| Over the Under | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Down |
| Cover: | Down III.jpg |
| Released: | September 25, 2007 |
| Recorded: | December 2006 – February 2007 |
| Genre: |
|
| Length: | 59:54 |
| Label: | Independent Label Group, Warner, Roadrunner |
| Producer: | Warren Riker, Down |
| Prev Year: | 2002 |
| Next Title: | Diary of a Mad Band |
| Next Year: | 2010 |
Over the Under, also referred to as Down III: Over the Under, is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Down, released five years after their previous album, . It was released internationally on September 24, 2007, and in the United States on September 25, 2007.[1]
Lyrical themes of Over the Under include the band's anger about Hurricane Katrina, Phil Anselmo's frustration over the murder of Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell, and the bad blood between the two up until the guitarist's death.
The album was leaked in full on or around August 29, 2007. The album was also released on LP, and in a special edition digipak featuring a bonus track and an extended booklet. The album debuted at No. 42 in the Irish Singles Chart on September 27, 2007.[2] The album debuted at No. 26 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling about 29,000 copies in its first week.[3] On the UK Album Charts, the album debuted at No. 46 on September 30, 2007.
Over the Under was No. 4 in Revolver's list of the 20 best albums of 2007 and No. 2 in Metal Hammers year-end list. It was ranked No. 37 on Rolling Stones list of the Top 50 Albums of 2007.[4]
Reviews for the album were mixed. Matthew Cooper at Last Rites praised the production, musicianship, and backing vocals. He commended "Nothing in Return (Walk Away)" to be a "slow, massive nine-minute closer is a supremely commanding emotional climax built on a dominant back-and-forth drum pattern, astral noodling, and impassioned vocals, in an undeniable display of the band members' combined talents."[5] Don Kaye at Blabbermouth rated it 6.5/10 stars, and opined "the group is just not playing or writing at the top of its game here", as well as "many of the songs on III are drawn-out and unmemorable, consisting mainly of one or two riffs repeated over and over while Anselmo's vocals cascade and echo on top. He heaped additional criticism on Anselmo's vocals as well, noticing a weakness he did not see while Anselmo was in his prime. However, he noted there were flashes of the "old Down", referencing guitar work on "In the Thrall of It All", while saving his biggest praise for "Nothing in Return" as "the mournful, massive feel of some of the band's best early numbers and ends the album on a majestic note."[6] Vince Neilstein of MetalSucks rated it 3.5 out of 5 horns, echoing the mixed opinion, writing it "...isn't a spectacular album that is going to change the face of metal and save the day. But what it is is an awesome album to groove and smoke a bowl to while being reminded that metal doesn't always have to be all about tough guy posturing..."[7]
Album – Billboard (North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Billboard 200 | 26 |
| Top Independent Albums | 3 |
| Concert Tour Name: | Over the Under Tour |
| Artist: | Down, |
| Location: | Europe, North America, Australasia |
| Type: | Promotional |
| Album: | Over the Under |
| Start Date: | September 27, 2007 |
| End Date: | October 14, 2008 |
| This Tour: | Over the Under Tour (2007–2008) |
| Date[8] | City | Country | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America I | |||
| Reno | United States | Stoney's | |
| San Francisco | Senator | ||
| Chico | Senator | ||
