"Stone the Crow" is the debut single

Single (music)

In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...

 by heavy metal

Heavy metal music

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...

 band Down

Down (band)

Down is an American heavy metal supergroup that formed in 1991 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist Phil Anselmo, guitarist Pepper Keenan, guitarist Kirk Windstein, bassist Pat Bruders and drummer Jimmy Bower. Since their formation, Down has gone on hiatus twice...

 off their 1995

1995 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1995.- January–February :*January 18 – Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California, USA, but is not injured in the accident....

 debut album, NOLA

NOLA (album)

- Band members :* Phil Anselmo - vocals, guitar on "Pray for the Locust", mandolin on "Jail"* Pepper Keenan - guitar* Kirk Windstein - guitar, bass* Jimmy Bower - drums- Guest musicians :...

. It peaked at #40 on the US Mainstream Rock

Mainstream rock

Mainstream rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada.-Format background:...

 Charts. A video was also produced for the song.

Structure

Much lighter than other work on the album, "Stone the Crow" has a distinct southern rock

Southern rock

Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music, and genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals...

 sound and is often regarded as one of Down's most popular songs. The track begins with an airy yet complex guitar introduction which carries throughout the song. This is soon backed by a second guitar and other instruments. Vocals also enter and demonstrate Anselmo's shifting style from clean to brief screeching. Heavy guitars and crashing cymbals mark the song's chorus which continues the altering vocal style.

Music video

In an interview Pepper Keenan

Pepper Keenan

Pepper J. Keenan , is an American vocalist and guitarist, best known for his work with heavy metal bands Corrosion of Conformity and Down. He joined Corrosion of Conformity in 1989, but did not become the lead singer until the recording of Deliverance in 1994...

 was asked about the music video, he replied with the following:

Release and reception

The song was released as the lead single for the bands debut album and became the bands first and only radio hit, reaching #40 on the US Mainsteam Rock Tracks. The song is a staple at live shows and is regularly played as the closing song.