Band: Down
Album title: Diary Of A Mad Band
Label: Roadrunner Records
Distributor: Roadrunner Records – Concreteweb Promotion Office - CNR
Release date: 03/10/2010
Release: 2xCD + DVD

With one of the most pragmatic frontmen in metal nowadays, Down is back with a new dvd. Actually, there’s nothing new about this dvd, just because all the recordings go back to their European tour in the Spring of 2006, more than four years ago.
Back then, they just started playing again and immediately headed to Europe and the UK for a 6-month tour to set Down back on the top of the mountain of stoner metal.
The package includes two live cds and one live dvd. The two cds include all the live songs which can also be seen on the dvd. It holds material from the live shows in several clubs in Germany, England, the Netherlands, France, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland and the last song, Bury Me In Smoke, was filmed at the famous Download festival in Donington where they played a surprise act at the main stage. This performance obviously must have been immense !
The quality of most of the live shots isn’t of very high quality, but it perfectly reflects the atmosphere of Down.
Next to the live material, there also is a chapter called Tyrades and Shenanigans. It actually summarizes the stupidities of Down next to performing while being on tour. This goes from Kirk being a hairdresser for a few minutes, to wearing female underwear, soundchecks, Irish dialects and having a word with the fans who haven’t forgotten about Phil Anselmo and his masterpiece.
Even for people who don’t really know Down, this dvd was mixed in such a way that they can easily win a lot of new fans. This dvd never bores.

91/100

Nick Tronckoe.