Over the Under, also referred to as Down III: Over the Under, is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Down, released five years after their previous album, Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow. It was released internationally on September 24, 2007, and in the United States on September 25, 2007.[1]
| Over the Under | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 25, 2007 | |||
| Recorded | December 2006 – February 2007 | |||
| Genre | Sludge metal, stoner metal, southern metal | |||
| Length | 59:54 | |||
| Label | Independent Label Group, Warner, Roadrunner | |||
| Producer | Warren Riker, Down | |||
| Down chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Over the Under | ||||
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Themes edit
Lyrical themes of Over the Under include the band's anger about Hurricane Katrina, Phil Anselmo's frustration over the murder of Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell, and the bad blood between the two up until the guitarist's death.
"Phil's really good at [lyrics], Several songs address Katrina's aftermath and how life changes on you, man. We've got a lot of ammunition for this one, I'll put it that way — a lot of things have not necessarily gone right for everybody these last couple of years. Everybody's just trying to stay positive. We're not writing Christian songs. These are still angry, frustrated songs." – Pepper Keenan[2]
"We've progressed a lot, but we didn't forget those first Down demos. ...We still get off on those big, giant, heavy riffs. But at the same time, we're not afraid to play acoustic guitars in a circle. It's not a one-direction evolution for us." – Pepper Keenan[2]
Release and reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [3] |
| Metal Hammer | 10/10 |
| Rolling Stone | 10/4/07 |
The album was leaked in full on or around August 29, 2007. The album was also released on LP, and in a special edition digipak featuring a bonus track and an extended booklet. The album debuted at No. 42 in the Irish Singles Chart on September 27, 2007.[4] The album debuted at No. 26 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling about 29,000 copies in its first week.[5] On the UK Album Charts, the album debuted at No. 46 on September 30, 2007.
Over the Under was No. 4 in Revolver's list of the 20 best albums of 2007 and No. 2 in Metal Hammer's year-end list. It was ranked No. 37 on Rolling Stone's list of the Top 50 Albums of 2007.[6]
Reviews for the album were mixed. Matthew Cooper at Last Rites praised the production, musicianship, and backing vocals. He commended "Nothing in Return (Walk Away)" to be a "slow, massive nine-minute closer is a supremely commanding emotional climax built on a dominant back-and-forth drum pattern, astral noodling, and impassioned vocals, in an undeniable display of the band members' combined talents."[7] Don Kaye at Blabbermouth rated it 6.5/10 stars, and opined "the group is just not playing or writing at the top of its game here", as well as "many of the songs on 'III' are drawn-out and unmemorable, consisting mainly of one or two riffs repeated over and over while Anselmo's vocals cascade and echo on top. He heaped additional criticism on Anselmo's vocals as well, noticing a weakness he did not see while Anselmo was in his prime. However, he noted there were flashes of the "old Down", referencing guitar work on "In the Thrall of It All", while saving his biggest praise for "Nothing in Return" as "the mournful, massive feel of some of the band's best early numbers and ends the album on a majestic note."[8] Vince Neilstein of MetalSucks rated it 3.5 out of 5 horns, echoing the mixed opinion, writing it "...isn't a spectacular album that is going to change the face of metal and save the day. But what it is is an awesome album to groove and smoke a bowl to while being reminded that metal doesn't always have to be all about tough guy posturing..."[9]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Three Suns and One Star" | Phil Anselmo, Kirk Windstein | 5:41 |
| 2. | "The Path" | Anselmo, Rex Brown | 4:09 |
| 3. | "N.O.D." | Anselmo, Pepper Keenan, Windstein | 4:00 |
| 4. | "I Scream" | Anselmo, Keenan | 3:48 |
| 5. | "On March the Saints" | Anselmo, Keenan, Windstein | 4:10 |
| 6. | "Never Try" | Anselmo, Brown, Keenan | 4:55 |
| 7. | "Mourn" | Anselmo, Keenan | 4:44 |
| 8. | "Beneath the Tides" | Anselmo, Keenan | 5:32 |
| 9. | "His Majesty the Desert" | Anselmo, Keenan | 2:25 |
| 10. | "Pillamyd" | Anselmo, Keenan | 5:15 |
| 11. | "In the Thrall of It All" | Anselmo | 6:20 |
| 12. | "Nothing in Return (Walk Away)" | Anselmo, Keenan | 8:55 |
| Total length: | 59:54 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Invest in Fear" | Down | 5:20 |
Notes edit
- On October 14, 2008, Down re-released Over the Under in a deluxe edition, containing 30 extra minutes of bonus footage and live performances on a DVD, as an exclusive item for Best Buy stores throughout the United States.
