''NOLA'' is the debut studio album by American
sludge metal
Sludge metal (also known as sludge or sludge doom) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that originated through combining elements of doom metal and hardcore punk. It is typically harsh and abrasive, often featuring shouted vocals, heavi ...
band
Down, released on September 19, 1995 by
EastWest Records. The title is the abbreviation for
(NO),
Louisiana (LA).
Production
Writing and recording
''NOLA'' was written mainly by
Phil Anselmo
Philip Hansen Anselmo (born June 30, 1968) is an American Heavy metal music, heavy metal vocalist best known as the lead singer for Pantera, Down (band), Down, and Superjoint, amongst other musical projects. He is the owner of Housecore Records ...
and
Pepper Keenan between 1990 and 1995. Throughout 1991 to 1993, the band released three demos, a three-track demo (1991), a four-track demo (1992), and a ten-track demo (1993). Originally, the band made the three-track demo for underground trading. The demo featured the tracks "Losing All", "Temptation's Wings", and "Bury Me in Smoke". In an effort to build a fan base, the band would ask heavy metal fans if they had ever "heard of this band, Down" and hand them copies of the tape without telling the person that they were in the band. In 1992, the band recorded a second demo, this time featuring the same track listing as the original but with an intro. In 1993, the band made the ''Demo Collection 1992–1993'' which is a ten-track demo featuring all the songs that would make the album cut except "Rehab", "Pray for the Locust", and "Underneath Everything". Anselmo solely wrote only three songs on the album ("Hail the Leaf", "Pray for the Locust", and "Pillars of Eternity"). Eventually, the original demo tape was distributed throughout the United States and Down played a small concert in its home town. A record executive from EastWest Records was attending the show. When he found out who the members of the band were, he signed Down to a recording contract. The band began recording the album in the summer of 1994 at the
Ultrasonic Studios, New Orleans, Louisiana, and completed the recording sessions by January 1995.
Artwork
The booklet art is by Jim DeBarros and David Manteau and makes extensive use of vintage photographs by
Clarence John Laughlin.
Lyrics and style
Although a sludge metal album, ''NOLA'' contains traces of
hardcore punk,
southern rock,
stoner rock, and
grunge
Grunge (sometimes referred to as the Seattle sound) is an alternative rock genre and subculture that emerged during the in the American Pacific Northwest state of Washington, particularly in Seattle and nearby towns. Grunge fuses elements of p ...
. Lyrical themes on the album prominently focus on topics such as death, suicide, drug use and personal struggles.
Track listing
Release and reception
Commercial performance
''NOLA'' was released in September 1995 and would peak at number 57 in October 1995 on the
''Billboard'' 200, and remain on the chart for six weeks.
The album spawned four singles in "Stone the Crow", "Lifer", "Temptation's Wings", which were released in 1995, and "Bury Me in Smoke" in 1996. However, only "
Stone the Crow
"Stone the Crow" is a song by American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Down (band), Down and a single from their 1995 debut album, ''NOLA (album), NOLA''. It peaked at No. 40 on the US Mainstream Rock (chart), Mainstream Rock charts. A video ...
" would achieve commercial success when it reached number 40 on the
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock is a music chart in ''Billboard'' magazine that ranks the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations in the United States, a category that combines the formats of active rock and heritage rock. The chart was launched in Ma ...
charts, becoming Down's first and only top 40 song.
Critical reception
The album received positive reviews from critics with ''
Allmusic'' reviewer David Reamer giving the album a near perfect 4.5 out of 5 stars. He praised the songs "Temptation's Wings", "Stone the Crow", and "Bury Me in Smoke" stating "this is a landmark album that combines the talents of dedicated rock musicians, and should be included in any collection of heavy metal music."
Tour
Down supported ''NOLA'' with a 13-date concert tour.
The band went on hiatus in 1996 as all members continued their main projects. They would reunite in 1999 to make a second album, ''
Down II'', released in 2002.
Tour dates
Personnel
;Down
*
Philip Anselmo – vocals,
mandolin
A mandolin ( it, mandolino ; literally "small mandola") is a stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally plucked with a pick. It most commonly has four courses of doubled strings tuned in unison, thus giving a total of 8 ...
(track 8), guitar
(track 11)
*
Pepper Keenan – guitars
*
Kirk Windstein – guitars, bass*
* Jimmy Bower – drums
*
Todd Strange – bass*
*
Although Todd Strange is credited as bass in all of the credits on each release, Kirk Windstein played the instrument in the studio. Strange still contributed to some songwriting, and also played live.
;Additional musicians
* Lil' Daddy – percussion
(track 8),
water pipe (track 5)
* Sid Montz – percussion
(track 8)
* Ross Karpelman – keyboards
(track 8)
;Technical personnel
* Matt Thomas – production, mixing
* David Farrell – mixing
* Ted Jensen – mastering
* Clarence John Laughlin – photography
* Michael Miller – photography
* Atom Bomb – photography
Chart positions
Album – ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' (United States)
Singles – ''Billboard'' (United States)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nola
Down (band) albums
1995 debut albums
Elektra Records albums