Down

Former Pantera and Down bassist says he and Judas Priest guitarist have “become really good friends.”

After more than 35 years of helping hold down the bottom end for some of metal's biggest bands, bassist Rex Brown has stepped out on his own as a solo artist.

By the time Down released their third album, the group had gone from superstar side-project to full-time focus for its members.

They more expansive, sludgy and bluesy for this long-awaited sophomore album.

This project grew out of a series of jams between Pantera's Philip Anselmo and Corrosion of Conformity's Pepper Kennan.

Southern sludge supergroup Down have shared the first song from a new EP which comes out on May 13.