Alright, this may be a review but it is also a rebuttal towards the critics who are viewing this album as a simple collection of Pantera and Sepultura rework. No doubt, the sound is definitely built around the respective styles of the two metal legends. However, there is a subtle groove underlying this album that is specifically Betzefer’s own deal, easy to discern.

Guitarist Matan Cohen reflects the pragmatic approach of his beloved Angus Young as well as other more groove oriented influences. His choice of simplicity in technique renders the cohesive punch of the band a lot more powerful than if he was being all lightning-fingered like his purportedly copied Dimebag Darrell z’l (not that he couldn’t be if he wanted to, mind you). A boyish exuberance pervades the roars, growls and screeches the currently chromedomed Avital Tamir naturally emits while the rhythm section of Rotem “Ice Cream” Inbar and Roey “Bear” Berman pulls it all together like a garrot fitted snugly around a smarmy music critic’s neck.

The charm of “Downlow” is that it still bears the original fire of its creators done through the looking glass of the producer. There are some added bells and whistles that designate the creative twist of producer Tue Madsen, but he didn’t tamper with it in damaging ways. He helped bring to recorded format Betzefer’s intrinsic strength and fury, heretofore only seen live onstage. The opening track “Early Grave” lets the listeners know what they’re in for – Berman and Inbar pummel the hell out of their respective instruments early on. Throughout the disc, speeds change, so do riffs. Tamir actually sings a bit, too. A good example of the basic bootyshakin’ Betzefer groove that is completely their own is title track “Downlow”. And the lyrics of all songs display a surprisingly powerful command of the English language, rife with hilarity as well as general metal angst, aggression and dysfunction.

It’s a really great album. Yes, there’s some definite copy and pasting going on via the two bands aforementioned but no one can honestly write this disc off as a simple plagiarism of Pantera and Sepultura do they take the time to listen to more than ten seconds of it.