Personnel edit
- Down
- Phil Anselmo – vocals, guitar on "The Path"
- Pepper Keenan – guitar
- Kirk Windstein – guitar
- Rex Brown – bass
- Jimmy Bower – drums
- Additional musicians
- Ross Karpelman – keyboards
- Technical personnel
- Warren Riker – producer, recording engineer, mixer
- David "The Puma" Troia – additional engineering, Pro Tools
- Jonas Grabarnick – Pro Tools
- Rouble Kapoor – assistant engineer
- Bo Jo – assistant engineer
- Brian "Big Bass" Gardner – mastering
- Vance Kelly – art direction and design
- Pepper Keenan – art direction and design
- Dove Shore – photography
Charts edit
Album – Billboard (North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Billboard 200 | 26 |
| Top Independent Albums | 3 |
Tour dates edit
| Promotional tour by Down, | |
| Location | Europe, North America, Australasia |
|---|---|
| Associated album | Over the Under |
| Start date | September 27, 2007 |
| End date | October 14, 2008 |
| Date[10] | City | Country | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America I | |||
| September 27, 2007 | Reno | United States | Stoney's |
| September 28, 2007 | San Francisco | Senator | |
| September 29, 2007 | Chico | Senator | |
| October 1, 2007 | Portland | Roseland Theater | |
| October 2, 2007 | Spokane | Big Easy | |
| October 4, 2007 | Vancouver | Canada | Commodore Ballroom |
| October 5, 2007 | Seattle | United States | Showbox SoDo |
| October 6, 2007 | Boise | Big Easy | |
| October 8, 2007 | Denver | Ogden Theatre | |
| October 10, 2007 | Chicago | House of Blues | |
| October 11, 2007 | Milwaukee | The Rave | |
| October 13, 2007 | St. Louis | Pop's | |
| October 14, 2007 | Tulsa | Cain's Ballroom | |
| October 16, 2007 | Kansas City | Beaumont Club | |
| October 17, 2007 | Minneapolis | 1st Ave | |
| October 19, 2007 | Detroit | Harpos | |
| October 20, 2007 | Cincinnati | Bogart's | |
| October 22, 2007 | Toronto | Canada | Phoenix |
| October 23, 2007 | Cleveland | United States | House of Blues |
| October 25, 2007 | New York City | Roseland Ballroom | |
| October 26, 2007 | Atlantic City | House of Blues | |
| October 27, 2007 | Worcester | Palladium | |
| October 28, 2007 | Montreal | Canada | Metropolis |
| October 30, 2007 | Albany | United States | Northern Lights |
| October 31, 2007 | Baltimore | Sonar | |
| November 7, 2007 | Atlanta | Roxy Theatre | |
| November 9, 2007 | Tampa | Jannus Landing | |
| November 10, 2007 | Fort Lauderdale | Revolution | |
| November 11, 2007 | Orlando | Hard Rock Live | |
| November 13, 2007 | Houston | Meridian | |
| November 14, 2007 | San Antonio | Sunset Station | |
| November 15, 2007 | Corpus Christi | Concrete St | |
| November 17, 2007 | Lubbock | Pavilion | |
| November 18, 2007 | Albuquerque | Sunshine | |
| November 19, 2007 | Tempe | Marquee Theatre | |
| November 20, 2007 | San Diego | House of Blues | |
| November 23, 2007 | Los Angeles | The Music Box @ Fonda | |
| November 24, 2007 | Las Vegas | House of Blues | |
| North America II | |||
| January 18, 2008 | Mobile | United States | Soul Kitchen |
| January 19, 2008 | Birmingham | Workplay Theatre | |
| January 20, 2008 | Lafayette | Grant St. Dance Hall | |
| January 22, 2008 | Little Rock | The Village | |
| January 23, 2008 | Oklahoma City | Diamond Ballroom | |
| January 25, 2008 | Springfield | Reminton's | |
| January 26, 2008 | Urbana | Canopy Club | |
| January 27, 2008 | Grand Rapids | The Orbit Room | |
| January 29, 2008 | Flint | Machine Shop | |
| January 30, 2008 | Pittsburgh | Rex Theater | |
| February 2, 2008 | Indianapolis | Egyptian Room | |
| February 4, 2008 | Buffalo | Town Ballroom | |
| February 5, 2008 | Allentown | Crocodile Rock | |
| February 7, 2008 | Long Island | Mulcahy's | |
| February 8, 2008 | Providence | Lupo's | |
| February 9, 2008 | Sayreville | Starland Ballroom | |
| February 11, 2008 | Poughkeepsie | The Chance | |
