I'm a fan of 'Down' and have been for years. They've been firmly underground since the release of their first album in '95 until their 3rd (some say comeback) album came out in '07. It was such a bad feeling to see them on the covers of at least 3 metal magazines and tour with metallica. I was not old enough to see metallica 'sell out' and experience that feeling so this is the closest i will come to it.

That said, i would never wish that on Dev's art and work. When you show his music to friends, they can't deny the genius and beauty of it, you don't need sold-out stadium size crowds to confirm it. Keep it loud and proud, but keep it in the family

As someone that's generally pretty shit at making conversation with people I don't know, one thing I've always found amusing is that if you talk to any metal fan over the age of 25, you're almost guaranteed that you can have a decent conversation with them based on "at what point do you think Metallica sold out?".

hahaha, so true....(and btw, it was the black album for sure, with 'ride the lightning' being their best)

Haha, no way dude, it was right after Kill 'em all.

In fact possibly even earlier than that. I would pinpoint the moment Metallica sold out as being the last high D at the end of Kirk's solo before it drops back into the riff in Whiplash. So that's like, not even at the end of side one yet.

Up until that precise moment they were METAL! Everything after that - pansyified corporate whore product. If they had any integrity at all they would have just released side one as an EP then split up.

............In fact possibly even earlier than that. I would pinpoint the moment Metallica sold out as being the last high D at the end of Kirk's solo before it drops back into the riff in Whiplash. So that's like, not even at the end of side one yet.

Up until that precise moment they were METAL! Everything after that - pansyified corporate whore product. If they had any integrity at all they would have just released side one as an EP then split up.

hahaha, nice one dude, you rule!