| Portland | Roseland Theater | ||
| Spokane | Big Easy | ||
| Vancouver | Canada | Commodore Ballroom | |
| Seattle | United States | Showbox SoDo | |
| Boise | Big Easy | ||
| Denver | Ogden Theatre | ||
| Chicago | House of Blues | ||
| Milwaukee | The Rave | ||
| St. Louis | Pop's | ||
| Tulsa | Cain's Ballroom | ||
| Kansas City | Beaumont Club | ||
| Minneapolis | 1st Ave | ||
| Detroit | Harpos | ||
| Cincinnati | Bogart's | ||
| Toronto | Canada | Phoenix | |
| Cleveland | United States | House of Blues | |
| New York City | Roseland Ballroom | ||
| Atlantic City | House of Blues | ||
| Worcester | Palladium | ||
| Montreal | Canada | Metropolis | |
| Albany | United States | Northern Lights | |
| Baltimore | Sonar | ||
| Atlanta | Roxy Theatre | ||
| Tampa | Jannus Landing | ||
| Fort Lauderdale | Revolution | ||
| Orlando | Hard Rock Live | ||
| Houston | Meridian | ||
| San Antonio | Sunset Station | ||
| Corpus Christi | Concrete St | ||
| Lubbock | Pavilion | ||
| Albuquerque | Sunshine | ||
| Tempe | Marquee Theatre | ||
| San Diego | House of Blues | ||
| Los Angeles | The Music Box @ Fonda | ||
| Las Vegas | House of Blues | ||
| North America II | |||
| Mobile | United States | Soul Kitchen | |
| Birmingham | Workplay Theatre | ||
| Lafayette | Grant St. Dance Hall | ||
| Little Rock | The Village | ||
| Oklahoma City | Diamond Ballroom | ||
| Springfield | Reminton's | ||
| Urbana | Canopy Club | ||
| Grand Rapids | The Orbit Room | ||
| Flint | Machine Shop | ||
| Pittsburgh | Rex Theater | ||
| Indianapolis | Egyptian Room | ||
| Buffalo | Town Ballroom | ||
| Allentown | Crocodile Rock | ||
| Long Island | Mulcahy's | ||
| Providence | Lupo's | ||
| Sayreville | Starland Ballroom | ||
| Poughkeepsie | The Chance | ||
| New Haven | Toad's Place | ||
| Richmond | Toad's Place | ||
| Norfolk | Norva Theatre | ||
| Knoxville | Valarium | ||
| Ashville | Orange Peel | ||
| Nashville | The Cannery | ||
| New Orleans | Southport Music Hall | ||
| Europe I | |||
| Moscow | Russia | B1 | |
| St. Petersburg | Port Club | ||
| Tampere | Finland | Pakkhuone | |
| Helsinki | Kulttuuritalo | ||
| Stockholm | Sweden | Debaser | |
| Oslo | Norway | Rockefeller | |
| Copenhagen | Denmark | Pumpehuset | |
| Prague | Czech Republic | Rock Café | |
| Warsaw | Poland | Stodola | |
| Berlin | Germany | Huxley's | |
| Munich | Elserhalle | ||
| Stuttgart | Longhorn | ||
| Brussels | Belgium | AB | |
| Amsterdam | Netherlands | Melkweg | |
| Paris | France | Bataclan | |
| Glasgow | Scotland | Academy | |
| Birmingham | England | Academy | |
| Norwich | University of East Anglia | ||
| Manchester | Academy | ||
| London | Brixton Academy | ||
| Dublin | Ireland | Ambassador | |
| Tilburg | Netherlands | Roadburn Festival's "Pre-Heat" | |
| Wiesbaden | Germany | Schlachtof | |
| Caluire et Cuire | France | Le Radiant | |
| Zürich | Switzerland | Rohstofflager | |
| Milan | Italy | Alcatrazz | |
| Barcelona | Spain | Alcatrazz | |
| Madrid | Joy Eslava | ||
| Lisbon | Portugal | Coliseu dos Recreios | |
| Europe II | |||
| Hamburg | Germany | Markthalle | |
| Köln | Live Music Hall | ||
| Malmö | Sweden | Kulturbolaget | |
| Gothenburg | Trädgårn | ||
| Supporting Metallica with The Sword | |||
| Bergen | Norway | Bergenhus Castle | |
| St. Petersburg | Russia | SKK Hall | |
| Riga | Latvia | Skonto Stadium | |
| Bologna | Italy | Parco Nord | |
| Sofia | Bulgaria | Levski Stadium | |
| Istanbul | Turkey | Ali Sami Yen Stadium | |
| Oceania | |||
| Brisbane | Australia | The Arena | |
| Sydney | UNSW Roundhouse | ||
| Melbourne | Palace Theatre | ||
| Perth | Metro Fremantle | ||