THE ANNOUNCEMENT
Down and Helmet are co-headlining a two-week run this August, and the tour name — Strap It Down — is a clever nod to Helmet's 1990 debut †. The timing lines up with Down's first new album in over a decade, which is recorded but still hunting for the right mix engineer *. Kirk Windstein says they're hoping for an October 2026 release, but nothing's locked *.
THE DETAILS
- Tour runs August 15 in Atlanta through September 2 in Chicago, with Spirit in the Room supporting throughout *, †
- Down opens for Slayer's Reign in Blood 40th anniversary show September 4 in Shakopee, Minnesota, alongside Suicidal Tendencies and Hatebreed *
- Two stops at Zakk Wylde's Berzerkus festival August 28–29 in Scranton and Wantagh *
- Artist presale starts May 27 at noon ET (password: DOWN2026); general on-sale May 29 at 10 a.m. local *
- VIP packages include soundcheck, meet-and-greet, signed poster, and exclusive merch *
- New album contains 10 songs, three written primarily by Philip Anselmo, recorded without click tracks *
- Last original material was the Down IV – Part Two EP in May 2014 *
SUPPORT
Spirit in the Room supports all headlining dates; Suicidal Tendencies and Hatebreed join the September 4 Slayer show *.
WHY IT MATTERS
BUCKET LIST — Down hasn't released a full album since 2007, and Windstein already warned this one will "either be this huge thing or just flop" *. The fact they're touring before the album even has a mix shows confidence, but twelve years between proper records means this might be your last shot to hear new Down material live.