| February 12, 2008 | New Haven | Toad's Place | |
| February 13, 2008 | Richmond | Toad's Place | |
| February 14, 2008 | Norfolk | Norva Theatre | |
| February 16, 2008 | Knoxville | Valarium | |
| February 18, 2008 | Ashville | Orange Peel | |
| February 19, 2008 | Nashville | The Cannery | |
| February 21, 2008 | New Orleans | Southport Music Hall | |
| Europe I | |||
| March 18, 2008 | Moscow | Russia | B1 |
| March 19, 2008 | St. Petersburg | Port Club | |
| March 21, 2008 | Tampere | Finland | Pakkhuone |
| March 22, 2008 | Helsinki | Kulttuuritalo | |
| March 24, 2008 | Stockholm | Sweden | Debaser |
| March 25, 2008 | Oslo | Norway | Rockefeller |
| March 26, 2008 | Copenhagen | Denmark | Pumpehuset |
| March 28, 2008 | Prague | Czech Republic | Rock Café |
| March 29, 2008 | Warsaw | Poland | Stodola |
| March 30, 2008 | Berlin | Germany | Huxley's |
| April 1, 2008 | Munich | Elserhalle | |
| April 2, 2008 | Stuttgart | Longhorn | |
| April 3, 2008 | Brussels | Belgium | AB |
| April 5, 2008 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Melkweg |
| April 6, 2008 | Paris | France | Bataclan |
| April 8, 2008 | Glasgow | Scotland | Academy |
| April 9, 2008 | Birmingham | England | Academy |
| April 10, 2008 | Norwich | University of East Anglia | |
| April 12, 2008 | Manchester | Academy | |
| April 13, 2008 | London | Brixton Academy | |
| April 15, 2008 | Dublin | Ireland | Ambassador |
| April 17, 2008 | Tilburg | Netherlands | Roadburn Festival's "Pre-Heat" |
| April 18, 2008 | Wiesbaden | Germany | Schlachtof |
| April 19, 2008 | Caluire et Cuire | France | Le Radiant |
| April 21, 2008 | Zürich | Switzerland | Rohstofflager |
| April 22, 2008 | Milan | Italy | Alcatrazz |
| April 24, 2008 | Barcelona | Spain | Alcatrazz |
| April 25, 2008 | Madrid | Joy Eslava | |
| April 27, 2008 | Lisbon | Portugal | Coliseu dos Recreios |
| Europe II | |||
| July 10, 2008 | Hamburg | Germany | Markthalle |
| July 12, 2008 | Köln | Live Music Hall | |
| July 13, 2008 | Malmö | Sweden | Kulturbolaget |
| July 14, 2008 | Gothenburg | Trädgårn | |
| Supporting Metallica with The Sword | |||
| July 16, 2008 | Bergen | Norway | Bergenhus Castle |
| July 18, 2008 | St. Petersburg | Russia | SKK Hall |
| July 20, 2008 | Riga | Latvia | Skonto Stadium |
| July 22, 2008 | Bologna | Italy | Parco Nord |
| July 25, 2008 | Sofia | Bulgaria | Levski Stadium |
| July 27, 2008 | Istanbul | Turkey | Ali Sami Yen Stadium |
| Oceania | |||
| October 10, 2008 | Brisbane | Australia | The Arena |
| October 11, 2008 | Sydney | UNSW Roundhouse | |
| October 12, 2008 | Melbourne | Palace Theatre | |
| October 14, 2008 | Perth | Metro Fremantle | |
References edit
- ^ "DOWN: New Album Tentative Release Date Revealed" Archived October 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Blabbermouth.net, July 26, 2007.
- ^ a b Chris Harris, "New Down LP To Include 'Angry' Songs About Katrina, Dimebag Darrell", MTV News, January 30, 2007.
- ^ "Over the Under – Down". AllMusic.
- ^ ">> IRMA << Irish Charts – Singles, Albums & Compilations >>". Irma.ie. February 9, 2012. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
- ^ Katie Hasty, "Rascal Flatts Races To No. 1 In Debut-Heavy Week", Billboard.com, October 3, 2007.
- ^ ROBERT CHRISTGAU, DAVID FRICKE, CHRISTIAN HOARD, ROB SHEFFIELD (December 17, 2007). "The Top 50 Albums of 2007" Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 20, 2007
- ^ Matthew Cooper (September 25, 2007) "Down – III: Over the Under Review" Last Rites. Retrieved June 22, 2019
- ^ Don Kaye "CD Reviews: III – Over The Under" Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2019-06-22
- ^ Vince Neilstein (October 23, 2007) "Down III: Over The Under is an Honest Snapshot of Battle-worn Band at Their Best" MetalSucks. Retrieved June 22, 2019
- ^ "Official Down Board • View topic – Down Tour Archive". Downboard.com. Retrieved February 14, 2012.