Down guitarist Kirk Windstein recently spoke about the band’s long-awaited new album. He hinted that fans are in for a major surprise, in an interview shared at Mystic Festival.
Windstein addressed his return to the band and what listeners can expect from the upcoming record. He expressed strong confidence in both the songwriting and Phil Anselmo’s vocal performance.
“I’ve been back six years now. But this is the first Down record I’ve recorded with the band since I returned,” Windstein said. “A lot of people will be — I won’t say surprised, but I really, really think all the true Down fans are gonna absolutely love it, and hopefully we pick up some new fans as well.”
Windstein went on to highlight the overall quality of the album, singling out Anselmo’s vocals as a particular standout.
“It’s a great record, great songwriting, great riffs,” he continued. “Like Jim said, everybody played their ass off. Phil sang… People are not gonna believe how well he sings on this. And there’s zero AutoTune or any of that bullshit. That’s just Phil killing it. It sounds amazing.”
The comments mark one of the clearest indications yet that Down’s new album is shaping up to be a significant moment for the band. The upcoming record is the band’s first full-length album in over a decade, with drums and rhythm tracks already completed as of mid-2025. Windstein acknowledged the milestone nature of the project, noting that this is the first studio album he has contributed to since rejoining the group.
The album is set to be released through Nuclear Blast Records, with a potential release window targeting September 2026. The timing has been tied in part to the release schedule of Corrosion of Conformity, another band Windstein is closely associated with. This reflects the logistical complexity of managing multiple high-profile projects simultaneously.
Down also recently released a remastered edition of their third studio album, Over The Under, through Nuclear Blast in June 2026. The move signals the label’s broader commitment to the band’s catalog ahead of the new material. The remaster marked the first time the album was officially available in the United States, giving new and longtime fans a chance to revisit one of the band’s most celebrated records.
The new album will be Down’s fourth full-length studio effort. The band signed with Nuclear Blast Records in late 2025, with the deal also covering reissues of their back catalog. The signing placed Down on one of the most prominent metal labels in the world, raising the profile of the upcoming release considerably.
With recording deep into its final stages and a label deal firmly in place, Down appears closer than ever to delivering what could be one of the most anticipated heavy metal albums in years. No official release date has been confirmed.
