‘The Myth‘ is the latest single from American heavy metal icons DOWN. The track comes off the band’s long-awaited new studio album, Volume V, set for release on November 20th via Nuclear Blast Records.
DOWN was never just a band. It’s a brotherhood rooted in childhood friendships that have endured for decades. It’s an homage to the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. It’s music meant for anybody who has ever headbanged, played air guitar, or worn a weathered tour t-shirt like armor. For over three decades, the quintet – Philip H. Anselmo, Pepper Keenan, Kirk Windstein, Jimmy Bower, and Pat Bruders – have quietly built a legacy like no other. When these individuals congregate, magic ensues, conjured by earthquaking grooves, bellowing straight from the soul, and riffing loud enough to awaken an ancient deity. This Fall, DOWN begins another chapter with Volume V.
Volume V opens with the blistering barnburner, ‘The Myth.’ It sets the tone with a powerhouse vocal, pummeling rhythms, and precise down-picking. “‘The Myth’ has some epic moments,” comments Anselmo. “It’s a jammer. It’s got a big nod to Trouble, but vocally I’m thinking of James Dewar, Ronnie James Dio, Ozzy Osbourne, Glenn Hughes, and many of the other greats… The track and video are both straightforward and hammering.”
“It’s a perfect example of a classic DOWN collaboration,” says Windstein. “Amazing vocals, great riffs, and it comes together in a great DOWN song!”
Keenan agrees, “‘The Myth’ is classic DOWN in all its hammer fisted glory leading into a ‘70s jam trip that’s damn well worthy of the ride. Deliberate decisions of all the things we love… Quoting my main man. ‘When times are tough, they count on us!’”
Notes Bruders, “This is one of those songs that almost wrote itself. Especially when we all got in the same room together to work it out. It stands alone like all the other songs on this album.”
“It’s one of my favorite tracks off the new record,” adds Bower. “It’s heavy hitting and has all the right moves. It’s no Myth…. This song rules!”
PRE-ORDER / PRE-SAVE VOLUME V: https://down.bfan.link/volume-v
STREAM ‘THE MYTH’: https://down.bfan.link/the-myth
DOWN – VOLUME V || TRACKLIST
01. The Myth
02. Merciful Fate
03. Turn Out The Light
04. The Message
05. Causeway Grief
06. Blood Oath
07. They Walk The Night
08. They Came From Dust
09. Ozz
10. Twice-Told Tales
DOWN’s Volume V was produced by Eddie Mapp and DOWN, mixed by Dave Fortman, and mastered by Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering in California.
DOWN’s bond runs deep. The guys initially crossed paths as teens in various local bands throughout New Orleans. Over the years, each musician went off and made a name for himself with Anselmo notably fronting Pantera, Keenan holding down guitar and vocals for Corrosion Of Conformity, Windstein leading Crowbar, and Bower slinging guitar in Eyehategod.
Two writing sessions yielded the bulk of material on Volume V. Upholding a tradition dating back to Down II, the members retreated to Anselmo’s home studio and their de facto clubhouse, Nodferatu’s Lair. Songs originated on the spot as they jammed face-to-face. Throughout 2025, the music naturally took shape. Keenan and Windstein chose to simultaneously record guitar together, giving the album a timeless punch.
“These days, there’s no pressure,” Anselmo notes. “We each showed up with what we had, and everybody added their input. It was a true band effort. Pat was coming up with incredible riffs, and he’s such a great bass player. With DOWN, I can look across from me, and I know these motherfuckers. I know their shortcomings, and I know their strengths. I also know they’re all blessed. When I see them, they bring a level of comfort. There’s zero weight on my shoulders. I just have to do what I do, and those guys make it easy.”
