Good news, Down fans! The band is making significant progress on their next EP. In fact, frontman Philip Anselmo recently confirmed to CobraMetal.net that he's completed recording vocals for the effort, which is the follow-up to 2012's 'Down IV Part I – The Purple EP.'

Anselmo also opened up further about Down's forthcoming release with MusicFrenzy.net. He explained, "I think we start guitar solos on [Dec.] 16. So we're getting close, man. And once we get those solos down and stuff like that, I guess we'll be mixing, and as I predicted earlier in the year, I think this f---ing EP ought to be finished and ready to go by the first quarter of next year."

The frontman says that the band has started finding their groove after making the transition from longtime guitarist Kirk Windstein to new axe slinger Bobby Landgraf. He states about Windstein, "I think it was a case of him really wanting to be in sole control of his destiny and his life and Crowbar. He's got this massive love for Crowbar, like we all do here, and we support each other. You know, it was a mutual thing and I totally understood where he was coming from."

As for Landgraf, Anselmo stated, "He's filling in real, real f---ing great. Actually, whenever you have some new blood in a band, it's always kind of inspiring, especially if they're great players, like Bobby is. So Bobby recorded with us on this new one. So yeah man, we're going full steam ahead regardless. And it's a smooth transition, man."

Speaking about what fans can expect from the new EP, the singer stated, "The way I've been feeling about it is Black Sabbath, man, and if it ain't Black Sabbath, it's … it really kind of yanks me back to old heavy metal in the Sabbath vein, like the Witchfinder Generals and Saint Vitus-type bands of the very early '80s. It just takes me back to that man, and that's the vibe I've been feeling on this thing the whole time."

Keep an eye out for new Down music coming in 2014.

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