NOLA (album)

NOLA is the debut studio album by American sludge metal band Down, released on September 19, 1995 by Elektra Records. The title is the abbreviation for New Orleans (NO), Louisiana (LA).

NOLA
Studio album by Down
Released	September 19, 1995
Recorded	August 29, 1994 – January 22, 1995
Studio	Ultrasonic, New Orleans, Louisiana
Genre	Sludge metal,[1] stoner metal[2]
Length	56:33
Label	Elektra
Producer	Down Matt Thomas
Down chronology
NOLA (1995) II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow (2002)
Singles from NOLA
"Lifer" Released: August 1995 "Stone the Crow" Released: September 1995 "Temptation's Wings" Released: 1995 "Bury Me in Smoke" Released: 1995

Production

Writing and recording

NOLA was written mainly by Phil Anselmo 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 Elektra 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. Lyrical themes on the album prominently focus on topics such as death, suicide, drug abuse and personal struggles.

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.[3] 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" would achieve commercial success when it reached number 40 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, becoming Down's first and only top 40 song.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Rock Hard	9.5/10[4]

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."

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Temptation's Wings"	Phil Anselmo, Pepper Keenan	4:24
2.	"Lifer"	Anselmo, Keenan	4:36
3.	"Pillars of Eternity"	Anselmo	3:57
4.	"Rehab"	Anselmo, Keenan, Kirk Windstein	4:03
5.	"Hail the Leaf"	Anselmo	3:28
6.	"Underneath Everything"	Anselmo, Keenan	4:46
7.	"Eyes of the South"	Anselmo, Keenan	5:13
8.	"Jail"	Anselmo, Keenan, Windstein, Todd Strange	5:17
9.	"Losing All"	Anselmo, Keenan	4:21
10.	"Stone the Crow"	Anselmo, Keenan	4:42
11.	"Pray for the Locust" (instrumental)	Anselmo	1:07
12.	"Swan Song"	Anselmo, Jimmy Bower, Keenan	3:35
13.	"Bury Me in Smoke"	Anselmo, Keenan	7:04
Total length:			56:33

Tour

Down supported NOLA with a 13-date concert tour.[5][6] 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[7]

Date	City	Country	Venue
An Evening with Down
September 20, 1995	New Orleans, Louisiana	United States	Rendon Inn
September 21, 1995	Dallas, Texas		Deep Ellum
September 24, 1995	Chicago, Illinois		The Vic Theatre
September 25, 1995	Detroit, Michigan		Saint Andrew's Hall
September 26, 1995	Cleveland, Ohio		The Odeon
September 27, 1995	New York City, New York		The Academy
September 29, 1995	San Francisco, California		Fillmore West
Headlining with Far
September 30, 1995	Los Angeles, California	United States	The Palace
An Evening with Down
December 27, 1995	San Antonio, Texas	United States	Sneakers
December 28, 1995	Houston, Texas		The Millenium
December 30, 1995	Shreveport, Louisiana		The Warehouse

Personnel

Down Philip Anselmo – vocals, mandolin (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. [8] 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 (North America)

Year	Chart	Position
1995	Billboard 200	57[3]

Singles – Billboard (North America)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1995	"Stone the Crow"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	40[9]

References

1. Allmusic review
2. "10 Essential Stoner Metal Albums". Revolver. April 20, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
3. "Down Chart History – Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 12, 2017.
4. Kühnemund, Götz (1995). "Review Album: Down — NOLA" (in German) (101). Retrieved February 10, 2018. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
5. Geist, Brandon (November 2007). "Never Say Die". Revolver Magazine.
6. "Interview with Pepper Keenan (Down and C.O.C.)". Stormbringerwebzine.co.uk. Archived from the original on November 7, 2007. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
7. "Official Down Board • View topic - Down Tour Archive". Downboard.com. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
8. Mudrian, Adrian. Precious Metal. Hachett Books. ISBN 0786749628.
9. "Down Chart History – Mainstream Rock Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 30, 2018.