The record will be released on CD and digital formats as well as 2xLP in the following color variants:
Orange [World]
Yellow + Red Galaxy [Nuclear Blast US Exclusive]
Orange + Red Galaxy [Nuclear Blast EU Exclusive] – SOLD OUT
Black [Band Exclusive #1] – SOLD OUT
Clear, Black + Red Smoke [Band Exclusive #2] – SOLD OUT
Orange + Black Galaxy [Decibel Exclusive] – SOLD OUT
Smoke [Revolver Exclusive] – SOLD OUT
Transparent Neon Orange + Black Marble (Nuclear Blast Exclusive)
DOWN recently wrapped up The Strap It Down North American headlining tour which concluded with a special performance as direct support to Slayer in Shakopee, Minnesota. DOWN played Aftershock last week and will head to Fort Worth, Texas later this month for Sick New World Fest.
In November, the band’s official record release show will take place at Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana as part of The Great NOLA Trendkill! Presented by Housecore Horror, Housecore Records, and Live Nation, the special two-day festival will take over the Crescent City on November 20th and 21st and feature a landmark performance by Pantera, marking their first show in New Orleans in 30 years, as well as performances by Black Label Society, Corrosion Of Conformity, Power Trip, Crowbar, Eyehategod, Rāde, Herakleion, and Pig Destroyer!
In December, DOWN will headline day two (December 5th) of this year’s edition of the Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest Denver. The appearance marks the band’s first Denver appearance in over twelve years!
Tickets for all shows are on sale now. See confirmed dates below.
US Festival Dates:
10/24/2026 Sick New World Texas – Fort Worth, TX
11/20-21/2026 The Great NOLA Trendkill – New Orleans, LA
12/05/2026 Decibel Metal And Beer Fest – Denver, CO
More on DOWN:
In 1991, DOWN’s first impromptu jam session yielded a now-legendary demo that made its way around the world. From there, the three-song tape effectively laid the foundation for 1995’s Platinum-certified NOLA. Metal Hammer cited the latter as, “a rock classic, period,” and Stereogum professed, “Our modern understanding of what metal in the Deep South sounds like and means starts with NOLA, and we should pay our respects.” The band delivered fan favorites such as Down II: A Bustle In Your Hedgerow [2002], Down III: Over The Under [2007], Down IV – Part One [2012], and Down IV – Part Two [2014]. Each tour proved to be special in its own right. Beyond packing houses on global headline jaunts, the group shared the stage with the likes of Metallica, Heaven & Hell, Danzig, and Melvins in addition to igniting festivals such as Aftershock, Louder Than Life, Hellfest, and Sick New World. It’s no wonder Revolver christened the collective one of the “12 Greatest Supergroups in Hard Rock and Heavy Metal History.”
First reactions to previously released Volume V single, “Blood Oath”:
“‘Blood Oath’ is thick. The song begins with open-aired, waggle-heavy, melancholy guitar harmonizing from Pepper Keenan and Kirk Windstein. And it only gets heavier, the band soon lunging into a death-marching groove full of graveyard guitar hooks and midnight creepin’ lyrics… Philip Anselmo also injects a handful of references to their beloved NOLA.” – Revolver
“…a nasty doom grinder, as Philip Anselmo’s vocals evoke Matt Pike of High On Fire with the heft of the partial growl set against a riff that is pure New Orleans sludge metal. The influence of classic doom from Trouble and St. Vitus is worn plain as day by the riffs that make up ‘Blood Oath,’ underscoring why DOWN has been able to sustain such profound critical and commercial interest despite having released just three LPs and two EPs over their 35-year history.” – Consequence
“‘Blood Oath’ is undeniably a DOWN track, rife with big stomp energy, a catchy hook, and an unforgettable riff. It’s somewhat of an ode to their hometown of New Orleans, with frontman Philip Anselmo adding little Easter egg nods to the city throughout the song.” – Metal Injection
DOWN:
Philip H. Anselmo – vocals
Pepper Keenan – guitars
Jimmy Bower – drums
Kirk Windstein – guitars
Pat Bruders – bass
