Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow... is the second studio album by American stoner metal band Down, released on March 26, 2002. The subtitle "A Bustle in Your Hedgerow..." is borrowed from the lyrics of "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin.
Background Down II was the band's first album in seven years since the release of NOLA, the longest gap between their three studio albums to date. Being a supergroup, the band went on hiatus in 1996 so that members could focus on their main bands (namely Eyehategod, Corrosion of Conformity, Crowbar, and Pantera). Down reformed in 1999 with Pantera bassist Rex Brown replacing Todd Strange. The band wanted the album to have a "bluesy" feel, so they moved into Phil Anselmo's barn for the recording.
The album was originally titled 'The Backwood Heavies'.
Also in 2002, the band recorded an acoustic version of "Stone the Crow" that was never officially released although it can be heard on YouTube.
Critical reception
Down II was not received as well as the band's debut release, NOLA. Blabbermouth reviewer Borivoj Krgin stated, "Down II appears to have been thrown together more haphazardly, with much of the material falling short of the standard set by Down's classic debut offering." However, UK critics were more enthusiastic, with Metal Hammer awarding the album 8/10 and Rock Sound declaring it "a storming experience from the depths" and rating it at 4/5. Despite its poor US reviews, the album debuted at number 44 on the Billboard 200.
Accolades Publication Country Accolade Year Rank Metal Hammer United Kingdom "Albums of the Year" 2002 4 Kerrang! United Kingdom "Albums of the Year" 2002 14 Terrorizer United Kingdom "Albums of the Year" 2002 20 Rock Hard Germany "The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time" 2005 319
Track listing
Personnel Down Phil Anselmo – vocals, guitar on "Landing on the Mountains of Meggido" Pepper Keenan – guitar Kirk Windstein – guitar Rex Brown – bass Jimmy Bower – drums, all instruments on "Doobinterlude"
Additional musicians Stephanie Opal Weinstein – backing vocals on "Landing on the Mountains of Meggido"
Charts YearChartPosition2002Billboard 200442002German Album Charts67
Tour To support the album, Down toured on the second stage of Ozzfest in 2002. They also scheduled an 18-date tour that began May 1 in New York and ended on May 25 in Dallas. After the December 1st show in Texas, the band once again entered an hiatus to focus on their respective bands until May 19, 2006.
DateCityCountryVenue Birmingham United States Five Points Music Hall Atlanta The Roxy New York City Roseland Ballroom Philadelphia Trocadero Worcester The Palladium Cleveland The Odeon Cincinnati Bogart's Columbus Newport Music Hall Grand Rapids The Orbit Room Detroit Harpo's Chicago House of Blues Minneapolis Quest Club Denver Ogden Theater Las Vegas House of Blues West Hollywood House of Blues San Francisco The Fillmore Scottsdale Cajun House San Antonio Sunset Station Houston Sunset Station Dallas Deep Ellum Live
References