DOWN — the acclaimed band featuring CORROSION OF CONFORMITY guitarist/vocalist Pepper Keenan, drummer Jimmy Bower (EYEHATEGOD, SUPERJOINT RITUAL guitarist), bassist Rex Brown (ex-PANTERA), guitarist Kirk Windstein (CROWBAR), and vocalist Philip Anselmo (SUPERJOINT RITUAL, ex-PANTERA) — have confirmed that they will be undertaking a European tour beginning May 15. So far, only one date has been officially announced: Thursday, June 1 at the tenth edition of Gods Of Metal festival at Idroscalo in Milan, Italy. Also appearing on the bill are VENOM, DIMMU BORGIR, OPETH, TESTAMENT, NEVERMORE and SATYRICON, among other acts.

In a on January 29, 2006 interview with France's HeavyMusic.free.fr webzine, Keenan stated that DOWN have been in talks about regrouping to write and record the band's much-anticipated third full-length album. "We haven't done anything yet, but we're talking a lot about coming together again, all of us, and starting to work on stuff," Keenan is quoted as saying. "DOWN needs to come back and Phil is totally eager to sing again." Asked how Anselmo is doing after he underwent back surgery in late November, Pepper said, "He's doing very well. He has stopped taking painkillers and other fucking drugs. His eyes are clear and full of life again. You'd say he was 19 again. He's really ready to set it off. It's gonna be a great thing. We're gonna take it step by step and we'll see. We are planning to go to Europe and do a tour before even making the new album. We are planning to [go there], return to form and have some fun far away from the States. And after that, we will start writing [the new album]."

DOWN's sophomore album, "Down II", was released in March 2002 on Elektra Records. The band headlined the second stage at the 2002 Ozzfest.