Down IV, Part I: The Purple EP

Released in 2012, 'Down IV, Part I: The Purple EP' marked the beginning of a planned series of EPs from the New Orleans supergroup. Following a five-year gap since 'Over the Under', this release saw the band returning to a more focused, raw production style reminiscent of their debut, 'NOLA'. It was the first release to feature bassist Pat Bruders following the departure of Rex Brown. Sonically, the EP is a distillation of the band's influences, primarily Black Sabbath, Saint Vitus, and Trouble, filtered through the specific cultural lens of the American South. The recording emphasizes analog warmth and a live-in-the-room feel, avoiding the over-compressed 'loudness war' aesthetics of contemporary metal. Critical reception was generally positive, with many praising the return to a grittier sound and the standout songwriting on tracks like 'Witchtripper' and the epic closer 'Misfortune Teller'.