Down - Nola
If we had to pick just one album to represent all that was great about the New Orleans heavy music scene of the 90s it would be Nola by Down. Comprised of members of several legendary bands in their own right, Down became much more than the sum of its individual parts. The amount of killer riffs on this album is unreal. They are sludgy, dirty, heavy, and tinged in a southern blues vibe. On top of those riffs thrones Phil Anselmo who puts up the possibly greatest studio performance of his career (which is filled with great performances). He shows his incredible range, mixing aggression and rage with vulnerability, spitting out one monster hook after the other. Down captured lightning in a bottle, letting every members strengths shine to create a masterpiece that made a huge impact well beyond New Orleans.
