NOLA (album)

Template:Use mdy dates Template:Sources {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: September 19, 1995 | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow2002studioNOLANOLA-Down cover.jpgDownSeptember 19, 1995August 29, 1994 – January 22, 1995Ultrasonic (New Orleans)* Sludge metal<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• stoner metal<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>56:33EastWestTemplate:Hlistx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}}

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

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 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.

Influences

The band cites as influences 70s heavy rock bands such as Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, Southern rock bands such as Lynyrd Skynyrd (in the song "Stone the Crow") and ZZ Top (in the rhythmic style of "Rehab") and Doom metal bands such as Witchfinder General, Pentagram, Trouble, Saint Vitus (especially album V) and The Obsessed.<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref>

Artwork

The booklet art is by Jim DeBarros and David Manteau and makes extensive use of vintage photographs by Clarence John Laughlin.

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.<ref name="billboard1" /> 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

Template:Music ratings The album received acclaim from critics. AllMusic reviewer David Reamer praised the songs "Temptation's Wings", "Stone the Crow", and "Bury Me in Smoke", stating that "this is a landmark album that combines the talents of dedicated rock musicians, and should be included in any collection of heavy metal music."<ref name="Allmusic" /> In 2006, Oliver Badin of Terrorizer wrote that Down "succeeded where most supergroups fail: truly being the perfect sum of [its members] parts. But what makes [NOLA] so great is its forcible seizure of the Sabbathian legacy and how it soaked it in the filthy swamps of New Orleans."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Rock Hard ranked the album at number 244 on their list of the "500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Tour

Down supported NOLA with a 13-date concert tour.<ref name="Revolver">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Stormbringer">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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

Date<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	City	Country	Venue
An Evening with Down
Template:Dts	New Orleans, Louisiana	United States	Rendon Inn
Template:Dts	Dallas, Texas		Deep Ellum
Template:Dts	Chicago, Illinois		The Vic Theatre
Template:Dts	Detroit, Michigan		Saint Andrew's Hall
Template:Dts	Cleveland, Ohio		The Odeon
Template:Dts	New York City, New York		The Academy
Template:Dts	San Francisco, California		Fillmore West
Headlining with Far
Template:Dts	Los Angeles, California	United States	The Palace
An Evening with Down
Template:Dts	San Antonio, Texas	United States	Sneakers
Template:Dts	Houston, Texas		The Millenium
Template:Dts	Shreveport, Louisiana		The Warehouse

Track listing

All tracks written by Phil Anselmo and Pepper Keenan unless noted. Template:Track listing

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 Strange is credited as bass in all of the credits on each release, Windstein played the instrument in the studio. Strange still contributed to the songwriting of "Jail", and also played live.<ref name="Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories...">Template:Cite book</ref>

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 (United States)

Year	Chart	Position
1995	Billboard 200	57<ref name="billboard1">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Singles – Billboard (United States)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1995	"Stone the Crow"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	40<ref name="billboard2">Template:Cite magazine</ref>