Artist: DOWN
Album: NOLA (CD)

Release date: 1995
Media type: CD

NOLA is the debut album of Louisiana-based heavy metal band Down. It was released on September 19, 1995. The title is the abbreviation for New Orleans (N.O.), Louisiana (La.).

NOLA was written mainly by Phil Anselmo and Pepper Keenan between 1990 and 1995.

All of the band members were longtime friends, and shared interest in bands such as Black Sabbath and Saint Vitus, which would significantly influence the music they wrote for the record. Although a sludge metal album, NOLA contains traces of doom metal, hardcore punk, southern rock, stoner rock, and grunge. Lyrical themes on the album prominently focus on topics such as death, suicide, drug abuse and personal struggles.

The booklet art is by Jim DeBarros and David Manteau and makes extensive use of vintage photographs by Clarence John Laughlin.

TRACKLIST:

1. "Temptation's Wings"   Phil Anselmo, Pepper Keenan 4:24
2. "Lifer"   Anselmo, Keenan 4:36
3. "Pillars of Eternity"   Anselmo 3:57
4. "Rehab"   Anselmo, Keenan, Kirk Windstein 4:03
5. "Hail the Leaf"   Anselmo 3:28
6. "Underneath Everything"   Anselmo, Keenan 4:46
7. "Eyes of the South"   Anselmo, Keenan 5:13
8. "Jail"   Anselmo, Keenan, Todd Strange, Windstein 5:17
9. "Losing All"   Anselmo, Keenan 4:21
10. "Stone the Crow"   Anselmo, Keenan 4:42
11. "Pray for the Locust" (instrumental) Anselmo 1:07
12. "Swan Song"   Anselmo, Jimmy Bower, Keenan 3:35
13. "Bury Me in Smoke"   Anselmo, Keenan 7:04

Total length: 56:33 

LINE-UP:

Philip Anselmo - vocals, guitar on "Pray for the Locust", mandolin on "Jail"
Pepper Keenan - guitar
Kirk Windstein - guitar, bass
Jimmy Bower - drums

Additional musicians:
Todd Strange - Whistle at the beginning of Lifer & bass (credited, does not perform)
Ross Karpelman - Keyboards on "Jail"
Lil' Daddy and Sid Montz - percussion on "Jail"
Lil' Daddy - Water pipe solo on "Hail the Leaf"