> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.thisdayinmetal.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Long, Long Road Rides Me Home... Back to NOLA: An Interview with Pat Bruders (Down, Crowbar) - URL: https://www.thisdayinmetal.com/long-long-road-rides-me-home-back-to-nola-an-interview-with-pat-bruders-down-crowbar/ - Published: 2026-11-06T01:03:01.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-06T02:20:08.000Z - Author: Ed Hackimer - Tags: Interviews, #interviews, Pat Bruders, Down, Crowbar, Pepper Keenan, Phil Anselmo, Kirk Windstein, Jimmy Bower Though the paths of their careers have led them to the ends of the Earth playing in their respective bands, when it comes time for **Down** to reconvene, every road leads back to NOLA. And while the Crescent City is where each of the band members to a man will tell you they’re from, and it’s where their fabled first writing session occurred in the early ‘90s, that’s not just a reference to the place they call home. The attitude and ethos of **Down** as a band hasn’t changed since their legendary first record *NOLA* was released in 1995, which was spawned from a simple jam that led to their legendary demo that was copied countless times over before anyone even knew who was even in the group. From that very first time, **Jimmy Bower (Eyehategod), Pepper Keenan (Corrosion of Conformity), Kirk Windstein (Crowbar),** and **Phil Anselmo (Pantera)** got in a room together to play, any subsequent gathering of these musicians ignites a creative spark led by a very simple guiding principle: following where the riffs and grooves take you. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/e2/dbe2ac7e-62ef-4b13-917a-63221a045127/content/images/2026/11/DOWN-by-Danin-Drahos-IMG-1230.png) Kirk, Pepper, Phil, Pat, and Jimmy (photo credit: Danin Drahos). **Pat Bruders (Crowbar, Goatwhore)** joined the four aforementioned musicians for the first time in 2011 to replace **Rex Brown** on bass, and took part in recording what would become the pair of *Down IV* EPs released in 2012 and 2014\. Following a decade without one of these storied writing summits, driven largely by obligations with their primary bands, the fivesome finally gathered last year to begin what would become *Volume V,* the fourth full-length album in the band’s discography and the first new music released by the band in twelve years when it comes out on November 20th through **Nuclear Blast Records.** Borne from a familiar rehearsal room, the record is another monumental achievement that only adds to the mystique of one of the most reliable, celebrated, and indispensable metal bands around, furthering their sludgy, southern lore. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/e2/dbe2ac7e-62ef-4b13-917a-63221a045127/content/images/2026/11/cover-Down---Volume-V.jpg) Ahead of the release of *Volume V,* I had a chance to sit down with **Pat Bruders** to discuss the new record, plus a wide variety of topics, including: - what it took to coordinate the schedules of everyone in the band to write the new record, how those two sessions went, the continued influence of bands like Black Sabbath on their music, and how each track on the album has its own distinct personality. - how **King Diamond** on guest vocals went from a pipe dream to a reality, how **Pat** developed the bassline for “Merciful Fate,” **Phil’s** role in arranging songs, the somber tribute to **Ozzy Osbourne** simply titled "Ozz", and the progressive nature of the record. - how everyone in **Down** will be pulling double-duty at the **Great NOLA Trendkill**, **Pat’s** plans with **Crowbar** including an upcoming slot opening for **Slayer**, and trying to pinpoint the origins of **John Crowbar**. - reflections about moving to New Orleans, becoming aware of who **Down** was, and eventually joining the band in 2011, expressions of gratitude for being able to play in the group, and our future plans for a couple of beers. You can view the entire interview **HERE:** --- No matter where the road out of New Orleans leads them, each and every one of the five musicians that comprise **Down** know where home is. Before any of them were anybody, they were friends jamming in a garage there, looking for the ultimate riff or the definitive groove that told everyone what they were all about and where they were from. That same sentiment remains the gold standard, whether we’re talking geography or debut records, with *Volume V* being overwhelming evidence of both. Maybe it’s best to let the boys do it their own words, if I can paraphrase from *A Bustle in Your Hedgerow* as a closing argument*:* The power of the riff compels us! --- **Down's** *Volume V* will be released worldwide on Friday, November 20th through **Nuclear Blast Records**. You can check out a number of pre-order options at the website linked below. [Volume VDown![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/e2/dbe2ac7e-62ef-4b13-917a-63221a045127/content/images/icon/favicon_2-50373255-91a6-4442-a953-d771ce125a01.jpg)Down![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/e2/dbe2ac7e-62ef-4b13-917a-63221a045127/content/images/thumbnail/logo_82698e3a-3d1b-4614-9bb2-53a140c9c0f1-e4af7bc9-cabc-465c-a80b-1c1ba319a21a.png)](https://down-nola.com/collections/volume-v?ref=thisdayinmetal.com) --- **The Great NOLA Trendkill**, featuring **Black Label Society, Pantera, Corrosion of Conformity, Crowbar, Eyehategod, Down,** and many other bands will take place to on November 20th and 21st at Lakefront Arena in New Orleans to coincide with the release of *Volume V*. One- and two-day tickets are available here: [The Great NOLA Trendkill Tickets](https://www.ticketmaster.com/the-great-nola-trendkill-2-day-ticket-new-orleans-11-20-2026/event/1B006522ED382003?ref=thisdayinmetal.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/e2/dbe2ac7e-62ef-4b13-917a-63221a045127/content/images/2026/11/attachment-the_great_nola_trendkill.webp)