back to “His Majesty The Desert” before the solo…nicely done.
IN THE THRALL OF IT ALL
“Go slow…”
Almost like funky doom metal in a way…or just funky doom. This whole album reeks of the 70’s in the best way possible. DOWN has always had that sound, but this sounds like something you’d expect to hear back in ’75 alongside Sabbath & Zeppelin & Skynyrd and Floyd.
“Because self-destruction brings misfortune…”
NOTHING IN RETURN (WALK AWAY)
Equal parts doom metal meets Zeppelin meets Floyd with some Sabbath thrown in for good measure and then blended together into a perfect combination of ethereal, atmospheric vibe, hooky melodies, beautiful harmonies, and sentimental heaviness.
2:13 – That’s a brutally beautiful chorus, chock full of harmonies and heartache and emotional numbness. Easily the finest, most memorable moment on the album.
4:30 – The Bridge…a slightly lighter mood to offset the heaviness of the track, offering some sort of consolation to the broken, alone, & isolated.
“And when we walk away there will be no coming home…”
Show Notes:
(00:01): “That’s brand new, condo carpet right there…” / “Well…here’s the thing…”/ #bowrider / #runabout / Metal Nerdery: The Dockside Sessions / ***WARNING: #listenerdiscretionisadvised *** / #audiobook #Hellraisers #debauchery / “They called it ‘The Zakk Wylde Drinking Game’…” / “Is it really reading if you’re doing it with your ears?” / #earreading / ***WELCOME BACK TO THE METAL NERDERY PODCAST!!!*** / A brief reflection regarding our #WeSoldOurSoulForBonScott episode / #thisepisodesbeeroftheepisode #WingedCreatures /
Beer of the Episode
Winged Creatures West Coast IPA
#WayfinderBeer / Succubus vs Incubus / “One’s a dude, right? I want the one that’s NOT the dude…” / #markthetime / #sleepfucking / 6.8%ABV (“It’s green as fuck…”) / “It is brisket, but it ain’t brisket…” /
“They salt it…and corn it…” / ***IF YOU WANNA SKIP THE NONSENSE AND GO STRAIGHT TO THE MEAT OF THE EPISODE, GO TO #THEDOCKET IN THE SHOW NOTES***
(08:35): “Grab the shaft…I’m gonna grab the horn…”/ Check us out on the social media on #Instagram #Facebook #YouTube #TikTok at #metalnerderypodcast and EMAIL US at metalnerdery@gmail.com or GIVE US A CALL AND LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL AT 980-666-8182!!! / #voicemail / “Hail yeah!”/ Tips for new guitar players / “You’re gonna fall into so much poon, you have no idea…” / “As I started adding fingers…”/ #EugenesBagOfTricks /
“Tablature is helpful, too…”/ “Get your fingering technique good…” / “Do we have any more voicemail?” / A comment regarding some old school #Aerosmith (from the 70’s) / “What’s it called?” / #AlienWeaponry / “I want the phone number of your #relaxerdealer …” / “If you had to pick an Aerosmith album…”/ #ghettoblaster / “You know what’s almost equally as offensive?” / “You shouldn’t say THAT word…EVER!” / “That’s like going on to #TheView and saying…” / Learning how to “read the room” / “Starts with an N, ends with an R…”/ “A great new band out of Australasia…” / #NewZealandMetal / HANGING BY A THREAD (Te Ra – 2025) / “I like that word…throaty…” / A little too much / “Isn’t that a song?” / “It’s a different ‘lade’…” / “Speaking of NOLA…”
(24:16): #TheDocket / METAL NERDERY PODCAST PRESENTS: DOWN III – Over The Under / We felt like it was time to break out some #DOWN and properly prepare for 4/20 festivities and their upcoming new album which they’re currently working on as we speak… / “…and stuff?” / Released on September 25, 2007 / “You know what this reminds me of?” / #MasterOfReality / “It’d be like 70’s No Quarter influenced doom metal…”/
THREE SONS AND ONE STAR / #HeavyZZTop / “Embrace the riddle of regret…”/ THE PATH
“Awwwwwww mannnnnnn…” / “I can hear #Pantera doing this…”/ “Well, caterpillars are weird…” / “Grab the shaft, I’m gonna grab the horn…”
(34:54): N.O.D. (“Because L.S.D. ain’t what it used to be for me…”) / I SCREAM / “I had a dream and we were hanging out with #Metallica…” / “OMG, It’s the Trident Challenge…” /
ON MARCH THE SAINTS / “This sounds more #southernrock …”/ “There’s no such thing as a good time for bad luck…” / “On mosh the saints…” / “That totally reminds me of Master of Reality…” / “Back it up because there’s feedback that’s weird…” / NEVER TRY / “That’s the 70’s, all day…that riff…” / #RussellsReflections regarding #LynyrdSkynyrd and their less popular stuff / “You can come over and taste my meat any time you want…”
(48:00): MOURN / “Do you ever turn down a bathroom break?” / “Castawhy?” / #HenrysHardSoda / “I think the next day I pee’d and it was green colored…”/ “Were you wearing your special shoes?” / BENEATH THE TIDES / “That’s so fuckin’ 70’s, dude…” / “Feel Anselmo?” / “If you have relaxers, please set them on fire, right now…”/ HIS MAJESTY THE DESERT / “Bye Felicia…”/ “And building…and building…” / PILLAMYD / #usethoseheadphones / “I might like the riffage on this one better…”/ “Dude, your credibility is gone…” / #PlanetCaravan / “I don’t know where they could have put it where I would have liked it…” / “You’re welcome…”
(1:03:27): IN THE THRALL OF IT ALL / “Doesn’t it have a 70’s vibe to it? (This whole album does…)” / “I think they need to take #Pentagram out on tour…”/ “That’d be literally a Doom Fest…” / NOTHING IN RETURN (WALK AWAY) / “Sounds like Zeppelin…No Quarter, the middle part…” / “This might be my favorite song on the album…”/ “The harmony is so killer…”/ #victoryswampmetal / “Huh?” / “Probably gonna play a little butt-games…”/
“I kept being reminded what ‘the fourth hole’ is…” / “That’s a very descriptive dream…” /
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND HAPPY 4/20 TO ALL!!! / #untilthenext #outroreel