#3) Hail to the natives of New Orleans who returned and dug through rubble and scraps of their entire lives while also braving distraught memories of what once was. Also, hail to those that learned an untapped compassion. That life is so much more precious than anything material. To those that rebuilt homes and businesses. You are the true heroes of the Crescent City.      With that written, some people, and those closest to us had absolutely nothing to come back to. With their homes and neighborhoods washed away, they were forced to settle elsewhere. And that is completely understood. R.I.P. to the countless number of loved ones lost in the Gulf Coast area after the devastation of Katrina. *****R.I.P. Glenn Rambo (X-SOILENT GREEN!!) and his mother. You lived your life your own way, ever since I first met you on the streets in Arabi LA, when we were 14 years old. You were at every show, you gave me every demo (NUCLEAR CRUCIFIXION/NUN MOLESTERS!!) from every band you were in, and I still have them all. I treasure them. You were a staple of the N.O. underground scene. Always ahead of the game. Influential. Unique and kind to everyone.                You will be missed by everyone who knew you, and still love you.

Rest brother, your name is sacred.

     Hurricane Katrina has been documented over and again, so I can only write about how it effected myself, and DOWN directly.

After the mandatory evacuation, every family member, friend, etc. were displaced all over the country for some time.(*#3) Phone lines ripped down, cell phones useless, no communication. I was in a moel in Houston TX. Overlooking the thunderous 5/6 lane highway of endless congestion below, in sweltering heat. It was a tiny room, with my ol’ lady(*#4), our 2 dogs, our cat, 2 bags, and an ice cooler, for a month and a half.

Two months after that, as some semblance of order was restored(?), we started jamming as a full band at NODFERATUS’ LAIR. We eventually did a demo of some of the new songs with David ‘The Puma’ Troia (bad ass). From there we picked what we felt were the strongest tracks.

The making of the new DOWN, has been by far, the hardest recording process I personally have EVER done, and every other band member concur.

We are all visionaries, and the battle to refocus, and pull together, is a tale that only long time musicians can tell, or relate to.

IT WAS A WAR!!!!!!

However we know we have won that war. Regardless, in November of’ 05, I had a triple fusion in my lower back, held together by titanium rods. Since then, from learning how to take my 1st steps again, through physical therapy (REHAB DYNAMICS !!!), which taught me positive pain, put regiment into my life, and changed a big part within the psychology of myself. There were no time for hangovers anymore. Because, from Feb. on, I was awake at 9:30 a. m./at physical therapy till’ 4:00 p.m./come straight to band practice, which lasted till’ mid-night or later/eat/sleep/5 nights a week. My workouts became obsessive. I was pushed to limits that astounded myself, the trainers, the surgeon, and most neurosurgery ‘experts’. Today, I am a better man. I am hardly limited. I haven’t been this strong physically or mentally since I was 23/24 years old. All of this work was for a purpose-----

the oncoming of the new DOWN.

Picture of Philip's house taken from a boat in N.O.L.A. 3 weeks after the storm