Metal Insider has issued a new interview with DOWN / ex-PANTERA frontman Phil Anselmo. The following is an excerpt:

Q: What is your musical output other than Down right now? Are you in any other side projects?

A: "I did do ARSON ANTHEM. The second Arson Anthem, which is due out later this year. 17 songs, 30 minutes, brilliant. So I guess to answer your question, if any show dates come up and there was a bit of free time and really gotta look at the other members of the band once again as Mike Williams from EYEHATEGOD, who’re playing their asses off. Hank III, who just put out his record, he’s touring all the fucking time. So it’s like you wait around and if that comes up, great. I would do some Arson Anthem shows, however, I will not lie, I have been writing my own stuff. I play guitar, I play the bass, and I sing. I just got this drummer and he’s fucking aggressive and fucking heavy. Unlike every other one of my side bands, this does not sound like any other fucking band I’ve been in before."

Q: Is it a conscious effort to not repeat yourself?

A: "If you’re gonna do another band, if you’re gonna write more music, why would you want that band to sound like another band that you were in? It’s boring. So yeah, this shit’s way different, but really needed. I tell you what, it’s not any polished product at all. Matter of fact, I’m just scribbling lyrics here and there. Musically though, where it really starts, whether it be rhythmic, fucking words or sentences in my head that inspire riffs or parts, I think it’s a bit of a departure from your average cut and paste heavy metal. I’m not necessarily going for any tradition. In other words, I’m not gonna go fast for the sake of going fast, I’m not gonna play slow for the sake of playing slow. It’s groove oriented, sure, but it’s not the P word—Pantera. It’s aggressive as a motherfucker and that’s all I can really say at this point."

Read the complete interview at this location. Listen to the audio interview below:

Phil Anselmo